Ethics of Breaking Sad News to Patient by Health Care Professionals: Pakistan Perspective

Badruddin S

doi:10.4172/2155-9627.1000261

Abstract

Sad news is defined as a situation where there is feeling of no hope, a threat to person’s mental or physical wellbeing, or where a message is given which may result in fewer choices to individuals’ lives. This issue creates ethical controversies among health care professional that who should decide and to whom health personnel will disclose this sad news. The aim of this paper is to explain and analyze this concept in the light of ethical principles. The paper will discuss the role of health care professionals in the disclosure of sad news integrating an explicit ethical decision making process.

Highlights

In Pakistani culture, families are given ultimate authority and are responsible to take decision on behalf of patient
The paper will discuss the role of health care professionals in the disclosure of sad news integrating an explicit ethical decision making process
Why health personnel give false reassurance to patient when we know that patient is terminally ill? Does hope has more power than truth telling? Sad news is defined as pertaining to situation where there is feeling of no hope, a threat to person’s mental or physical well-being, a risk of upsetting an established lifestyle, or where a message is given which conveys to an individual fewer choices in his or her life [1]

Summary

Introduction

In Pakistani culture, families are given ultimate authority and are responsible to take decision on behalf of patient. This situation creates conflict for health personnel whether to break sad news to patient or not. The most difficult part for the health team to face is how to break the sad news. A universal concern for the multidisciplinary team is that how sad news will have an effect on the patient, whether to informed the patient or not. This is the dilemma which most of the health personnel face while breaking sad news

Description of issue

Patricia Crisham MORAL Model

Review criteria and resolve

Conclusion