Truth telling about disease and its prognosis to terminally ill patients, such situation which ethical principle is followed by a nurse?

Appeared in: KPSC Staff Nurse - 2018

Explanation

The core concept in the question is 'truth telling' about a patient's diagnosis and prognosis.
Veracity is the ethical principle that stands for the duty to be honest and truthful.
Applying veracity respects the patient's autonomy, allowing them to make informed decisions about their care, especially in end-of-life situations.
This principle is fundamental to building a trusting relationship between the nurse and the patient.

Option A: Confidentiality is about protecting a patient's private health information from being shared with others without consent. It does not relate to the act of sharing truthful information with the patient themselves.
Option B: Fidelity refers to the duty to keep promises and be faithful to one's commitments. While part of a trusting relationship, it is not the specific principle for truth-telling.
Option C: Justice concerns the fair and equitable distribution of healthcare resources and treatment. The scenario described is about communication with an individual patient, not the allocation of resources among many.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Ethical Principles in Nursing helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Veracity is a cornerstone of patient-centered care, as it empowers patients to participate in their own health journey by providing them with the necessary information.
In end-of-life care, truthful discussions about prognosis are essential for advance care planning, including decisions about do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders, palliative care, and hospice.
A breach of veracity can destroy the nurse-patient relationship, leading to mistrust and potentially legal and ethical repercussions.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core action or dilemma presented in the question stem. Here, the key phrase is 'truth telling'.
Next, review the options provided, which are all names of ethical principles. Briefly recall or define each one.
Match the core action from the stem ('truth telling') with its corresponding ethical principle.
Confidentiality is about privacy, Fidelity is about promises, and Justice is about fairness. Veracity is the principle of truthfulness.
The direct match between 'truth telling' and the definition of Veracity makes it the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Ethical Principles in Nursing
Stem keywords: Truth telling, disease, prognosis, terminally ill patients, ethical principle
Lead-in keywords: which ethical principle

QbJwk2gM61-EJUKP36t1-w

E6 Nursing Education & Educational TechnologySuresh k Sharma (pp 21-557 of 572) p. 486-488

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 2 p. 81-83

Practise the full KPSC Staff Nurse - 2018

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.