How hard should I nag my dad to go for this echocardiogram?

[falstaff1980]

My dad is 82 and has pretty much resigned himself to being housebound, and refuses to go to the hospital because he's very weak and frail (BMI of 16.9), and because he can't stand hospitals. He has an appointment for an echocardiogram tomorrow as the doctors suspect he might have a blocked valve that's causing a lot of his weakness. He postponed this last time because he didn't feel up to going to the hospital, and I suspect he is going to want to cancel again. On the one hand I want to respect his wishes to not go to the hospital, but on the other hand if this test is the key to getting him better and giving him a good few more years than I really want him to go.

I’d turn up at his house and do my utmost to get him there. My MIL was very weak, ended up collapsing and rushed to A+E then had a stent fitted. The difference it made to her was immense!

focus on the complete waste of nhs time and resource if he cancels so last minute. Added to which, wasting an appointment that could have gone to someone else. Finally, plain rude to cancel so last minute.

Let’s assume it’s a blocked valve

if they want to put in a stent, would he want that and is he okay to undergo that procedure? It’s not huge but obviously frailty is a factor. I’m not good with BMI but mum is underweight and I don’t think she’d want to have a stent fitted.

If his stenosed valve is aortic and it’s severe and he is symptomatic, untreated he is likely to die within 6 months statistically speaking without treatment, so tell him that. They can replace these valves through the leg, he wouldn’t be a candidate for open heart surgery due to his age and frailty, so he doesn’t need to worry about that and he would immediately feel much much better, likely to go home the next day.