# Hospital Uses a Video-Link Robot to Tell a Patient He is About to Die **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 10, 2019, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hospital-uses-a-video-link-robot-to-tell-a-patient-he-is-about-to-die/830871 "2019-03-10T04:01:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hospital-uses-a-video-link-robot-to-tell-a-patient-he-is-about-to-die/830871/1 "2019-03-10T04:01:18Z")
> [@](#): > > A doctor in California told a patient he was going to die using a robot with a video-link screen. > > Ernest Quintana, 78, was at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Fremont when a doctor - appearing on the robot’s screen - informed him that he would die within a few days… > > Mr Quintana died the next day. > **[Man told he's going to die by doctor on video-link robot](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47510038)** > > The patient's loved ones say using the robot to deliver the news was "an atrocity". I believe that bad news like this should be delivered in person. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hospital-uses-a-video-link-robot-to-tell-a-patient-he-is-about-to-die/830871/2 "2019-03-10T04:25:11Z")
I believe having a cool robots pal tell me the bad news would be awesome! The more digitized the voice the better. Like 80’s cylon voice. Oh man. I cant wait to die now! Where’s my living will? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hospital-uses-a-video-link-robot-to-tell-a-patient-he-is-about-to-die/830871/3 "2019-03-10T04:44:30Z")
Getting serious medical news from a monitor on a robot would be creepy. That tech is fine for routine, long distance doctor visits. They can make basic diagnosis and save everyone time. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hospital-uses-a-video-link-robot-to-tell-a-patient-he-is-about-to-die/830871/4 "2019-03-10T05:48:52Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > I believe having a cool robots pal tell me the bad news would be awesome! The more digitized the voice the better. Like 80’s cylon voice. Oh man. I cant wait to die now! Where’s my living will? I’d love this, too. But I’m quirkier than most people. Maybe we should all get a choice: “I choose to be notified by a six-foot-tall rolling Bob Ross PEZ Dispenser, voiced by Dana Carvey.” When I read the headline, I assumed it was a mistake. But no, someone who’d been through a decade of training thought this through, and decided “Hey, let’s make this as impersonal an interaction as possible.” ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hospital-uses-a-video-link-robot-to-tell-a-patient-he-is-about-to-die/830871/5 "2019-03-10T07:51:11Z")
I admit, my thoughts immediately turned to [an old _Herman_ cartoon](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s_iz-nNghGI/UJCGIO1IN5I/AAAAAAAAGJA/-SgrLK-hzXM/s1600/TouchHerman2.jpg)… ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hospital-uses-a-video-link-robot-to-tell-a-patient-he-is-about-to-die/830871/6 "2019-03-10T07:58:48Z")
What happened to the good old days when they told a trusted family member you were gonna die and kept it secret from you? Oh, wait that was a movie with Bette Davis. Nm. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hospital-uses-a-video-link-robot-to-tell-a-patient-he-is-about-to-die/830871/7 "2019-03-10T13:00:54Z")
“I. am. sor-ry, Mis-ter But-tle. Your. prog-no-sis. is. ter-mi-nal.” “What? I just came in to get this bunion looked at! Oh, and hey, my name’s ‘Tuttle’, not ‘Buttle’!” “Your. prog-no-sis. is. ter-mi-nal! Er-ror! Er-ror! Er-ror. must. be. e-lim-i-nat-ed!” “No! Wait! _AIEEE!_” ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hospital-uses-a-video-link-robot-to-tell-a-patient-he-is-about-to-die/830871/8 "2019-03-10T15:43:57Z")
“I’m sorry, but you only have ten more to live.” “Ten!? Ten what? Ten years, ten months, ten weeks???” “Nine.” ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hospital-uses-a-video-link-robot-to-tell-a-patient-he-is-about-to-die/830871/9 "2019-03-10T15:52:25Z")
[End of Life Care Machine](https://www.nextnature.net/2012/06/end-of-life-care-machine/): > [@](#): > > Hello Susie, I am the last moment robot. > I am here to help you and guide you through your last moment on earth. > I am sorry that (pause) your family and friends can’t be with you right now, but don’t be afraid. I am here to comfort you. (pause) > You are not alone, you are with me. (pause) > Your family and friends love you very much, they will remember you after you are gone. (pause) However, this is an art installation, not a real thing. At least not yet. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hospital-uses-a-video-link-robot-to-tell-a-patient-he-is-about-to-die/830871/10 "2019-03-10T15:58:51Z")
An SD oldie but goodie on [the hospital robot problem](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=298142). Coming soon: the robot disconnects life support. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hospital-uses-a-video-link-robot-to-tell-a-patient-he-is-about-to-die/830871/11 "2019-03-10T16:22:54Z")
It would have been better with ice cream. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/FjbfU7XkPoQ/maxresdefault.jpg "HILARIOUS COMMERCIAL for Halo Top Ice Cream!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjbfU7XkPoQ) ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hospital-uses-a-video-link-robot-to-tell-a-patient-he-is-about-to-die/830871/12 "2019-03-10T16:36:23Z")
Wasn’t this a scene in _Soylent Green_? ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hospital-uses-a-video-link-robot-to-tell-a-patient-he-is-about-to-die/830871/13 "2019-03-10T20:14:30Z")
I understand that this is an insensitive method, but isn’t the term “robot” a bit of hyperbole? It looks like you are talking to a doctor through a Skype video chat or something. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hospital-uses-a-video-link-robot-to-tell-a-patient-he-is-about-to-die/830871/14 "2019-03-10T20:20:01Z")
To a certain extent, it’s hyperbole. But if it’s the [type of device I think it is](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telerobotics#/media/File:IRobot_Ava_500.jpg), it’s capable of making its own way around the hospital so its not entirely wrong to call it a robot. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hospital-uses-a-video-link-robot-to-tell-a-patient-he-is-about-to-die/830871/15 "2019-03-10T20:25:54Z")
It makes me think of Sheldon Cooper when he was trying to roboticize himself to deal with real-life situations. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hospital-uses-a-video-link-robot-to-tell-a-patient-he-is-about-to-die/830871/16 "2019-03-10T22:52:46Z")
> [@digs](#): > > someone who’d been through a decade of training thought this through, and decided “Hey, let’s make this as impersonal an interaction as possible.” I doubt you meant that absolutely literally, but FWIW, I don’t think it’s an accurate characterization. I worked with a mental-health group that used video conferencing, and although people (including mentally ill people) were worried about it, it turned out that it wasn’t impersonal and they were quite comfortable with it in practice. I didn’t read the article and I make no comment about the implementation or appropriateness in this individual case. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hospital-uses-a-video-link-robot-to-tell-a-patient-he-is-about-to-die/830871/17 "2019-03-10T23:35:34Z")
This place is across the street from my doctor. The story - which doesn’t seem to have been covered on local news, but then Kaiser advertises a lot - is just one of the reasons I’d go to Gwyneth Paltrow for treatment before them. This same place didn’t notice that my son-in-laws father had a big blood clot in his leg (though it was discolored and swelled) when he was in the hospital there. It killed him. What really gets me is that the Kaiser flacks are doing the “we really care about our patients and we’re sorry someone is upset” crap. I guess they were too busy to make sure the wife was there and to do it in person. But I bet it saved them oodles of money. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2019, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hospital-uses-a-video-link-robot-to-tell-a-patient-he-is-about-to-die/830871/18 "2019-03-11T01:26:40Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > To a certain extent, it’s hyperbole. But if it’s the [type of device I think it is](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telerobotics#/media/File:IRobot_Ava_500.jpg), it’s capable of making its own way around the hospital so its not entirely wrong to call it a robot. I understand, but the term “robot” makes it seem like the device says (in robot voice) You.Are.Dying. Please. Schedule. Appoint-Ment. With. Morgue. At. Your. Conven-E-ence. That’s not at all how this device works. The use of the term “robot” seems very pejorative, even if, as I agree, that this is a rather insensitive method of telling a patient that he or she has a terminal illness. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2019, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hospital-uses-a-video-link-robot-to-tell-a-patient-he-is-about-to-die/830871/19 "2019-03-11T04:45:34Z")
I mean, I guess I can see how it might be better than the bedside manner of some doctors I’ve known. But when they did the recordings for the robot voice, they really should have hired someone other than [Nicholas Briggs.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Briggs) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2019, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hospital-uses-a-video-link-robot-to-tell-a-patient-he-is-about-to-die/830871/20 "2019-03-11T05:11:49Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > I understand, but the term “robot” makes it seem like the device says (in robot voice) You.Are.Dying. Please. Schedule. Appoint-Ment. With. Morgue. At. Your. Conven-E-ence. The OP quotes the story which clearly states that the doctor told the patient via a video link on a robot. > [@](#): > > A doctor in California told a patient he was going to die, using a robot with a video-link screen. > > Ernest Quintana, 78, was at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Fremont when a doctor - appearing on the robot’s screen - informed him that he would die within a few days. The headline of the linked article says > [@Headline](#): > > Man told he’s going to die by doctor on video-link robot How exactly is this confusing? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hospital-uses-a-video-link-robot-to-tell-a-patient-he-is-about-to-die/830871.md?page=2)