Question 1

The obligation of truth-telling has been enshrined in codes of medical ethics from ancient times.

Accepted Answer

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Question 2

Moral dilemmas about disclosure and truth-telling in medicine often involve conflicts between a physician's duty to do no harm and the obligation of veracity.

Accepted Answer

Moral dilemmas in medicine frequently arise when the principle of non-maleficence, or the duty to do no harm, conflicts with the principle of veracity, which obligates healthcare professionals to tell the truth. This can occur in situations where disclosing the truth might cause distress or harm to a patient.

Question 3

Confidentiality concerns patients imparting information to health professionals who promise, implicitly or explicitly, not to disclose that information to others.

Accepted Answer

Confidentiality in healthcare refers to the obligation of healthcare professionals to keep a patient's personal health information private unless consent to release the information is provided by the patient. This includes information shared verbally or in written form.

Question 4

The obligation of confidentiality has been enshrined in codes of medical ethics from ancient times.

Accepted Answer

The Hippocratic Oath, dating back to ancient Greece, is one of the earliest examples where the obligation of confidentiality in medical practice was explicitly stated, indicating that the principle of confidentiality has been a cornerstone of medical ethics for centuries.

Question 5

The only arguments for confidentiality are consequentialist arguments.

Accepted Answer

There are both consequentialist and deontological arguments for confidentiality. Consequentialist arguments focus on the outcomes of maintaining confidentiality, such as trust in professional relationships, while deontological arguments emphasize the duty to respect individuals' rights to privacy and autonomy, regardless of outcomes.

Question 6

The law reflects an absolutist view of confidentiality.

Accepted Answer

The law often recognizes exceptions to confidentiality, such as cases involving threats to public safety, reporting child abuse, or when legal proceedings require disclosure.

Question 7

In Kantian ethics, the morality of truth-telling and confidentiality are unambiguous.

Accepted Answer

In Kantian ethics, truth-telling is considered a categorical imperative, meaning it is a moral duty that applies in all situations. Confidentiality is also considered a moral duty, as it is necessary to respect the privacy of others.

Question 8

A major threat to the traditional conception of confidentiality is bureaucratized health care systems.

Accepted Answer

Bureaucratized health care systems often involve multiple layers of administration and data handling, increasing the risk of breaches in patient confidentiality due to the extensive sharing and access to personal health information across various departments and entities.

Question 9

A Kantian would argue that the main reason for confidentiality is that disclosure of confidential medical information could have negative effects on the lives of patients. It might expose patients to discrimination, disrupt their personal relationships, and subject them to shame or public ridicule.

Accepted Answer

A Kantian would argue that the main reason for confidentiality is to respect the autonomy and dignity of the patient, rather than focusing primarily on the consequences of disclosure.

Question 10

Someone insisting that any breach of confidentiality undermines trust between physicians and patients and amounts to impermissible deception is arguing that the obligation to respect confidentiality is prima facie.

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Question 11

Skeptics of full disclosure often argue that physicians have no duty to tell patients the truth because patients are incapable of understanding the whole truth. Explain this argument in detail and offer one common objection to it.

Accepted Answer

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Question 12

Provide a consequentialist argument for confidentiality.

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Question 13

How would a Kantian assess the morality of the "duty to warn" in the context of confidentiality?

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Question 14

Explain how act- and rule-utilitarian arguments regarding the morality of truth-telling would differ.

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Question 15

Provide a basic outline of the Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California case, the result, and the bioethical conflict at its heart.

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Question 16

The Following Questions For Readings: "On Telling Patients the Truth," Mack Lipkin
-According to Lipkin, it is usually impossible to tell patients the whole truth because

Accepted Answer

Lipkin argues that the stress of being sick can affect patients' ability to process information, making it challenging to convey the whole truth effectively.

Question 17

The Following Questions For Readings: "On Telling Patients the Truth," Mack Lipkin
-Lipkins's attitude toward truth-telling is

Accepted Answer

Lipkin's attitude is paternalistic as he believes that sometimes withholding the truth from patients is justified to protect them from harm or distress.

Question 18

The Following Questions For Readings: "On Telling Patients the Truth," Mack Lipkin
-Lipkin says that the crucial question in truth-telling is whether the

Accepted Answer

Lipkin emphasizes the importance of the intention behind deception, suggesting that the crucial aspect to consider is whether the deception is aimed at benefiting the patient or the doctor, rather than the success of the deception or the patient's understanding of it.

Question 19

The Following Questions For Readings: "Is It Ever OK to Lie to Patients?" Shelly K. Schwartz
-Schwartz says that physicians are often forced to balance compassion with

Accepted Answer

Schwartz discusses the balance between compassion and the patient's right to know, highlighting the ethical dilemma physicians face when considering whether to withhold or disclose information to patients.

Question 20

The Following Questions For Readings: "Is It Ever OK to Lie to Patients?" Shelly K. Schwartz
-Schwartz says that the most common argument against obligatory truth-telling is

Accepted Answer

The most common argument against obligatory truth-telling, as mentioned by Shelly K. Schwartz, is concerned with the potential negative impact that the truth might have on a patient's physical or emotional state. This argument suggests that in some cases, knowing the full truth about a medical condition could harm the patient more than it helps.

Quiz 4: Truth-Telling and Confidentiality