Discussion | 255 11 As our medical capabilities continue to expand, it’s imperative to engage in ongoing dialogue with patients, asking essential questions about how treatment options might impact their lives. Rather than solely considering technical feasibility, we must prioritize understanding whether a proposed intervention aligns with a patient’s goals and aspirations, ultimately striving to enhance their overall well-being. We need motivated and trained healthcare workers, but patients also need to be educated on what they can expect from their physicians. Choosing a treatment is teamwork, and I am committed to being part of that team. Returning to the story of Mr. T, he experiences decisional regret, which significantly impacts his quality of life. He is struggling with the limited lifespan of his voice prosthesis and has stoma issues that require surgical adjustments. My goal is to minimize patient dissatisfaction with their chosen treatment. I hope that this dissertation represents a small step in that direction, but the journey doesn’t end here. Understanding that every person is unique and striving to treat each patient as if they were a member of your own family is a guiding principle I aim to pursue throughout my medical and scientific career. For Mr. T, it’s too late, but hopefully, we can prevent others from experiencing similar challenges in the future.
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