Read Mack Lipkin's Brief Article On Telling Patients The Tru

Read Mack Lipkins Brief Article On Telling Patients The Truth News

Read Mack Lipkin’s brief article “On Telling Patients the Truth” (Newsweek, June 4, 1979). He offers a number of justifications for lying to patients in at least some situations. Given what you have learned from the Reading & Study material, address the following questions about Lipkin’s article: in 200 words or more pls Lipkin offers a number of reasons to justify lying to patients. What are these? Do you think they justify lying, or is there an alternative to lying? How would you ethically classify Lipkin: Utilitarian? Deontologist? Virtue ethicist? Support your selection. A nurse with over 20 years’ experience once confided to the instructor that “nurses lie regularly to their patients. They are not usually big lies, just little things. It’s often the only way we can get them to cooperate and do what we need them to do.” Evaluate this claim. Do you agree? Why or why not?

Paper For Above instruction

Mack Lipkin’s article “On Telling Patients the Truth” presents a nuanced perspective on the ethics of honesty in medical practice. Lipkin explores several reasons that might justify withholding or distorting the truth from patients in specific circumstances. Among these justifications, he cites the intention of protecting patients from psychological harm, preserving hope, and avoiding unnecessary anxiety. For example, Lipkin argues that a certain level of deception might prevent distress that could hinder a patient’s recovery or well-being. He also mentions that sometimes full disclosure may overwhelm or demoralize a patient, potentially compromising their mental health or adherence to treatment. These reasons reflect a utilitarian approach, aiming to maximize overall patient well-being and minimize harm, even if it involves bending the truth at times.

Whether these justifications are sufficient to justify lying is highly debatable. From a deontological perspective, honesty is a moral duty, and lying is inherently wrong regardless of potential benefits. Deontologists would argue that respect for autonomy necessitates truthful disclosure, implying that deception undermines a patient’s ability to make informed decisions. Alternatively, virtue ethics emphasizes moral character and virtues such as honesty, compassion, and integrity. Practitioners guided by virtue ethics might consider whether lying aligns with traits like honesty or compassion more, and whether it reflects their integrity as professionals.

The claim by a seasoned nurse that “nurses lie regularly to their patients” introduces a complex ethical dilemma. On one hand, small lies to facilitate cooperation might seem pragmatic and perhaps necessary in certain contexts, especially when patient safety or compliance is at stake. However, frequent dishonesty risks eroding trust—a fundamental component of the nurse-patient relationship—and may result in ethical erosion over time. In my view, while there may be rare, context-specific instances where withholding some information temporarily enhances cooperation, habitual lying undermines the moral duties of honesty and transparency. Trust and respect are crucial for effective healthcare, and sustained dishonesty can ultimately harm the profession’s integrity. Therefore, I do not agree that such lying should be normalized as part of everyday nursing practice. Instead, fostering open communication and shared decision-making should be prioritized to uphold ethical standards in caregiving.

References

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