Doctors and the Truth

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the issue of whether doctors should tell the truth to their patients. First, the paper explains the American Medical Association's (AMA) principles of medical ethics regarding the issue. Next, the paper discusses the line between the truth and a lie and to what extent a doctor can withhold information or soften the truth. The paper then presents a case study that examines the issue and discusses the writer's personal opinion on the matter.

From the Paper:

"With medical advances happening at lightening speed, choices like this will become more and more common. Truth is always the best option, but waking someone up to tell him/her that he/she is dying and that death will happen quickly seems inhumane to me. No matter that they are in some ways making the decision for her, they should also be shielding her from the pain of her choices by not waking her up. Patients would obviously prefer the autonomy of making their own medical decisions; this is just sometimes not possible. At least it is not possible without causing further stress and pain and anguish. Caregivers need to also think about compassion and sensitivity."

Sample of Sources Used:

• AMA (Ethics) Principles of Medical Ethics, Retrieved October 2, 2007 at Web Site: http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/2512.html
• Drane, Dr. James F., Honesty in Medicine: Should Doctors Tell the Truth?, Retrieved October 2, 2007 at Web Site: http://www.uchile.cl/bioetica/doc/honesty.htm
• Steinbock, Bonnie, Arras, John, and London, Alex John, Ethical Issues in Modern Medicine, 2003, 6th edition, pp.64-67.

More papers on Doctors and the Truth:

• Term Paper # 141698 : "To Tell The Truth"
• Research Paper # 2107 : "Illness of the President and the 25th Amendment"
• Case Study # 104472 : "Ethics and Dilemmas of Patient Care"

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