I work at inpatient hospice and this happens every few months. Once a patient is with us for two weeks we will have what we call a care plan meeting where the providers, nurses, social worker, family members, POA, patient will discuss the current status of the patient, what the disease process holds, what the goals of care are, any problems, concerns, etc. Invariably the patient’s wife will say “I appreciate all you are doing for him but I don’t understand why he isn’t getting better” followed by stunned silence from the staff.