Truthtelling And Whistleblowing

Question 1

Why is truth telling important?

Answer 1

So patients can make informed decisions about their healthcare
Requires accuracy and honesty so the patient gets a true impression of the situation
Presented in a way that it can be understood and applied

Question 2

Virtues of healthcare professionals

Answer 2

Compassion, discernment, trustworthiness, integrity, conscientiousness, respectfulness, justice/fairness, truthfulness, benevolence, non-malevolence

Question 3

When does a choice become a moral issue?

Answer 3

• intentions behind the choice
• the results of that choice
• the values of society and the individual reflected by the choice

Question 4

Harm/non-maleficence

Answer 4

Dentists owe a duty of care to their patients including not harming or injuring them
If injury results from incorrect treatment of an unacceptable clinical standard then the duty may have been breached
Deception is generally harmful

Question 5

What is paternalism?

Answer 5

The deliberate over-riding of the patients autonomy for the purposes of benefiting the patient. Moral justification = it either protects the patient from harming themselves or confers a benefit to the patient.

Question 6

Arguments against truth telling

Answer 6

Patients will not understand complex issues
Patients will not want to know bad news
Insufficient time to explain fully
May do more harm than good

Question 7

What is deontology?

Answer 7

Governed by moral rules that ought not to be broken, even when breaking them might have better consequences. Do the right thing and not the wrong thing.

Question 8

What is utilitarianism?

Answer 8

Consequence based theories. We ought to do whatever has the best consequences. Maximise the good.

Question 9

Difference between lying and withholding the truth

Answer 9

Lies are intentional deceptions
Failure to disclose the truth is not a lie as it does not generally have deception as it’s objective - it may have a wish to prevent distress as its objective

Question 10

What is whistle-blowing

Answer 10

Used to describe when someone who works in an organisation raises a concern about a possible fraud, crime, danger or other serious risk that could threaten customers, colleagues, the public or the organisations reputation

Question 11

What does the public interest disclosure act cover?

Answer 11

Disclosures about:

• danger to health
• safety of the environment
• crime
• miscarriages of justice
• breach of legal obligation
• attempts to conceal any of the above

Question 12

Who is protected against the public disclosure act?

Answer 12

All workers across all sectors. All NHS staff, including GDPs. Not self employed or volunteers.

Question 13

Should you whistleblow?

Answer 13

Yes. No evidence needed just needs to be reasonable.