Truth-telling by physicians is one of the most important ethical considerations in the healthcare filed. Physicians have an important role not only in handling but also dispensing information to the patient. According to research, a majority of the patients would want to be informed about their state of health. A survey conducted revealed that up to 80% of the respondents intimated that they would want to be informed of their health condition even if it was a severe condition such as cancer (Vaughn, 2010). Therefore, when assessing the issue of moral and empirical grounds, the physicians should at all times tell the truth to the patient. However, some patients do not show the desire to be informed of their medical conditions. Therefore, the argument that arises is as to whether the physicians are justified to presume that patients want to gain information regarding their state of health. Human beings are rational agents who must always be provided with the necessary information regarding their health to ensure they make important decisions.
It is essential for physicians always to remain aware that patients are above any other thing humans. Informing patients of their health information should always be regarded as their default position. It is therefore morally wrong for a physician to make unwarranted assumptions that a patient might not want to get information regarding their information for reasons best known to them. Additionally, physicians have a moral obligation to determine if the patient wants to know their health information or not. In acting ethically, in case of doubt, the physicians are required to make genuine efforts to note whether the patient would want to be informed about their ethical conditions. Vaughn (2010) asserted that in a physician-patient relationship, the medical practitioner always has the stronger position and as such, it is incumbent upon them to determine how much the patient would want to know. Research has proven beyond any reasonable doubt that patients would always want to be made aware of matters regarding their health condition.
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I believe that this argument and physicians should at all times provide the patients with their information unless they have acquired prior information that justifies otherwise. It would be wrong for a physician to assume that a patient does not deserve to be informed of their condition so long as there is a reason to prove that the individual in question is rational. As part of the truth-telling, the physicians must also be in a position to accept their ignorance and a lack of knowledge. Many patients are cognizant of the fact that physicians are not all-knowing (Vaughn, 2010). Part of acting morally requires the physicians to recognize their limitations and also show the urge to refer to a patient to someone more knowledgeable in the field in question. It is foolhardy to argue that physicians have huge medical jargons that patients cannot understand. All that matters in their explanation is that the patient receives the much-needed understanding to appreciate the nature of their illnesses and the risk associated with certain therapies.
The best ethical theory that could be used in capturing this ethical dilemma is virtue ethics. It is a moral theory that aims at developing virtuous characters in individuals. The theory emphasizes that the most critical thing in the moral life of an individual is their character. A virtuous character is primarily hallmarked by values and moral conducts that naturally arise (Vaughn, 2010). Virtues enable an individual to remain within the realms of excellence and further provide individuals with the impetus to act rightly due to moral motivation. Truth-telling by a physician is, therefore, one of the essential aspects of virtuous behavior. It promotes excellence in that it enables the patients to make a critical decision regarding their healthcare. Furthermore, it portrays the very role that physicians are called to do and that entails treating the patients honestly and diligently. Failure to tell the patient the truth has many adverse effects that impact patient health. They remain in the dark with regards to the severity of their conditions, and most fundamentally, they are not in a position to determine the prognosis of their conditions.
In virtue ethics, a person's actions are not guided by rules but rather asking themselves what essentially a virtuous person would do. There is a section of physicians who have attempted to justify cheating the patient. Currently, no available data has demonstrated the impact of cheating on improving the health of the patient. Secondly, lying to the patient robs them of their autonomous powers. It only has hypothetically benefits because it temporarily keeps the patients from fear and anxiety. Although the consequences of hiding the truth could have short-term gains, they are intrinsically wrong and do not reflect the position of a physician who is supposed to be a healer.
In conclusion, human beings are rational agents who must always be provided with the necessary information regarding their health to ensure they make important decisions. Truth-telling continues to be a significant point of discussion in medical ethics. Research continues to illustrate that many patients prefer being told the truth. Physicians have a higher calling, and their role encompasses saving lives. As a result, they should at all times be guided by virtue ethics which asserts that positive characters or virtues should at all times guide ethical decision-making regardless of the outcome.
Reference
Vaughn, L. (2010). Bioethics: Principles, issues, and cases. Third Edition Oxford University Press
