THE DOCTOR, THE PATIENT, AND THE TRUTH

Abstract

Article1 June 1946THE DOCTOR, THE PATIENT, AND THE TRUTHCHARLES C. LUND, M.D.CHARLES C. LUND, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-24-6-955 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptWhen Pilate asked Jesus, "What is the truth?", He did not answer.1After a doctor has completed a careful examination he will frequently be in possession of information about a patient that will indicate to him quite definitely that the patient is suffering from a serious disease which is in a probably or possibly curable condition if a certain course of treatment or of surgery is carried out promptly. Should he then and there tell the patient "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth" and then ask the patient to let him arrange for the treatment? Is...Bibliography1. St. John, 18, 38. Google Scholar2. HENDERSON LJ: Physician and patient as a social system, New England Jr. Med., 1935, ccxii, 819-823. CrossrefGoogle Scholar3. WHITEHEAD AN: Process and reality, page 11, 1929, Macmillan Co., New York. Google Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Boston, Massachusetts*Received for publication February 15, 1946.From the Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, and the Third Surgical Service, Boston City Hospital, Boston, Mass. Nextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byTruth and lies: Disclosure and the power of diagnosisCommunication with Cancer Patients in Culturally Diverse SocietiesPsychological problems in terminal cancer managementThe patient with inoperable cancer from the psychiatric and social standpoints.A study of 101 casesPsychogenic Factors in Surgery 1 June 1946Volume 24, Issue 6Page: 955-959KeywordsSurgery ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 June 1946 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright, 1946, by The American College of PhysiciansPDF downloadLoading ...