Abstract
Patients have a fundamental right to be informed about their medical
treatments and the implications of anesthesia. Failing to disclose such crucial
information is ethically unacceptable. However, there are instances where physicians,
concerned about the psychological distress that comes with awareness of a severe
illness, opt to keep patients in the dark. In such cases, the responsibility of decisionmaking often falls upon the patient's family or the clinicians themselves. Additionally,
concerns about medical confidentiality and patient comprehension can lead to
incomplete disclosures regarding surgical procedures. This chapter delves into the
ethical dilemmas arising from the withholding of information by healthcare
professionals and its profound impact on patients, their families, and healthcare
workers. It also explores how these practices influence the public perception of
healthcare practitioners. The pressing need in this context is to establish comprehensive
regulations and standardized guidelines for information privacy and disclosure within
the healthcare sector, ensuring the long-term delivery of satisfactory healthcare
services.
Keywords: American medical association, Ethical concerns, Information withholding, Non-disclosure of information, Non-disclosure agreement, Patientdoctor relationship, Therapeutic privilege.