Truth telling and
confidentiality problems arise daily in the medical field. As a physician, it
is his/her duty to tell the patient the truth if the patient wants to know, but
in some cases is it morally right to tell the truth? Let’s look at an example
for more clarification. A family of four, a father, a mother, and two children,
got into a fatal car accident. The mother and two children were declared dead
at the scene and the father was taken to the hospital with very serious
injuries that require surgery. As he was being rushed to the operating room, he
asks the doctor how his wife and children are doing. The doctor says that
"they are being cared for". Was it morally right for the doctor to
lie? What would you say if you were the doctor?
Cases like these can get
very controversial because our society thinks that it is morally wrong to
lie. But is it okay to lie in some instances? I thought of this example as if I
was in the situation myself, first as if I was in the father’s shoes, and
second as if I was in the doctor’s shoes. If I was in the father’s shoes, I would
want to know how my family is doing. By asking the doctor, I would think I am
ready to hear the truth and nothing but the truth. But as the doctor, I would
want to save this father’s live. By telling the father the truth, it could
cause the father to feel responsible and guilt for the deaths right before the surgery.
The father could lose hope and just tell the doctor that he doesn't want to get
treated and wants to die with his family. Personally I wouldn't think it’s fair
for the live that could be saved. Yes, the father will have to go through emotional
and physical pain, but it can be overcome. Also telling the father after the surgery
could put the doctor’s reputation at risk. Sadly, cases like this happen every day.