How do you want to spend your final years?
Everyone should get to choose. Most Americans don’t.
Change starts with you
For millions of Americans with life-threatening illnesses, medical decisions are made for them. But they don’t know that. Often our “one-size-fits-all” healthcare system defaults to treatments that cause needless pain and suffering – even after these treatments no longer provide a path back to health.
You deserve the whole truth. You deserve to be in control.
Demand Truth in Treatment™
See how we are losing control over our healthcare
Fact
Most people would choose improved quality of life over interventions that could prolong life but reduce their quality of life.
yet
Fact
Patients consistently overestimate benefits and underestimate harms of medical tests and procedures.
and
Fact
1 in 3 people near the end of life receive non-beneficial treatments (a treatment given with little or no hope of it having any effect).
“All of us are going to die. The question should be how do we want to live — what do we actually want to do with that time? Let’s make sure that whatever time you have, you can do those things.”
More Facts & Quotes
1 in 3 people near the end of life receive non-beneficial treatments (a treatment given with little or no hope of it having any effect).
“Doctors, uncomfortable discussing patient’s anxieties about death, fall back on false hopes and treatments that are actually shortening lives instead of improving them.”
“All of us are going to die. The question should be how do we want to live — what do we actually want to do with that time? Let’s make sure that whatever time you have, you can do those things.”
“To better serve patients, we need to see not only who they are, but also who they were, and ultimately, who they hope to become even at the end of life.”
“Frank discussions don’t disrupt the bond between doctors and patients… They do increase the likelihood that patients receive the end-of-life care they prefer, and leave survivors better able to cope with grief.”
1 in 4 people say they or a family member have experienced excessive or unwanted medical treatment, which translates to about 25 million Americans.
3 in 4 younger cancer patients with a documented preference for comfort care (such as pain management) get at least one form of intensive end-of-life care (such as chemotherapy) in their last month
1 in 3 cancer patients say they are getting enough information about other options for treatment.
Many patients mistakenly believe that their cancers are curable when they are not, likely because most patients do not talk about their prognosis with their oncologists.
Stories of
Truth in Treatment™
Who we are
Truth in Treatment™ is a new initiative founded by Compassion & Choices to give people with life-threatening illnesses the support, opportunity and courage to live life to the fullest even as illnesses advance. We are igniting a social movement that will empower and educate people so they can make fully informed healthcare choices and live their remaining time on their own terms — transforming our health system for all who follow.
“Americans have lost control of their healthcare destiny. Our healthcare system ignores people’s hopes and worries, and prescribes treatments that rob them of the quality of life they want and deserve. We need to regain control over our healthcare. Only then can we live life on our own terms.”
Plan Your Care
Create a Questions List
Diagnosis Decoder™ helps you prepare for your doctor visit. Questions tailored to your needs help you get the complete information you deserve.
Create a Trust Card™
The Trust Card™ helps you build a trusting doctor-patient relationship by clearly conveying your values in a respectful and friendly manner.
Share Your Story
Your story of obtaining a care plan that puts you in charge could inspire the next movement in end-of-life care.
Keep in touch
The Truth in Treatment™ initiative is just getting started. Sign up here to get updates as we scale up our initiative.