A recent law passed in Arizona allows doctors to withhold critical information during antenatal consultations regarding congenital abnormalities diagnosed during pregnancy (so that the parent will not be enticed to abort their three-headed offspring). There is something fundamentally disturbing about this type of lying. But then, where does one draw the line at lying to patients? If I haven't lied, I certainly haven't always told the whole truth.
I’ve personally never been great with handing out earth-shatteringly bad news and recall once telling a patient in their HIV post-test counselling that, “Yes, you have HIV, but please don’t look so anxious. There are some really great drugs around and by taking them we can make HIV into a chronic disease. So really thing are going to be great!” Admittedly a tad upbeat - really a bit like telling someone they have cancer, " But it's no biggie!"
A recent study published in Health Affairs, shed light on the fact that I'm not alone. The truth (as best we know it) in medicine can be a very unpleasant thing. Apparently one-fifth of my colleagues feel that the whole, unadulterated truth can sometimes cause more harm than good. Maybe we’re all just whoosies. But then don't we all need a smidgeon of hope along with the rest of our prescription?
A recent study published in Health Affairs, shed light on the fact that I'm not alone. The truth (as best we know it) in medicine can be a very unpleasant thing. Apparently one-fifth of my colleagues feel that the whole, unadulterated truth can sometimes cause more harm than good. Maybe we’re all just whoosies. But then don't we all need a smidgeon of hope along with the rest of our prescription?
Liar liar pants on fire. I personally always want to be told the truth but I think there are ways and ways in which to give someone bad news or admit you don't know and refer to someone else. Not all doctors have that skill or tact and it is okay to admit you don't know everything. No one does.
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