Honesty helps patientsPUBLISHED: 15 Aug 2012 00:02:29 | UPDATED: 16 Aug 2012 00:49:08PUBLISHED: 15 Aug 2012 PRINT EDITION: 15 Aug 2012
The reluctance doctors feel about divulging prognostic information to patients is based on several misconceptions, according to a report in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
They believe it will make them depressed but evidence shows honest information may allow patients and their care-givers to cope with illness better.
The belief that the truth will take away hope is not supported by evidence. Rather it suggests hope is maintained even with truthful talks that teach the patient that there is no chance of cure.
The notion that the involvement of hospice or palliative care will reduce survival has been disproved by multiple studies showing survival is equal or better with hospice or palliative care.
While doctors may not know the precise prognosis, they mostly can formulate a range of possible outcomes to improve understanding.
Strikingly, doctors give the least honest figures to those with the worst prognoses.
The Australian Financial Review