Box 3.

: The patient's role in collusion

• Mr J lies in his hospital bed when the consultant sees him on his ward round, accompanied by a nurse and by the researcher.
• “How are you today?” the doctor asks.
• “I'm fine, doctor,” says Mr J smiling. “We are planning a vacation with the whole family for the summer.”
• “That's very nice.” The consultant waits for a moment. “I don't know how to put it . . .”
• “We would like to go abroad,” says Mr J cheerfully.
• “Mr J, I really think we have to talk. I have told you that the tumour has not responded to the chemotherapy and there are no other treatments. Actually, the tumour is growing. We could try radiation therapy but the chance . . .”
• “Please doctor, will you stop it? When I fell ill, they told me this. When the cancer returned, they told me again. This week you told me, so this is the fourth time. Doctor, let's try the radiation therapy and leave me now.”