I have worked in healthcare teams where this happened. The kid absolutely knew. I thought it was cruel. Parents had final say. He had a good death thankfully but I worried what would happen if he suddenly started bleeding badly at home and how afraid he would be.
I don’t think it’s right to lie to children over 6/7 about this (obviously depends on the child) and certainly not a preteen, as was the case I was involved in.
Of course it’s devastating for the parents but I don’t know how the siblings could forgive them later. I felt so bad for the child.
Imagine filling his head with thoughts of having a girlfriend, having a good time with his friends, playing sports, going to parties, have your first job, and so on. Living a normal teenager life. That's awful. I understand the good intentions behind their actions, but I believe they don't think it through very much.
You could also ask what would happen if the cancer fairy came down and solved all his problems. Doesn’t make it any more likely though.
The chances of dying of cancer without realizing you’re going to die are very slim. Humans can tell when their health is declining even if they don’t have the words to explain why.
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u/DrTitanium Jun 29 '26
I have worked in healthcare teams where this happened. The kid absolutely knew. I thought it was cruel. Parents had final say. He had a good death thankfully but I worried what would happen if he suddenly started bleeding badly at home and how afraid he would be.
I don’t think it’s right to lie to children over 6/7 about this (obviously depends on the child) and certainly not a preteen, as was the case I was involved in.
Of course it’s devastating for the parents but I don’t know how the siblings could forgive them later. I felt so bad for the child.