Abstract
Is there ever any reason for a doctor to lie to a patient? In this paper, we critically review the literature on lying to patients and challenge the common notion that while lying is unacceptable, a related entity--'benevolent deception' is defensible. Further, we outline a rare circumstance when treating psychotic patients where lying to the patient is justified. This circumstance is illustrated by a clinical vignette.
Full text
PDFSelected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Bakhurst D. On lying and deceiving. J Med Ethics. 1992 Jun;18(2):63–66. doi: 10.1136/jme.18.2.63. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Buchanan Allen. Medical paternalism. Philos Public Aff. 1978 Summer;7(4):370–390. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- FITTS W. T., Jr, RAVDIN I. S. What Philadelphia physicians tell patients with cancer. J Am Med Assoc. 1953 Nov 7;153(10):901–904. doi: 10.1001/jama.1953.02940270007002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Green R. S., Gantt A. B. Telling patients and families the psychiatric diagnosis: a survey of psychiatrists. Hosp Community Psychiatry. 1987 Jun;38(6):666–668. doi: 10.1176/ps.38.6.666. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Meyer B. C. Truth and the physician. Bull N Y Acad Med. 1969 Jan;45(1):59–71. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Morris M. Delusional infestation. Br J Psychiatry Suppl. 1991 Nov;(14):83–87. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Novack D. H., Plumer R., Smith R. L., Ochitill H., Morrow G. R., Bennett J. M. Changes in physicians' attitudes toward telling the cancer patient. JAMA. 1979 Mar 2;241(9):897–900. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Robinson J. A. The patient's right to know the truth. Proc R Soc Med. 1973 Jun;66(6):536–537. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]