Benefits vs. Burdens of Truth-Telling and Information Disclosure

A 65-year-old man comes to his physicians with complaints of abdominal pain that is persistent but not extreme. Workup reveals that he has metastatic cancer of the pancreas. The man has just retired from a busy professional career, and he and his wife are about to leave on a round-the-world cruise that they’ve been planning for over a year.

• Should you tell him his diagnosis? Why or Why Not?
• What are the legal and ethical considerations?

Apply Theory (Specific Professional Healthcare Competencies + Clinical Medical Ethical Principles) to Practice in order to provide Optimal Patient-Centered Care (OPCC)