Physicians can ethically withhold information in situations where full disclosure of a diagnosis or treatment would cause great psychological harm to the patient.
Physicians can use specific communication techniques to help a patient who has a low health literacy level understand a medical diagnosis and treatment procedure.
Physicians need to understand when it may be appropriate to let patients get involved in medical decision-making and when it may be necessary to provide their personal medical judgment.
Dr Ellen L. Edens joins Ethics Talk to discuss her article, coauthored with Drs Gabriela Garcia Vassallo and Robert Heimer: "How Should the Use of Opioids Be Regulated to Motivate Better Clinical Practice?”