Honesty in Physician-Patient Relationships
Honesty is a key component in creating positive relationships between physicians and their patients. Communication between doctors and patients that is honest fosters trust and respect. People may lose faith and confidence in their doctors and other medical professionals if essential information is withheld. Nonetheless, there are times when telling the truth can have major and negative consequences for the patient. As a result, it is vital for physicians to understand when it is appropriate to divulge certain information and when telling the truth may not be necessary.
Importance of Patient Knowledge
Patients have a right to knowledge if it is needed to make critical decisions that are not therapeutically relevant. For instance, patients need to be told if they are dying. Using that information, patients can make decisions on their will and inheritance and make peace with enemies (Baillie et al., 2012). Nonetheless, physicians can withhold information if they determine that disclosure will cause predictable harm. For instance, the disclosure of information that would make already depressed patients become suicidal.
Confidentiality in Medical Practice
Confidentiality is one of the major cornerstones in the practice of medicine. Providers are required to keep patient records private unless there is consent to disclose information. If confidentiality is violated trust in the providers-patient relationship would be destroyed.
Exceptions to Confidentiality
There are a few exceptions where the principle may be violated. For instance, if a person has a harmful communicable ailment, the law requires the providers to report such information to authorities. Another instance is when a patient gives explicit permission to doctors requiring them to share information with family members and other parties. However, if a patient is minor, doctors are under obligation to disclose medical information to their parents (Baillie et al., 2012).
Safeguarding Patient Privacy
Principles of confidentiality and honesty are well anchored in the practice of medicine. Any siege on these principles can destroy relationships and create distrust between patients and doctors. As such, physicians must make decisions that safeguard the privacy of the patients and only disclose information when it is absolutely necessary.
Reference
Baillie, H. M., McGeehan, J. M., & Garrett, R. M. (2012). Health Care Ethics. Pearson Higher Ed.
