Disclosing disorders of sex development and opening the doors.
This paper focuses on the importance of full disclosure in disorders of sex development (DSD), as a universal human right and closely related to informed consent. Full disclosure is not only a way of communicating a diagnosis, it is a methodological constant that permeates all the clinical moments expressed by a multidisciplinary team. As stated by The Chicago consensus, DSD should be referred to specialized centers of excellence. In these centers provided with the necessary multidisciplinary team that is able to: provide knowledge, skills and experience; deliver quality and care, and cope with the emotional barriers that often hinder the practice of full disclosure. Full disclosure is important when a person is informed about something, can participate in making a decision or is advised about something that needs to be done before he/she will be able to make a choice. However, if a person is informed about something that was done unnecessarily and could have been postponed until he/she could have been involved in making the decision, full disclosure can be seen as deception colored by rage, sorrow and regret.
D'Alberton
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Pediatric Department, Policlinico S. Orsola Malpighi, Azienda Universitaria Ospedaliera di Bologna, Bologna, Italy. franco.dalberton@aosp.bo.it
D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D012734:Disorders of Sex Development / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014342:Truth Disclosure