While still at home families and patients had some room to negotiate a diagnosis. But once the patient entered the hospital, any chance to negotiate care, treatment or even access was significantly reduced from breathing room to suffocation. Strangled by bureaucracy with strong red tape. They will give you nothing. No chance. There is no hope for them.
The locus of power and decision-making shifted away from you to them, from the family and the patient towards the doctor and the hospital. You’ve lost everything.
Taken to the dark bowels of isolation. Diagnosed. Condemned. Awesome terror permeates the ward. Nurses tremble with thoughts of care. The heavy steel door slams shut. Sealed off, forever, from the life that they had once known. Separated from the rest of the world. Destined to be alone until it’s done with them. There is no hope for them.