One of the reasons for family or friends being present is that the patient, being so deeply involved, may tend not to hear things as they are said. Later on, the people in attendance can present their interpretation of what was said. Furthermore, we know that the cure of cancer requires the support of family and friends. After one of the first sessions of the panel, I wrote the following fundamental principles to guide future panels. Doctors at first had reservations about them but, after trying them, came to adopt them with respect and admiration.
Every patient is to leave happy for having been heard by the panel.
The patient appears in front of the panel with his or her spouse and relatives and friends. All discussions of treatment are held by doctors openly in front of the patient. Recommendations are put in writing and sent to the patient's doctor, with a copy for the patient. Since there is always hope in psychology or prayer, no patient is ever denied hope. In the first two sessions, in my lay opinion, the lives of two patients were saved.