engleski

Medical secret and informed consent – conditio sine qua non of the respect for patients' rights in palliative medicine

The integrity of patient as a person and society member is not interrogated, it is regulated by law and regulations. Disclosure of medical secret or health status of patient presents rudely interruption of patient's autonomy which is one of the most important medical ethical principles of palliative medicine. The patient's autonomy is based on treatment decision after informed consent. Informed consent is one of the most important attitudes in palliative medicine. Palliative medicine is one of the brand new specializations in modern medicine, primarily in oncology, neurology and anesthesiology. As a science, it presents the results of medical advance as well as human and civilization approach to the modern society. The focus of palliative medicine is on the care for terminally ill people. It appears in the moment when conventional, curative medicine with all diagnostic and therapeutic procedures as well as highly technical approach could not return the patient in the condition of health, or absence of disease. Medical secret is most respected exactly in palliative medicine. The reason lies in fact that in palliative medicine physicians as part of interdisciplinary team as well as patient and his/her caregivers already know the whole truth about end- of- life care. The physician’s role in the patient wish for truth telling and inform consent about his/her illness is conditio sine qua non of the respect for patients' rights in palliative medicine.

palliative medicine, medical secret, medical ethical principle (autonomy), informed consent, patients’ rights

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