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There are two main situations in which it is justified to withhold the truth from a patient. As noted above, if the physicians has compelling evidence that disclosure will cause real and predictable harm, truthful disclosure may be withheld.
Is it ever appropriate to withhold the truth from a patient?
Withholding medical information from patients without their knowledge or consent is ethically unacceptable. Physicians should encourage patients to specify their preferences regarding communication of their medical information, preferably before the information becomes available.
What does it mean to withhold the truth?
Withholding information is the suppression of truth rather than the expression of untruth that characterises a lie. Both are designed to deceive, but withholding information makes a secret of the truth – it doesn’t distort it. Lying depends on spoiling the truth, and so undermines the very basis of justice.
Is it ethical to withhold information?
Except in emergency situations in which a patient is incapable of making an informed decision, withholding information without the patient’s knowledge or consent is ethically unacceptable.
Are there reasons why we should withhold information?
If disclosure of certain information is deemed harmful to patients, the doctor may be justified in withholding such information. This enables doctors to uphold rather than violate the ethical principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence.
Do doctors have to tell patients the truth?
Health professionals are expected to always tell the truth. This is based on the argument that, lying is wrong and disrespecting the person’s autonomy is not right. However, this may not necessarily be the case, as the ‘right not to know’ the truth, should as well be respected by them.
Do patients really want to hear the truth?
Contrary to what many physicians have thought in the past, a number of studies have demonstrated that patients do want their physicians to tell them the truth about diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy. For instance, 90% of patients surveyed said they would want to be told of a diagnosis of cancer or Alzheimer’s disease.
Is hiding the truth lying?
No it’s deception not lying. There are many methods of deception, lying being the most prominent. Lying is bad because it’s a form of deception. You can of course deceive someone into thinking the opposite of what’s true using entirely truthful statements, that doesn’t make it any better.
Is it ethical to tell the truth?
Truth-telling or honesty is seen as a basic moral principle, rule, or value. Withholding information or otherwise deceiving the patient would seem to at least disrespect patient autonomy and potentially harm the patient. It means allowing patients to be in control of the course of their lives to the extent possible.
What is it called when someone hides the truth?
Prevarication is when someone tells a lie, especially in a sneaky way. While the noun prevarication is mostly just a fancy way to say “lie,” it can also mean skirting around the truth, being vague about the truth, or even delaying giving someone an answer, especially to avoid telling them the whole truth.
Is it legal for a doctor to withhold medication?
Know your rights! As someone with a diagnosed, painful condition, your care team has a moral and ethical obligation to help you. In saying this, your physician can refuse you pain medication or deny you as a patient.
Can doctors legally lie to patients?
A court could consider any lie that affects a patient’s ability to give their informed consent a breach of duty and bring forward a medical malpractice lawsuit. A doctor’s duty of care states that the physician must give enough information for the patient to provide informed consent.
What is withholding in a relationship?
What Is Emotional Withholding In Relationships? Emotional withholding is a situation when a person uses their love and affection, praise or even their presence against their partner. It could be their way of staying in charge, avoiding humiliation or even hurting their partner, deliberately or not.
Can doctors withhold information from parents?
(Cal. Family Code § 6925). The health care provider is not permitted to inform a parent or legal guardian without the minor’s consent. The provider can only share the minor’s medical information with them with a signed authorization from the minor.
Should patients know their diagnosis?
The bottom line is the patient does have a right to know his or her diagnosis, for two main ethical reasons: 1) it is the patient’s information, not anyone else’s, so the patient is entitled to that information; and 2) there will always be additional decisions to make, even if the diagnosis is terminal, so the patient.
Why doctors should not lie to patients?
Although deception in medicine is generally wrong, as it tends to undermine patients’ autonomy and erode the trust between doctor and patient, the ethical duty to be honest is not absolute.
Why do doctors lie to their patients?
Patients lie to avoid negative consequences, to achieve secondary gain (eg, to obtain medication or disability payments), out of embarrassment or shame, or to present themselves in a better light (eg, as dutiful and compliant).
Do doctors tell patients they are dying?
Indeed, most doctors consider open communication about death vital, research shows. A 2018 telephone survey of physicians found that nearly all thought end-of-life discussions were important — but fewer than a third said they had been trained to have them.
Is better to tell the truth?
Telling the truth is important because it will help everybody to grow. When you learn how to properly express your feelings and share those with other people, it creates a closer connection. Perhaps you decide to lie to your significant other and tell them that you’re not upset after you’ve had a fight.
Why is it important to be open and honest if things go wrong?
Similarly, you must be open and honest with your organisation about ‘near misses’, i.e. incidents that had the potential to cause harm but did not do so. Such occurrences can provide important opportunities for learning and preventing harm in the future.
