Only the Truth Essay

Truthfulness for a patient enables effective goal attainment while in the healthcare system. However, according to Zahedi (2011) states, â€Å"not telling the truth about cancer consisted of: worry that patients could not take the emotional impact, concern about not being able to manage the patients’ emotional reaction after learning the truth, and protecting patients from harm† (p. 4). Yet, according to Bok (2007), â€Å" an overwhelming majority of patients do want to be told the truth, even about grave illness, and feel betrayed when they learn that they have been misled† (p.489). Doctors should tell their patients the truth because is supports trusting doctor-patient relationships, upholds patients autonomy, and provides time to make end of life decisions. Truth is a foundation for doctor-patient relationships. Bok (2007) states â€Å"truthful information, humanely conveyed, helps patients cope with illness† (p. 489). An exchange of information is key in a patient feeling comfortable within the healthcare system, which is attainable from being told the truth. Wells and Kaptchuk (2012) indicate, â€Å"truthful and meaningful communication is paramount in patient care as it affects not only patient satisfaction with care, but also patient knowledge and behaviour† (p. 26). Patient require to have low levels of anxiety when dealing with a disease, truth enables the decrease of distress. Eisen et al (2008) states, â€Å"[h]ealth care settings is extremely important in contributing to the healing process, it is vitally important to identify what type of art supports stress reduction† (p. 173). Patients dealing with discomfort can manage it more easily after being told the truth due to it being the more vocalized. Milligan (2012) states, â€Å"[r]elief of pain and other symptoms might be expected to be among the most prevalent† (p. 49). Truth telling stimulates hope for a patient by allowing them to have optimism toward their diagnosis, and that their aimed goal is achievable. Begley and Blackwood (2000) state that hope is, â€Å"a mental state characterized by the desire to gain or accomplish a goal combined with some degree of expectation that what is desired or sought is attainable† (p.28). Security for a patient allows for them to create decisions they are confident about when dealing with procedures. Silva et al (2003) indicates that truth, â€Å"increases the feeling of safety and the capacity of mature co-operation for decision making† (p. 420). In addition, truth upholds patients’ autonomy. Bok (2007) indicates that it allows them â€Å"to make informed choices about whether or not to be a patient (p. 489). Truthfulness for a patient allows them to follow directions during treatment and procedures more willingly. Torres et al (2013) indicates, â€Å"meta-analyses discussing this subject have suggested that compliance depends on the involvement of patients and healthcare providers in follow-up tasks† (p. 3). An autonomous individual has a ability to make his/her own decisions including decisions about how much information they would like to receive. Slowther (2009) writes, â€Å"[p]roviding relevant information in a form that a patient can understand, minimizing barriers to decision-making caused by illness or medication† (p. 174-175). Patients seek the knowledge and advice of more than one doctor to confirm a diagnosis and evaluate treatment options. Hall et al (2002) writes, â€Å"general trust is related to certain patient attitudes and behaviours such as satisfaction with care, willingness to follow doctors’ recommendations, desire to seek second opinions, and prior disputes with physicians† (p. 1422). Complimentary treatments for a disease are being used by patients for the reason of allowing them to minimize signs and symptoms themselves outside of the healthcare system. Burstein (2000) states, â€Å"[p]atients identified their desire to â€Å"boost the immune system,† enhance their quality of life, gain control over their life, prevent or treat their cancer, and treat side effects of cancer therapy as the principal reasons for using CAM. Patients credited their conventional practitioners with truth- fulness and technical knowledge† (p. 2501). Patient that are truthfully informed about procedure options are given the opportunity to decide if they think it will be benefit for them. Hall et al (2002) indicates, â€Å"[t]rust is critical to patients’ willingness to seek care, reveal sensitive information, submit to treatment† (p. 1419). Denying any procedures or treatments is capable from a patient that has been truthfully advised. O’Brien (2012) states, â€Å"[t]he autonomous right of competent adults to decide what happens to their own body and the corresponding right to consent to or refuse medical treatment are cornerstones of modern health care† (p. 7). Moreover, truth provides patients with time to make end of life decisions. Bok (2007) writes they consider â€Å"whether or not the enter a hospital† (p. 489). Patients that have been told the truth are made more comfortable to practice their spirituality in order to come in contact with a sense of worth when dealing with a terminating prognosis. Rahnama et al (2012) states spirituality, â€Å"is a way through which human beings recognize the exalted meaning and value of their lives† (p. 21). Patients that require to enter a palliative care unit rely on being told to truth in order for the conversion to be done with ease. Ingleton et al (2011) indicates, â€Å"continuity of care and multidisciplinary collaboration are crucial in order to improve the experience of patients making the transition† (p.57). Arrangements must be made for a patient once in the stage of end-of-life, to secure unresolved personal affairs. Hash and Netting (2007) writes, â€Å"legal rights, financial and property concerns require intentional planning, for once the partner dies it may be too late to rectify ownership issues† (p. 72). The remaining time for a patient is crucial for making decisions about how to establish any preparations to avoid any distress. Conway (2008) indicates that, â€Å"emphasizing the inevitability of death in old age as a normal part of human existence and the importance of registration procedures and funeral arrangements† (p.406). Truthfulness for a patient allows them to have a comfortable experience when in their remaining days. Paulus states, â€Å"[a]n integral part of palliative care, therefore, is to regard dying as a normal process and to help patients achieve a peaceful death. † In conclusion, truth is a vital feature of self governed choices. Interpersonal relations among patients and healthcare professionals creates a fundamental base which enables security. Capacity for a patient to make decisions on their own allows for the obtainment of knowledge for treatments. Preparations to brace for one’s passing gives a patient the ability to experience a tranquil moment preceding entering the afterlife. Truth reinforces patients’ freedom and strengthens the ability to make provisions before bereavement. References Begley, A. , Begley, A. , & Blackwood, B. (2000). Truth-telling versus hope: A dilemma in practice. International Journal Of Nursing Practice, 6(1), 26-31. doi:10. 1046/j. 1440-172X. 2000. 00178. x Burstein, H. J. (2000). 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