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Reasons For Not Sharing Information With Patients

While you start educating a patient about his condition, he refuses to know about it and asks you to give whatever treatment you want to give him. He has full capacity to make decisions otherwise. What should you do next?

Give treatment that is best for him
Decide with his relatives
Inform him against his will
Try to find the reasons why he does not wish to know
Inform him that it is still important that he learns about all the options


Answer: If an adult has capacity, no one else can make decisions on behalf of him/her. If the patient wants you to make decision for them or leaves it to a relative, friend etc., you should explain that it is still important for them to learn about the available options. If they do not want this information, you should then try to find the reasons.
Reference: http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/ethical_guidance/confidentiality.asp

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