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Why do patients want information, if not to mak...
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Keywords
Why do patients want information, if not to make decisions?
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article
Published
| Journal publication date | 12/2010 |
|---|---|
| Journal | Journal of Medical Ethics |
| Journal number | 12 |
| Volume | 36 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Pages | 834-837 |
| Original language | English |
Abstract
There is empirical evidence that many patients want information about treatment options even though they do not want to take a full part in decision‐making about treatment. Such evidence may have considerable ethical implications but is methodologically problematic. It is argued here that, in fact, it is not at all surprising that patients’ informational interests should be separable from (and often stronger than) their interests in decision‐making. A number of different reasons for wanting information are offered, some to do with the content of information; some with the process, others with the fact or occasion of informing. This philosophical clarification leads to some suggestions for further empirical study.
Bibliographic note
Copyright © 2010 by the BMJ Publishing Group Ltd & Institute of Medical Ethics