When is it justified for me to withhold the truth from a patient?

[IMG SURVIVOR]

When is it justified for me to withhold the truth from a patient?

There are two main situations in which it is justified to withhold the truth from a patient. As noted above, if the physicians has compelling evidence that disclosure will cause real and predictable harm, truthful disclosure may be withheld. Examples might include disclosure that would make a depressed patient actively suicidal. This judgment, often referred to as the "therapeutic privilege," is important but also subject to abuse. Hence it is important to invoke this only in those instances when the harm seems very likely, not merely hypothetical.
The second circumstance is if the patient him- or herself states an informed preference not to be told the truth. Some patients might ask that the physician instead consult family members, for instance. In these cases, it is critical that the patient give thought to the implications of abdicating their role in decision making. If they chose to make an informed decision not to be informed, however, this preference should be respected.









again please chare your 2 cents

[md90]

also in emergency situations such as in a "code"; or after you assess the patient and realize that the patient does not understand or lacks the capacity to make a decision re: healthcare (might require a social worker to get involved);