Responsibility and cancer disclosure in Japan

Abstract

In Japan, as in many countries around the world, cancer patients are often not told the truth about their illness. Despite polls showing a majority of those surveyed wish to be told, surveys of physicians indicate only a small percentage will tell, especially when the cancer is advanced or terminal. We interviewed physicians from various specialties with experience managing advanced or terminal cancer patients to investigate their approaches to cancer disclosure. Our analysis reveals physicians divide into two groups: those who usually do not tell (non-tellers) such patients and those who usually do tell (tellers). Non-tellers reported the shock of disclosure inhibits telling patients, families’ wishes for non-disclosure cannot be ignored, and most patients themselves do not wish to be told. Tellers asserted disclosure is unavoidable and patients want to be told, few problems result when they tell, and telling has many advantages such as not having to lie to the patient. Despite the experience of non-tellers, most physicians continue to follow the traditional approach, for advanced or terminal cancers. Physicians, as well as families and patients, display an aversion to taking responsibility for the potential risks of disclosure, and this may perpetuate the status quo.