And then this young lady came to me from [town], she said she was from [name] University, that’s what I remembered first. Then she said she’d leave me her DVD to have a look at and would I take part in this trial? And what I remember her explaining to me was that fractured, fractures to the heel you’re never too sure, really, which way to go, whether they should do surgery or just leave it, and would I watch the DVD. And I said yes, so I did that and she left it with me. I think she came back either late that evening or the next day, and asked me if I’d take part in the trial, and that I would make the decision. And as soon as she said that I thought, “Ooh, I know nothing about this. I would rather somebody who’s a consultant or is, you know, knows this field to make the decision for me.” I didn’t, I wouldn’t have wanted to make the decision at all.
I realised that the trial was, is important and it has to be done, and for the good of everyone else, but I’m afraid I thought, “Not on me.” I know that’s sounds awful, doesn’t it? Meanwhile because you’ve got the internet access while you’re lying in a bed, I did look at quite a bit on the internet all about - and I saw lots of things which was quite interesting - but that wouldn’t have swayed me I had made up my mind that, no, I didn’t want to make this decision. I wanted the consultant to do it, and that was it, really. And I explained that to them and off she went.
I suppose in a way it wouldn’t, you’d have made the decision to take part in the trial, and then the decision about what treatment you had would have been a random decision, was that what was worrying you?
Mm, oh yes, it was like, Oh no, no. I don’t want to, you know. I’m here, and I want someone to tell me what I ought to do.” I didn’t want to have, don’t give me choices because I might make the wrong one.
