Does a patient want the doctor to (1) point out what treatment options are open to the patient or (2) to go further and recommend what the doctor thinks the patient should do?
Dennis
Dennis Mazur
I'm a firm believer in not permitting a patient/doctor relationship to be determined by the doctor and not to assume the parent/child connection of tradition. Doctors know certain things, that's all. A few centuries ago doctors were in competition with other healers, and were subsequently often less controlling.
Consider the technology we have at our fingertips currently. Within seconds we are able to pull our devices out, type our symptoms into Google, and self diagnose ourselves. From what I see, people go to the doctor to confirm what they think they already know. Instead of seeking an experts advice without prior knowledge, people are able to console things such as the internet for hours! I think this question needs both answers because of this new trend of "knowing as much as the doctor" when you walk in. All the different types of treatment should be displayed, but a real expert shares the most recommended option-- not because it is ethically sound but rather because it may save a life.
Good points. I agree with you that the concept of "ethical soundness" needs further development for it to be relevant to today's dilemmas, not only in the fields of Health, Medicine, and Nursing, but in today's cross-cultural societal dilemmas.
Dennis
Dennis Mazur
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