Medical Ethics and Professional Behavior · USMLE Step 1

A physician decides not to inform a patient about a poor prognosis because she thinks it will upset him. Which ethical error is occurring?

  1. Therapeutic privilege
  2. Paternalism
  3. Justice
  4. Fidelity
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Correct answer: Paternalism

Paternalism involves overriding patient autonomy by withholding information. Patients must receive truthful information to make informed decisions.

Difficulty: Medium Question 18 of 20

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