Abstract
One of the most critical moments in patient-physician relationship involves truth telling when dealing with a diagnosis of cancer. In medical literature this matter is usually presented from the physician's point of view. The authors conducted a survey in which 48 patients were faced with a hypothetical diagnosis of cancer. Results showed that 90% of them would like to be told the truth, and that 83% would like to be told that the disease is not curable should this be the case. These data suggest that regardless of what Brazilian physicians used to think in the past, today's patients are willing to be told all the truth about their diagnosis and prognosis.
Translated title of the contribution | Câncer: Should the patient be told the truth? |
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Original language | Portuguese |
Pages (from-to) | 133-137 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | GED - Gastrenterologia Endoscopia Digestiva |
Volume | 20 |
Issue number | 4 |
State | Published - 2001 |
Keywords
- Autonomy
- Cancer
- Culture
- Diagnostic disclosure
- Survey
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
- Gastroenterology