Different people have different needs for information at different times. When someone is seriously ill or dying, their need for information will be different from their family and friends. Sometimes family and friends want to know more about what is happening than the person who is ill. The information that a person wants may change as the illness progresses.

When someone is ill, they want to know about disease related issues such as symptoms, and about how the illness experience will affect them. Sometimes there is a conflict between wanting information and yet not wanting information.

People will often have concerns about their information being shared with others. There is the worry that decision making will not include them. People who are dying have said that there are some things other people will not understand as they are not dying themselves.

Resources

• There are Palliative Care Standards that describe patients’ rights and responsibilities regarding care.
• The Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights describes the rights of patients and other people using the Australian health system.

Related CareSearch pages

Why information matters
Family carer's need for information
Living with illness
Why is communication important?
Making decisions
Plans and decisions
 

This page was created on 26 May 2009 and is due for review in May 2011