Shared decision making is not always a priority for patients, website finds

Doctors should recognise that there is no “one size fits all” approach to breaking bad news or to sharing decision making, especially when caring for people with life threatening or terminal illness. That was the view of some of the 32 patients and eight carers who were interviewed about the experience of being treated for pancreatic cancer for the latest section of the Healthtalkonline.org website, launched last week (www.healthtalkonline.org/Cancer/Pancreatic_Cancer).

The website’s cofounder, the former GP Ann McPherson, is one of those patients, having been given a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer four years ago and then having a relapse, with the cancer spreading to her lungs, two years ago.

At the launch event at the Museum of London she was joined by the actor Hugh Grant, who donated £100 000 (€115 000; $164 000) to fund the pancreatic cancer site and contributes personally to it. He described his “great admiration” for the NHS in providing the “marvellous” care that his mother received in the months leading …