My mother has been diagnosed with COPD

[Kris]

My mother has been sufferring with a nasty cough for some time, shortening of breath, constant respiratory infections, and abnormal weight loss..and now and has been diagnosed with COPD. No matter what we say to her, she doesn't want to stop smoking. She has 5 children and a husband and just doesn't seem to care what we think about her health. Since it doesn't seem like any type of an intervention will stop her, how can I help my family cope with my mother's health as it progresses into lung cancer? She recently had some CT scans done on in her pelvic region and her chest. She says the doctor has not gotten back to her. Can I speak to the doctor? Or are there legal issues with them releasing confidential information regarding her health?

[concerned]

privacy act, unless she gives permission no they cannot disclose her health information to you, however she needs to appoint someone a health representave in case she gets where she cannot make her wishes known