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Summary Of Should Doctors Tell The Truth By Joseph Collins

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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
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