[Ethical issues in multiple sclerosis under physicians and patients point of view]

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurologic disorder that mostly affects young adults and can usually evolute to physical disability. Thus, caring patients with MS brings many ethic questions for the physician.

To identify physicians and patients' perceptions about the illness and so improve doctor-patient relationship.

It was made two different questionnaires, one for patients and another for physicians, 103 patients and 44 physicians answered them.

96.1% of patients knew their diagnosis, all others would like to know it. From those, 74.7% thought that that way it was disclosured was correct and 90.9% said that the doctor should tell us it. The worst symptoms described were fatigue (29.1%) and motor deficits (28.1%). By other side, 68% of patients told they suffered because of the illness. The most important reason for doctors to tell the diagnosis to the patients was to improve adherence to treatment (56.8%). A familiar present at this moment was demanded for 54.6% of doctors. When asked about orientations in a pregnancy, 50% of physicians did not answer correctly. Finally, 50% of physicians were against complementary and alternative therapies.

Patients want to know their diagnosis and doctors should tell them in the most adequate moment and give more information. A debate about palliative care is also necessary.