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Related Experiment Videos

Should physicians tell patients the truth?

A Asai1

  • 1Department of General Internal Medicine, Kashiwa Hospital, Jikei University School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan.

The Western Journal of Medicine
|July 1, 1995
PubMed
Summary

Most patients desire truth about cancer diagnoses. Physicians should ask about patient preferences for disclosure to avoid harm and improve care, addressing a key ethical dilemma.

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Area of Science:

  • Medical Ethics
  • Patient Communication
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Most patients prefer to know their cancer diagnosis.
  • Physicians often withhold diagnoses despite patient wishes.
  • Current practices may not align with patient preferences for truth-telling.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To address the ethical dilemma of truth-telling in cancer diagnosis.
  • To highlight the importance of patient preferences in medical disclosure.
  • To propose a strategy for improving physician-patient communication regarding diagnoses.

Main Methods:

  • Review of medical literature on patient preferences for disclosure.
  • Analysis of physician practices regarding truth-telling.
  • Proposal of a communication strategy based on patient inquiry.

Main Results:

  • Evidence indicates a strong patient desire for disclosure of cancer diagnoses.
  • Physician hesitation to disclose diagnoses persists across many countries.
  • Ignoring patient preferences can lead to adverse outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Physicians must inquire about patients' preferences for diagnosis disclosure.
  • Adopting a habit of asking preferences resolves the ethical dilemma.
  • Understanding patient preferences is crucial for effective treatment and care.
Keywords:
Empirical ApproachProfessional Patient Relationship

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