Ethics and Professional Practicecommon
An 84-year-old woman who lives alone is found to have a 2.5 cm breast mass, and core biopsy shows invasive carcinoma. The surgeon has recommended wide local excision, but she tells you calmly that she is 'too old for operations' and would rather leave it alone. Her daughter telephones, insisting that surgery go ahead because her mother has become forgetful over the past year, repeating questions and missing appointments. Which one of the following is the most appropriate next step?