Health Medical Homework Help

Mr. Smith is a 62-year-old man who has just retired from after selling his successful grocery business. Over the past 3 months, he has experienced nausea and abdominal pain and has lost 20 pounds. He made an appointment with his primary care physician, who recommended that a CT scan be performed the next day. The scan indicated a mass in the pancreas that was highly suggestive of pancreatic carcinoma.

The physician scheduled Mr. Smith for a follow-up appointment. The same day, Mrs. Smith called the office to urge the physician not to tell her husband the diagnosis, if is it one with a poor prognosis. The physician documented the conversation with Mrs. Smith in the medical record, indicating, “Mrs. Smith has told me that hearing bad news will kill him. I informed her that the standard of practice is to fully inform a patient, and that informed consent for subsequent testing and treatment will require Mr. Smith’s understanding of the diagnosis.”

• You are the physician, should you inform Mr. Smith of his diagnosis and potentially poor prognosis?
• Should you respect Mrs. Smith’s request?
• What ethical principles will guide your choice?