“Defensive Medicine” for breast cancer is not what you think
The purpose of radiation treatment is solely to kill cancer cells. Radiation treatment is a type of surgery without the knife. Women will be told to do radiation treatment in almost every case of breast cancer where it has not metastasized. Even if you had a successful lumpectomy and the surgeon said the tumor was very well circumscribed. Even when there is no involvement of the nearby lymph nodes, they will still recommend radiation treatment, “just in case.”
This is known as practicing “defensive medicine.” Unfortunately, most people have no idea what the term “defensive medicine” really means. Did you think it had something to do with being defensive and cautious about your own health? Did they make you believe that the radiation is extra insurance that the breast cancer wouldn’t come back? These are the most common misconceptions. The hospital administration wants you to believe these misconceptions, even though they never spell-out what “defensive medicine” really means. “Defensive medicine” is not what you think. There’s a word missing from the common expression “defensive medicine.” The full expression, so that you can really understand what it means, is: “legally defensive medicine.”
Legally Defensive Medicine Has Nothing To Do With Your Health
When they recommend to get the radiation treatment “just in case” the following are the possible scenarios. 1.If you were to decline further treatment, and the original type of cancer tumor were to (G-d forbid) reappear locally. If you were upset with the hospital, they could say that they advised radiation therapy, but you “denied the treatment.” So, they put the blame on you, and would not be legally liable. 2. If you had taken the radiation treatment and the original type of tumor were to reappear locally, or anywhere else. If you were upset with the hospital, they could say they did everything they could do. They argue they weren’t negligent, so, they have no legal liability. Either way, you lose.
Remember, they got you to sign a paper that gave them permission to use that destructive radiation treatment on you. But your informed consent gets them off the hook when new tumors appear as a result of the radiation exposure. Regardless of subsequent radiation tumors, they would have no liability, because you signed that legal consent form. You gave them legal immunity. How were you expected to know to bring in your own attorney before signing those informed consent/legal release forms?
No Liability Means that They are Legally Not Responsible
When they suggest radiation treatment, legally, they get themselves off-the-hook no matter what happens later. By suggesting the radiation treatment, they have no further liability to you at all.
You must ask your doctor if the radiation treatment has been proven to prolong life. Isn’t that why you would be considering radiation treatment? Just as important is how much longer the doctor says it can prolong life. You must ask! Studies only address whether the same disease reappears locally after radiation treatment (local disease control). Those studies only cover a short time period. Whether or not cancer were to appear elsewhere in your body after radiation treatment is not addressed in those studies. The purpose of those studies is to conclude whether or not the disease comes back locally. The studies are not comprehensive. They do not prove life extension. They do not address radiation tumors that can appear after the short time frame of the studies is over.
Whatever you decide about radiation treatment after talking with your doctor, at least you should know the facts. At least you should know some questions to ask, instead of blindly believing myths about “defensive medicine.” Now you know the purpose of legally defensive medicine. Will you have radiation treatment after breast cancer surgery? It’s your decision.