Ethical considerations of informed consent: a case study.
Presentation is made of a case study concerning a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who was also discovered to have small cell carcinoma. The patient had indicated many years prior to his hospitalization that if he ever had cancer he would not want to receive chemotherapy. He also indicated to his physician he did not want to hear any 'bad news'. The dilemmas posed by the ethical relationship between consultant and primary care physician and between consultant and patient in such a case are explored. The role of a hospital ethics committee in advising the parties involved is also reviewed.
D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000175:diagnosis; D026689:Ethical Analysis; D028741:Ethics Committees, Clinical; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D028681:Moral Obligations; D026706:Paternalism; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D010349:Patient Compliance; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011367:Professional Staff Committees; D014342:Truth Disclosure