PHI 2396 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: American Medical Association, Kantian Ethics, Consequentialism
10 Jan 2018
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Document Summary
Until 1980 the american medical association code did not say anything about honesty. The overriding principal was always bene cence, doing no harm, and it was recognized sometimes the truth could be harmful. Now honesty is standard and physicians are trained in sensitivity to best meet patient needs whilst giving them the whole truth about their condition. Some fear telling the truth about conditions where the patient will surely die and has very little time left will cause depression, ruin their nal days, tempt them to suicide, and many other tragic things. Deception breeds distrust - if it is now doctors do not always tell the truth or only tell us what we want to hear we will not know when to believe them. Some believe the truth should not be forced upon those who do not wish to know the extent of their medical prognosis.
