I recently accompanied a client to a consultation with Prof Clark for assessment of a life threatening cancer. The client was challenging and had failed to accept treatment from multiple previous doctors over a period of 10 months during which time the cancer progressed from treatable by minor surgery to possibly not curable. Prof Clark spent over 2 hours working with me to overcome the barriers that had prevented this patient from progressing to treatment/ surgery (from >10 doctors) in the past. He explained his diagnosis and treatment options, acknowledged and worked to allay the client's fears, agreed to a treatment strategy that accommodated the client's requirements and showed the professionalism and flexibility that epitomises good medical practice. His willingness to collaborate with a professional patient supporter and advocate was the essence to the success of the consultation without which this patient would still be on a trajectory to disaster.

I recently accompanied a client to a consultation with Prof Clark for assessment of a life threatening cancer. The client was challenging and had failed to accept treatment from multiple previous doctors over a period of 10 months during which time the cancer progressed from treatable by minor surgery to possibly not curable. Prof Clark spent over 2 hours working with me to overcome the barriers that had prevented this patient from progressing to treatment/ surgery (from >10 doctors) in the past. He explained his diagnosis and treatment options, acknowledged and worked to allay the client's fears, agreed to a treatment strategy that accommodated the client's requirements and showed the professionalism and flexibility that epitomises good medical practice. His willingness to collaborate with a professional patient supporter and advocate was the essence to the success of the consultation without which this patient would still be on a trajectory to disaster.

I recently accompanied a client to a consultation with Prof Clark for assessment of a life threatening cancer. The client was challenging and had failed to accept treatment from multiple previous doctors over a period of 10 months during which time the cancer progressed from treatable by minor surgery to possibly not curable. Prof Clark spent over 2 hours working with me to overcome the barriers that had prevented this patient from progressing to treatment/ surgery (from >10 doctors) in the past. He explained his diagnosis and treatment options, acknowledged and worked to allay the client's fears, agreed to a treatment strategy that accommodated the client's requirements and showed the professionalism and flexibility that epitomises good medical practice. His willingness to collaborate with a professional patient supporter and advocate was the essence to the success of the consultation without which this patient would still be on a trajectory to disaster.