A New Perspective on Challenges in Truth-telling to Patients
Background and Objectives: Patient autonomy is a recognized principle in modern medical ethics, and truth-telling to the patient; thus, it holds special importance for its contribution to this principle. In practice, however, several challenges emerge that can lead to different responses. T...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Qom University of Medical Sciences
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Health, Spirituality and Medical Ethics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://jhsme.muq.ac.ir/article-1-387-en.html |
| _version_ | 1819094138848542720 |
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| author | Jannat Mashayekhi saeedeh saeedi tehrani Mohsen Rezaei Adaryani |
| author_facet | Jannat Mashayekhi saeedeh saeedi tehrani Mohsen Rezaei Adaryani |
| author_sort | Jannat Mashayekhi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background and Objectives: Patient autonomy is a recognized principle in modern medical
ethics, and truth-telling to the patient; thus, it holds special importance for its contribution to this
principle. In practice, however, several challenges emerge that can lead to different responses.
This difference is more marked in studies conducted in the Eastern and Muslim countries due
to variations in cultural and religious beliefs. Truth-telling is a challenging concept respecting
placebos, medical errors, and delivering bad news on diagnosis and treatment to patients.
Methods: This study employed an unsystematic review of library and online sources, as well as
databases, including Google Scholar, Springer, PubMed, Ovid, and relevant Persian papers in an
attempt to provide an overview of this concept and study the Islamic view, particularly the Shi’ite
perspective, and the predominant approaches employed in Muslim countries.
Results: Islamic scripture and hadith strongly advocate honesty and truth-telling. However,
maleficence to patients and exposing them to serious harm is unallowed, and withholding the
whole or a part of the truth; even lying is justified in extreme cases.
Conclusion: Essentially, the philosophy of medicine is based on helping patients and reducing
their pains. Considering the unique condition of each patient, a perfect solution cannot be
prescribed for all of them and the same strategy to manage all cases. The emphasis on truth-telling
in the Islamic view is no less than other schools of thought. However, if disclosing the truth may
expose the patient to certain, serious biopsychological risks, denying the whole or a part of the
truth might be advisable; even in frequent cases, lying can be justified to protect the patient. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T23:22:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-273a4e0d17fb42c19c8897b63c1f8acb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2322-4304 2383-3610 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T23:22:39Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | Qom University of Medical Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health, Spirituality and Medical Ethics |
| spelling | doaj.art-273a4e0d17fb42c19c8897b63c1f8acb2022-12-21T18:46:44ZengQom University of Medical SciencesHealth, Spirituality and Medical Ethics2322-43042383-36102021-08-0182133140A New Perspective on Challenges in Truth-telling to PatientsJannat Mashayekhi0saeedeh saeedi tehrani1Mohsen Rezaei Adaryani2 Medical Ethics Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Spiritual Health Research Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran. AND, Department of Philosophy and Ethics of Health, Faculty of Health and Religion, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran. Department of Medical Ethics, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Background and Objectives: Patient autonomy is a recognized principle in modern medical ethics, and truth-telling to the patient; thus, it holds special importance for its contribution to this principle. In practice, however, several challenges emerge that can lead to different responses. This difference is more marked in studies conducted in the Eastern and Muslim countries due to variations in cultural and religious beliefs. Truth-telling is a challenging concept respecting placebos, medical errors, and delivering bad news on diagnosis and treatment to patients. Methods: This study employed an unsystematic review of library and online sources, as well as databases, including Google Scholar, Springer, PubMed, Ovid, and relevant Persian papers in an attempt to provide an overview of this concept and study the Islamic view, particularly the Shi’ite perspective, and the predominant approaches employed in Muslim countries. Results: Islamic scripture and hadith strongly advocate honesty and truth-telling. However, maleficence to patients and exposing them to serious harm is unallowed, and withholding the whole or a part of the truth; even lying is justified in extreme cases. Conclusion: Essentially, the philosophy of medicine is based on helping patients and reducing their pains. Considering the unique condition of each patient, a perfect solution cannot be prescribed for all of them and the same strategy to manage all cases. The emphasis on truth-telling in the Islamic view is no less than other schools of thought. However, if disclosing the truth may expose the patient to certain, serious biopsychological risks, denying the whole or a part of the truth might be advisable; even in frequent cases, lying can be justified to protect the patient.http://jhsme.muq.ac.ir/article-1-387-en.htmlphysician-patient relationshiptruth disclosuremuslimsdelivering bad newserror disclosure |
| spellingShingle | Jannat Mashayekhi saeedeh saeedi tehrani Mohsen Rezaei Adaryani A New Perspective on Challenges in Truth-telling to Patients Health, Spirituality and Medical Ethics physician-patient relationship truth disclosure muslims delivering bad news error disclosure |
| title | A New Perspective on Challenges in Truth-telling to
Patients |
| title_full | A New Perspective on Challenges in Truth-telling to
Patients |
| title_fullStr | A New Perspective on Challenges in Truth-telling to
Patients |
| title_full_unstemmed | A New Perspective on Challenges in Truth-telling to
Patients |
| title_short | A New Perspective on Challenges in Truth-telling to
Patients |
| title_sort | new perspective on challenges in truth telling to patients |
| topic | physician-patient relationship truth disclosure muslims delivering bad news error disclosure |
| url | http://jhsme.muq.ac.ir/article-1-387-en.html |
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