Knowledge at the Bedside: A Feminist View of What's Happening with This Patient Hilde

Mrs. Alexandras, 78 years old and wheezing for lack of breath, is dying of lung cancer. Dr. Bishop finishes examining her chest and asks, "Do you have any questions about your illness? Do you understand how ill you are?" The old woman pulls in the corners of her thin blue lips and looks out the window. "I can't talk about this," she says. She has said this or something like it every time Dr. Bishop invites her to discuss her illness. He does not explore this with her, but drops the subject. She is still in denial, he thinks, and makes a note on her chart.