This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Tuckett, A. G Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Tuckett, A. G Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Truth-Telling in Clinical Practice and the Arguments for and Against: a review of the literature

a.tuckett{at}mcauley.acu.edu.au

In general, most, but not necessarily all, patients want truthfulness about their health. Available evidence indicates that truth-telling practices and preferences are, to an extent, a cultural artefact. It is the case that practices among nurses and doctors have moved towards more honest and truthful disclosure to their patients. It is interesting that arguments both for and against truth-telling are established in terms of autonomy and physical and psychological harm. In the literature reviewed here, there is also the view that truth-telling is essential because it is an intrinsic good, while it is argued against on the grounds of the uncertainty principle. Based on this review, it is recommended that practitioners ought to ask patients and patients’ families what informational requirements are preferred, and research should continue into truth-telling in clinical practice, particularly to discover its very nature as a cultural artefact, and the other conditions and contexts in which truth-telling may not be preferred.

Key Words: arguments against • arguments for • clinical practice • truth-telling

Nursing Ethics, Vol. 11, No. 5, 500-513 (2004)
DOI: 10.1191/0969733004ne728oa


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Slowther Truth-telling in health care Clin Ethics, December 1, 2009; 4(4): 173 - 175. [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Whitty-Rogers, M. Alex, C. MacDonald, D. Pierrynowski Gallant, and W. Austin Working with Children in End-of-Life Decision Making Nursing Ethics, November 1, 2009; 16(6): 743 - 758. [Abstract] [PDF]

				N. Rejeh, F. Ahmadi, E. Mohamadi, M. Anoosheh, and A. Kazemnejad Ethical Challenges in Pain Management Post-Surgery Nursing Ethics, March 1, 2009; 16(2): 161 - 172. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. L. Milton Transparency in Nursing Leadership: A Chosen Ethic Nurs Sci Q, January 1, 2009; 22(1): 23 - 26. [Abstract] [PDF]

				W. A. Wood, M. S. McCabe, and R. M. Goldberg Commentary: Disclosure in Oncology--To Whom Does the Truth Belong? Oncologist, January 1, 2009; 14(1): 77 - 82. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. A Berry The withholding of truth when counselling relatives of the critically ill: a rational defence Clin Ethics, March 1, 2008; 3(1): 42 - 45. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Hayes Medical errors - a hospital in Nepal searches for answers Trop Doct, January 1, 2008; 38(1): 45 - 48. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Hird and C. Ustun Letters to the Editor Nursing Ethics, March 1, 2005; 12(2): 196 - 199. [PDF]