deception, a moral cost or benefit.
The principle of nonmalficence that is, duty to do no harm and the principle of beneficience, the duty to act for the benefit of others have been encoded in medical ethics. Over the years physicians viewed the truth as something to hide or reveal as long as the patient isn’t harmed. This paternalistic approach is less common today. Now, The principle of autonomy and informed consent has taken over medical practice. The duty of a physician in a doctor- patient relationship, like any other relationship, demands truthfulness.
Lipkin argues that informed consent is impossible and advises that full disclosure must not be practiced, ‘‘to speak of telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth to …show more content…
Treating humans with respect means recognizing their sovereignty i.e. allowing them the freedom to make choices about their lives as long as it is in harmony with the freedom of others. Susan Cullen and Margaret Klien claim;‘humans are very rational beings’. We have the ability to guide our actions on the basis of what’s best for us, while resisting instinct or psychological conditioning. They argue that deceiving a patient fails to treat them with respect that is their right as being humans. “If we are each special because of our ability to make choices, then others should not destroy this ability or interfere with our exercise of it.” By restricting someones decision making, we fail to respect their right to autonomy. Deception for physicians seems acceptable only in cases that are very serious but again, they overestimate the result of deception. For example, 65-year-old Yagami visits Dr. Taylor with complaints of abdominal pain that is persistent but not intense. Workup reveals that he has metastatic cancer of the pancreas. Before giving his diagnosis, Dr. Taylor finds out that Yagami has just retired from a busy professional career, and he and his wife are about to leave on a round-the-world cruise that they 've desired since for a long time. He also finds out that they have no children and his wife has no one if he dies. After hearing this, …show more content…
when a physician understands the needs of his patient, communicates clearly about diagnostic results and appreciates suggestions of the patient, he or she exquisitely accomplishes the ethical and practical duties of a medical professional thereby avoiding any misunderstandings and malpractice law suites. It all relies on how sensitively the physician maneuvers his contact with the patient of interest. And, complete and truthful disclosure doesn’t have to be brutal if it is sensitively told to the patient by the physician and counseling is provided to avoid the aftermath. As Cullen and Klien say, “If we are each special because of our ability to make choices, then others should not destroy this ability or interfere with our exercise of
The principle of nonmalficence that is, duty to do no harm and the principle of beneficience, the duty to act for the benefit of others have been encoded in medical ethics. Over the years physicians viewed the truth as something to hide or reveal as long as the patient isn’t harmed. This paternalistic approach is less common today. Now, The principle of autonomy and informed consent has taken over medical practice. The duty of a physician in a doctor- patient relationship, like any other relationship, demands truthfulness.
Lipkin argues that informed consent is impossible and advises that full disclosure must not be practiced, ‘‘to speak of telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth to …show more content…
Treating humans with respect means recognizing their sovereignty i.e. allowing them the freedom to make choices about their lives as long as it is in harmony with the freedom of others. Susan Cullen and Margaret Klien claim;‘humans are very rational beings’. We have the ability to guide our actions on the basis of what’s best for us, while resisting instinct or psychological conditioning. They argue that deceiving a patient fails to treat them with respect that is their right as being humans. “If we are each special because of our ability to make choices, then others should not destroy this ability or interfere with our exercise of it.” By restricting someones decision making, we fail to respect their right to autonomy. Deception for physicians seems acceptable only in cases that are very serious but again, they overestimate the result of deception. For example, 65-year-old Yagami visits Dr. Taylor with complaints of abdominal pain that is persistent but not intense. Workup reveals that he has metastatic cancer of the pancreas. Before giving his diagnosis, Dr. Taylor finds out that Yagami has just retired from a busy professional career, and he and his wife are about to leave on a round-the-world cruise that they 've desired since for a long time. He also finds out that they have no children and his wife has no one if he dies. After hearing this, …show more content…
when a physician understands the needs of his patient, communicates clearly about diagnostic results and appreciates suggestions of the patient, he or she exquisitely accomplishes the ethical and practical duties of a medical professional thereby avoiding any misunderstandings and malpractice law suites. It all relies on how sensitively the physician maneuvers his contact with the patient of interest. And, complete and truthful disclosure doesn’t have to be brutal if it is sensitively told to the patient by the physician and counseling is provided to avoid the aftermath. As Cullen and Klien say, “If we are each special because of our ability to make choices, then others should not destroy this ability or interfere with our exercise of