To what extent should doctors communicate diagnostic uncertainty with their patients? An empirical ethics vignette study
We argue that doctors should err on the side of greater diagnostic uncertainty communication: to not do so (eg, based on benign paternalistic ideas about avoiding patient worry) or to do so variably (eg, based on unevidenced assumptions about patient information preferences) risks depriving patients of information they may value and may create or exacerbate inequalities.
Authors
- Zoë Fritz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9403-409X)
- Matthew Parry (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6588-0219)
- Thea Hatfield
- Caitríona Cox (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9416-9509)
Institutions
- Institute for Healthcare Improvement (US)
- University of Otago (NZ)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Medical Ethics
- Published
- 2025-02-26
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1136/jme-2024-109932
- Citations
- 6
- Primary Topic
- Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 14.08
Funders
- Wellcome Trust