--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we, doctors, ask patients what their…" description: "\"When we, doctors, ask patients what their priorities are if time is short, what we do is we use what is available to us - whether it's geriatric care o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f33/atul-gawande-1871_care_when-we-doctors-ask-patients-what-their_2583401.jpg" --- # When we, doctors, ask patients what their priorities are… ![“When we, doctors, ask patients what their priorities are if time is short, what we do is we use what is available to us - whether it's geriatric care or palliative care or hospice care - to make sure they're living the kind of life that they want to live.” quote by Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f33/atul-gawande-1871_care_when-we-doctors-ask-patients-what-their_2583401.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f33/atul-gawande-1871_care_when-we-doctors-ask-patients-what-their_2583401.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f33/atul-gawande-1871_care_when-we-doctors-ask-patients-what-their_2583401.jpg) > “When we, doctors, ask patients what their priorities are if time is short, what we do is we use what is available to us - whether it's geriatric care or palliative care or hospice care - to make sure they're living the kind of life that they want to live.” [Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Doctors use available care options to align treatment with patients’ end‑of‑life priorities, ensuring a life lived as desired. **In simple terms:** Doctors match care to patient wishes. Key Takeaway Prioritize patient‑centered care decisions. Themes healthcare ethics patient autonomy Mood compassionate thoughtful Type medical ethical When to use this quote - clinical practice - policy - family meetings - advanced directives Key Concepts palliative care hospice shared decision making Questions to Reflect On - How do you discuss priorities with patients? - What barriers exist to patient‑focused care? A Different Perspective Resource constraints may limit options. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Hospice Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hospice-care/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicine/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Priorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priorities/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Is Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-is-short/) ## Related quotes > [“Sexual health is as achievable and reasonable a goal for patients in palliative care and hospice care as pain relief, but few hospice and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-d-acquaviva/sexual-health-is-as-achievable-and-reasonable-a-goal-for-patients-in/) [Kimberly D. 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