A relative is dying and doesn't want to tell anyone...?

Condolences from my family to yours. Listen buddy, this is a delicate and unfortunate dilemma. Does he say why he is so adamant about this? Listen to him. He may have some sound reasons. On the other hand he may just be the stoic sort. Also consider, dying is a very private matter...possibly more so than any other single thing we do in our entire lives. How we choose to do it, is and should be our business. It is after all, or final say. Talk to him further and perhaps you can change his mind. If not...honor his wishes, and you have nothing to explain except that you are his son and you are enforcing his wishes. Doesn't mean you agree with his wishes. Hope this helps you with this heavy burden. Much love to you and your family, and may God bless and protect you...always.

Is it because he doesn't get along well with the rest of his family or is it because he doesn't want to burden them? If it's the latter and you think his family will truly care about his condition, I think it's important that they see him. Let your dad know that it's ok to release some of his responsibility and lean on others. Let others take care of him for once. Idk but i feel that knowing you have loved ones around you and that people care is a more serene way to go.

Also, dont just believe your doctors about how much tiem your dad has left. cancer is different for everyone and sometimes, with the right changes, he can unexpectedly outlast his prognosis.

All of what you have described sounds horrible, and confusing.

but honestly, for whatever reason, he doesn't want people to know how sick he is. Many people with terminal diseases don't want to tell or see relatives - they don't want to have to comfort others, and they don't want to be remembered looking as ill as they do.

Sometimes, when a person that close to dying doesn't tell old friends and family, it is because they don't want to waste any of the time they have left with people they don't really enjoy being with.

Whatever his reasons, i think you should respect them.

Because to disrespect the wishes of search a person is to say that what they want does not matter, and that is a really bad thing to say to someone who is already so ill.

That's tough..my mom died at home from cancer and there was some family she didn't want to "bother" telling the details and others she did..but he main concern is she didn't want people coming over and just looking at her. But they came and she was a trooper.....then she died...and they all went away....so I don't blame your dad maybe he knows something you don't. It's his life and support him no matter what. The time will go by so fast....

Try and convince your father to talk to them, and I'm sorry about his condition too ):