Just a thought -- since you describe the patient simply as a friend (and not a spouse or other relationship that would give you legal rights), as you embark upon these appointments you should make sure you and she do whatever is necessary legally to allow the doctors to speak to you with the detail you want/need to hear. There are probably privacy considerations that your friend will need to address so that medical personnel can speak with you frankly. And if she wants you to have input on her care (if she is unable to communicate for some reason), that needs to be taken care of as well.