Physicians' attitudes toward using deception to resolve difficult ethical problems

Abstract

Four hundred and seven physicians were surveyed to assess attitudes\ntoward the use of deception in medical practice. Four ethical problems were\npresented that could be resolved by the use of deception. The cases involved\nproviding a misleading diagnosis to an insurance company, telling a wife about\nher husband's venereal disease, deceiving family members about a death\nresulting from a medical mistake, and disclosing an adolescent's pregnancy to\nher mother. Each case was followed by multiple-choice options and a list of\npossible justifications. The physicians were also asked to describe their\nbasic principles regarding the place of deception in patient care. The 211\nresponses are presented in graph form and commented upon. Most physicians\nindicated a willingness to engage in deception in some circumstances,\njustifying their decisions in terms of the consequences and placing a higher\nvalue on patient welfare and keeping confidences than on truth telling. (KIE\nabstract)