PHLB09H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Paternalism, Prima Facie, Jargon
Document Summary
Refusal to want to know (self imposed obstacle) Thesis: patients should be told truth to the extent that they can comprehend it (146) Given obstacles, comprehension level might dictate withholding truth. Supporting reasons: doctors can ascertain preference/need, placebos aren"t deceptive, only offers psychological support, question concerns consequence of withholding truth, total truth telling is practical impossibility (147, (not the strongest) Respect for patients, physicians and the truth cullen & klein. Claim: deceiving patients justified if it serves b. Thesis: p with respect to tt almost always morally impermissible. Lying to patient about lucrative but unnecessary procedure. Tf: impermissible to deceive for physician"s benefit. Physician tells terminally ill patient radiation may help; she dies soon after. Tf: impermissible to deceive for patient"s benefit. But otherwise, physician can"t decide what to withhold: patient may response negatively, or adjust life plants (e. g. , embryo screening for hd, disclosure is default position.
