Is a Doctor obligated to inform a sick person of their illness?

by admin
Filed under: illness 

Regardless of ability or interest to pursue treatment, are doctors obligated morally or legally to inform a person of their illness or that they suspect an illness?
Are doctors today, not telling patients when they suspect life ending illness because they know the person doesn't have insurance and probably couldn't afford treatment.

Regardless of insurance most doctors are going to be straight with you & others will refer you to another doctor to tell you. Check out Hippocratic Oath.

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3 Comments on Is a Doctor obligated to inform a sick person of their illness?

  1. Eddie on Tue, 2nd Dec 2008 10:24 pm

    2. I, personally, will tell the patient what I think. However, if the diagnosis is not clear, I will not tell them they will die or anything like that.
    References :

  2. cmist83 on Tue, 2nd Dec 2008 11:07 pm

    3. The doctor is obligated to tell the patient regardless of insurance or ability to afford treatment. If telling the patient would cause the patient to harm themselves then the doctor would not tell the patient. For example if the patient has said that they would commit suicide if they knew they had cancer. Don't know if its right but that's what I've learned in med school.
    References :

  3. ComputerBug on Tue, 2nd Dec 2008 11:30 pm

    4. Regardless of insurance most doctors are going to be straight with you & others will refer you to another doctor to tell you. Check out Hippocratic Oath.
    References :
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippocratic_Oath

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