Who Is Ethically Obligated To Disclose To Patients?

INTRODUCTION

Anxiety prior to surgery is common, indeed up to 80% of patients will experience it (1, 9). With anxiety disorders affecting approximately 15% of the UK population (2, 3, 9), preoperative situational anxiety may significantly exacerbate an existing anxiety disorder. While anxiety can be expected in the preoperative period, research demonstrates has been shown to have that it has negatives effects in the postoperative period, from increased postoperative pain to decreased wound healing, and long-term psychological distress (4-9). This raises the question of whether doctors are ethically obligated to tell their patients the truth and just how much information should a doctor disclose to their patient? Are there any situations when disclosure is ethically objectionable? One such possible exception to disclosure is the “therapeutic privilege”. Segen 's Medical Dictionary defines therapeutic privilege as:

However, this essay will deliberate if therapeutic privilege is ever justified and if it can withstand ethical analysis (10).

DISCLOSURE OF