I am a huge fan of the TV show House, M.D. For those unfamiliar with the show, House's friend Wilson is an oncologist--a doctor who studies and concerns himself with cancer patients. In one of the most intriguing episodes, Wilson is meeting with a patient in his office, and tells him what seems like it would be wonderful news-- the man actually doesn't have cancer! Wilson was wrong, but isn't this great? The man gets very upset, saying that he just had a going away party at work (after quitting, thinking he only had 3 months left to live), just finished divorcing his wife (whom he still loved, but wanted to save from having to deal with the difficulties of widow-hood) and had sold his house.
How do you give reparations when you have smashed someone's life? Is telling someone that they don't have cancer something bad, or is it the patient's fault for not being happy he has a long life ahead of him?
And most importantly, perhaps, how would you react, if you were the patient?
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I actually saw this episode and I didn't really know how to react. I think it's kind of sad that someone needs a disease as terrible as cancer to start doing what they want in life. I felt really bad for Wilson because he basically ruined this guys life by telling him that he didn't have cancer. But like I said, they guy shouldn't need a disease to start living his life. It really could go either way. But I think the guy does deserve some sort of reparation.
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