Ethical dilemma:
The ethics of honesty and bad news
March 2005
You are a medical practitioner who has received test results confirming that an elderly patient has a terminal illness.
You have reason to believe that your patient will suffer grave emotional distress if told of the test results. You have spoken to the family of the patient who have stated that they feel she does not really want to know the truth and will suffer if she does know.
However, the patient subsequently asks you a direct question about her health and demands to be told the true situation.
Ethical questions:
- What are the issues?
- Who are the stakeholders?
- What should you do?
- What would you do?
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