Preview

Summary Of Should Doctors Tell The Truth By Joseph Collins

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
299 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Summary Of Should Doctors Tell The Truth By Joseph Collins
In this paper, I will be discussing Joseph Collins article, “Should Doctors Tell the Truth”, and more specifically his second premise. Collins second premise states, the truth can harm the patient. I will be countering this premise because patients should be told the truth whether it is good or bad. Withholding information from a patient to “protect” them form the truth is wrong because all information, whether good or bad, has meaning to the patient. The truth to a patient has intrinsic value. Given that the truth can be the meaning of life or death in some situations, this is where the truth has intrinsic value to people. Collins describes situations where the patient dies whether they were told the truth or not, however he makes a
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Biomedical Ethics Philosophy 3514
    • 2183 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Biomedical Ethics Philosophy 3514

    In discussing the difficult subject of biomedical ethics, there are different scenarios that play out differently because of people’s views about morality. Consider the scenario of an eighty year-old man whom we will call Mr. Simpson. Years of getting the flu with complications has left Mr. Simpson’s lungs very weak and unable to take another year of the flu. In fact another year of the flu will likely kill him. He does not want the flu shot because he sincerely believes that the actual flu shot will give him the flu. With further research, the doctor and the family find that Mr. Simpson will accept an immune boosting shot only. If the physician lies to Mr. Simpson about the injection then he will accept it. What it all boils down to is, if the physician tells the truth, then Mr. Simpson will refuse the flu shot, likely contract the flu, and possibly die. On the other hand, if the physician lies to Mr. Simpson, then he will accept the flu shot and potentially be okay for the next flu season. The dilemma lies in what the physician should do; lie to the patient or be truthful.…

    • 2183 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Applying Ethical Frameworks in Practice - 1
    • 1172 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Applying Ethical Frameworks in Practice - 1

    Can you keep a secret? That question could quite possibly contain the most intriguing words uttered between two people! When spoken, they ignite a flame of curiosity within the hearer that will not be extinguished until the sacred secret is whispered. An explicit trust is expected with such a disclosure; a trust that, when broken, can destroy a relationship. When that “secret,” or confidence, is exchanged between a patient and healthcare provider, however, a whole new level of discretion is required. This paper will explore the meaning of confidentiality in the healthcare setting, define the meaning of a breach of that confidentiality, and determine when it is ethical for a healthcare provider to break a patient’s confidence.…

    • 1172 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    What's The Trouble, By Jerome Groopman
    • 640 Words
    • 3 Pages

    What's The Trouble, By Jerome Groopman

    If we seem doubtful of the assumption that one is morally upright simply because he or she has a career in medicine, we are struck with a seemingly viable counterargument: all doctors must take the Hippocratic Oath in which they “solemnly” swear to “uphold a number of professional ethical standards” (www.nlm.nih.gov). If we still remain unconvinced as to the universal rectitude of all clinicians, we are belittled and then told that doctors do have our best intentions in mind, as they spent years and countless amounts of money thoroughly studying every aspect of the human body. For why would anyone spend 12 years and half a million dollars for any other reason than to carefully heal and nurture the body of his fellow man? Most of the time, our reliance on “authority heuristics” is rewarded as it is noted that the “majority of physicians” take the words of Hippocrates to heart and refrain from “abus[ing] their patients” (Pesta 4).…

    • 640 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    PHIL Case Study 1
    • 1463 Words
    • 5 Pages

    PHIL Case Study 1

    Health care, as the name implies, concerns the health and well being of individuals. Although physical aspects of health are particularly important in assessing a person’s well being, there are many other factors that determine whether a person is truly well, with factors such as happiness and psychological wellness playing an equally important role. As doctors attempt to maximize the well being of their patients, they must also keep into consideration their responsibilities and duties towards the general good. In cases such as Scott Starson’s, these varying allegiances can clash, with the apparent well being of a patient potentially bringing harm onto bystanders within society. To better understand the mechanics in these situations, one has to understand the many biomedical ethical concepts and particularities that concern both the patient and the doctor.…

    • 1463 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Should Doctors Tell The Truth By Joseph Collins
    • 315 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Should Doctors Tell The Truth By Joseph Collins

    In Collins reading, “Should Doctors Tell the Truth?” there is an excusable argument on why should doctors lie to their patients. Joseph Collins who depends and claims doctors lying to their patients. As he states, “Were I on the witness stand... I should answer in the negative and appeal...for permission to qualify my answer” (Collins, pg.211).…

    • 315 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Ethical and Legal Concepts in Human Services
    • 2792 Words
    • 12 Pages

    Ethical and Legal Concepts in Human Services

    Respect for persons is compiled of telling the truth, confidentiality, fidelity and autonomy. Within the medical field it is important that people make informed decisions, always being honest is very important, this is where truth telling comes into place. Confidentiality is…

    • 2792 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Summary Of The Hospital By Roy Porter
    • 412 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Summary Of The Hospital By Roy Porter

    This restriction of information by the doctor ignoring the patient's concerns and beliefs because of the demands of medical discourse and system, it seriously compromises the quality of patient care (not just physical but also mentally). One line that stood to me was that the restriction of information may “arise out of a structural imperative in the medical profession to protect itself from scrutiny”. Where do see the demands of medical discourse occurring in our other readings? For example, in the case pseudo-patients we read earlier this semester. In addition, what might be the purpose of alternative medicine can serve here to help fill the gaps between doctor-patient interactions (can they provide need information to the patient?)?…

    • 412 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Patient Confidentiality Research Paper
    • 98 Words
    • 1 Page

    Patient Confidentiality Research Paper

    Confidentiality is central of trust in the doctor-patient relationship. Doctors diagnose and treat sickness based on information given to them by the patient in confidence. Confidentiality is a main condition which allows patients to communicate their symptoms, experience, beliefs, concerns and expectations about their disease and their treatment. Confidentiality is essential to safeguard a patient’s dignity, respect, privacy and autonomy and extends after death. The safeguarding of patient confidentiality is a main principle of medical ethics which dates back to the Hippocratic Oath. Confidentiality is both a patient’s right and a doctor’s duty.…

    • 98 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Should Doctors Tell The Truth By Joseph Collins
    • 375 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Should Doctors Tell The Truth By Joseph Collins

    As I read, Should Doctors Tell the Truth by Joseph Collins I began to agree with Collins argument. Collin’s argues that doctors must frequently withhold the truth from their patients, which is equivalent to lying to them and should cultivate lying as a fine art. At the same time, no doctor has the right to tell a patient point blank that they have a major disease like epilepsy, dementia praecox etc. only after observation for a long period. In this piece Collins has 4 premises. Collins premises are the four types of patients who ask for the truth.…

    • 375 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Confidentiality Vs Conundrum Essay
    • 2057 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Confidentiality Vs Conundrum Essay

    This report will examine the ethical conundrum of patient confidentiality vs. a doctor’s duty to warn a patient of a potential health risk (see Appendix one for scenario). Primarily, this report will argue that patient confidentiality cannot be overruled, as there is not adequate legal or ethical reasoning to do so and as such, Jane’s doctor should not inform her children of their potential mutated gene.…

    • 2057 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Importance Of Professionalism In Healthcare
    • 282 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Importance Of Professionalism In Healthcare

    Health care providers should exercise integrity with all interactions because trust is such an essential component of the patient-physician relationship. A vulnerable patient that doubts their provider's honesty and moral judgment is at risk of noncompliance and avoidance of further treatment,…

    • 282 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Why Is Confidentiality Important
    • 304 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Why Is Confidentiality Important

    Patients routinely communicate personal information with health care providers. On the off chance that the classifications of this information were not secured, trust in the doctor or health care provider relationship would be reduced. Patients would be less inclined to share sensitive information, which could adversely affect their care. Confidentiality is integral to the improvement of trust amongst specialists and patients. Patients must have the capacity to expect that information about their wellbeing is kept private unless there is a convincing reason that it ought not to be. There is additionally a solid open enthusiasm for secrecy as people who need treatment will be urged to look for treatment and…

    • 304 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Professional Honesty In Nursing
    • 120 Words
    • 1 Page

    Professional Honesty In Nursing

    Professional honesty is about the physician knowing the limits of his or her own competence and when to refer to someone else for help. There is nothing shameful about not knowing the solution to a medical problem. It is dangerous to fake competence or pretend to know things. A statement by the Medical Council, Disclosure of harm, acknowledges that all medical treatment carries risk and encourages physicians to disclose where a patient has been harmed as the result of their medical care. The Council quotes research that indicates a patient is more likely to complain if a physician fails to disclose harm to the patient, or if the disclosure is not done in an open and honest manner (Corkill,…

    • 120 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Standard of Care and Medical Practice
    • 1083 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Standard of Care and Medical Practice

    Everyday Health care professionals are entrusted with people’s health care and, therefore, their lives. The nation does not give this responsibility softly; it comes with the reasonable conditions that Heath care providers, who are the ones that the patients trust, obey by rigid professional, ethical and legal standards.…

    • 1083 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Hippocratic Oath Essay
    • 803 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Hippocratic Oath Essay

    It may also result in the distrust of the person concealing the information. Hippocrates pledges to use his best judgement and ability when treating those who are sick. “I will abstain from…

    • 803 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics