Joseph Collins Lying

Joseph Collins argues, that physicians “must frequently withhold the truth from their patients, which is tantamount to telling them a lie” (p 192).

The withholding information from a patient is equivalent to lying. The argument or question of concern is whether doctors are obligated to tell the truth. Further, is omitting or withholding information from the client a means of lying?

Many physicians are faced with the decision of how much information they tell their patient. In Collins article, he discusses how a physician is faced with the dilemma of evaluating how the information will affect the progress or outcome of their patients. Today, this same issue is being addressed, as well as from the view of a consumer regarding violation of their rights. Advancement in technology and threats of malpractice lawsuits are increasing.

Collins argument strategy is that physicians are considered an expert and a professional in their field of study. Therefore, physicians, have the right to withhold or not share certain information if it would cause harm. Supporting cases for withholding the truth were cited by Collins as the correct option to choose based on benefits of the patients outcomes.

For example, if the outcomes would affect the patient negatively like causing anxiety or suicide, then

it would be right to withhold the information.
Opposing Collin’s argument strategy, Kant’s theory implies that lying is morally wrong.

If the maxim was used to determine the answer, then the question being considered would be, is it right for doctors to lie to their patient if it is in the patient’s best interest. If this maxim was accepted by everyone, then the patients would lose trust and not believe physicians. Therefore, applying Kant’s theory would make it wrong for a physician to lie by withholding information to the patient. Further, the Kant theory supports that lying affects the ethical issues regarding a person’s autonomy. The physician who withholds information is being disrespectful to the

patient.
The physician is being paid for services similar to other professional services, such as dentists or pharmacists. If other professional services, like pharmacists, withhold information from their customer then trust will be lost. The physician who withholds information would risk losing a patient’s trust, as well as depriving a person of having adequate information for decision making.
In addition, to Kant’s theory, fiduciary and autonomy need to be considered when reviewing the responsibility of the physician. The trust component between the patient and the physician is referred to as fiduciary. Patient’s autonomy regarding the right to decide and to make a good decision is based on truthful information. Someone may be an expertise in their field of study, but they cannot always be able to predict a patient’s reaction to information.
I feel there are many ethical challenges that physicians face in health care today. The ethical issue regarding physicians withholding information about the patient can have a positive or negative impact on the patients. The physicians are professionals and expertise in their field, however, I don’t feel that withholding or lying to the patient is acceptable even if there are negative outcomes. I think that the physician is ethically obligated to tell the patients the truth; informing the patient on their health conditions can inform them on their options and how to proceed further for treatment. Telling the truth supports an ethical principle of autonomy as well as the physician’s role as a fiduciary.