PHLB09H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Medical Terminology, Hysterectomy, Vertically Transmitted Infection
PHLB09- Reading #5 Chapter 4 pp.148-155
• Respect for Patients, Physicians, and the Truth
o Cullen and Klein that lying to patients even to benefit the patients is wrong because it limits the
patiet’s freedo to ake their o deisio
o But if the patients explicitly states that she does not want to know information about her
condition then the physician must respect her wishes
o Patiets do’t eed to ko the hole truth eause they ay not understand all the parts
of the truth (ex. Medical terminology)
o They just need to understand the nature and the seriousness of their condition
o There is a tradition that states if you use medicine to cure a patient and deceiving the patient
would contribute to the benefit of their health then they can deceive their patient
o Deception-to-benefit-the-patient (DBP) view has a prima facie appeal because at least it is
motivated by the physician to help the patient get better
o We only allow the deception to benefit the patients If it is morally acceptable
▪ E.g. e ould’t e ok ith a patiet killig a perso to get ital orga that ould
eefit their patiet, this is’t orally aeptale
• Respect for Persons
o DBP is’t aeptale purely eause it does’t show respect to the patient
o Humans are very rational beings because they are able to guide their actions by deliberation
o Treating humans with respect entails recognizing their autonomy and by allowing them to have
the freedom to make their own choices about their lives
• Disrespet ad the Physiia’s Good
o Dr.Mires is a gynecological surgeon that tells Ms.Sligh that he needs to get a hysterectomy
ee though there is’t ay edial proof to ake this deisio (she just ats to ake oey
off the surgery)
o This doctor is treating the patient with disrespect because the doctor is damaging the patiet’s
autonomy by giving her false information
• Disrespet ad the Patiet’s Good
o The few times a physician feels obligated to deceive their patient is if the patient is going to die
and there are no treatments that can extend their life
o In the case of Susan Cruz who was a single mom of a young child
▪ After she collapsed, the doctor found out that she has a brain tumor that is incurable
with treatment or surgery
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