Truth Telling in Medicine

Abstract

The viewpoints of L.J. Henderson, Sissela Bok, and Joseph Ellin on the nature and importance of truthfulness in the physician-patient relationship are examined in relation to various types of specific medical situations. While the theoretical models of Henderson and Ellin would more frequently justify deception by physicians for benevolent purposes, the author thinks that their approach may appear to work simply because many patients have been conditioned not to ask physicians confrontational questions. (KIE abstract)