QuestionSBA
QuestionChoice
It is not appropriate for family members to be responsible for disclosing the results of medical investigations or aspects of care to the patient without a doctor disclosing and discussing it with the patient directly in the first place.
62047
e
Suggest that the family inform the patient of the diagnosis at a later time that they deem appropriate
QuestionChoice
The patient should be given all relevant information about their health and treatment options, regardless of whether they specifically ask about it.
62045
c
Only reveal the diagnosis to the patient if she specifically asks about it
QuestionChoice
It is not appropriate to delegate the task of disclosing a diagnosis to another healthcare provider, especially one who was not involved in ordering the diagnostic test and treatment of the patient.
62046
d
Wait until the patient has finished grieving and have her GP break the news to her once she is out of the hospital
QuestionChoice
It is essential to respect the patient's right to be fully informed about their health and treatment options. In this case, the patient has the right to know about her cancer diagnosis, regardless of the family's concerns about how they may handle the news. It is important to have an **open and honest conversation with the patient about their diagnosis and treatment options** while also being sensitive to their emotional state and providing support and resources as needed. It is inappropriate to withhold this information from the patient or present the results as inconclusive, as this could affect their ability to make informed decisions about their care.
62043
a
Acknowledge the family's concerns but still inform the patient of her diagnosis, as she has the right to know
QuestionChoice
By withholding the diagnosis from the patient, the healthcare professional would be denying the patient the opportunity to make informed decisions about their treatment and care. Additionally, it could have serious negative consequences for their well-being, as they would not be aware of the true nature of their condition. Therefore, it is paramount to inform the patient of their diagnosis, regardless of their mental state or the potential emotional impact it may have.
62044
b
Agree to keep the patient's cancer diagnosis a secret out of compassion for her mental state
Concept
Chapter
# Duties of Care: Legal and Professional

Legal:

1. General Practitioners
2. Hospitals and their Doctors
3. All Doctors (GP and Hospital)

Professional:

1. The GMC

# General Practitioners(GPs)

GPs have a _legal_ duty of care to all persons registered on the General Practice's list, and to anyone who needs emergency help in the practice area.

# Hospitals and their Doctors

It is the NHS Trusts and Health Authorities who owe a legal duty of care to patients being treated by their employees, not the hospital doctors themselves. This is called _vicarious liability_, and means it is the Trusts, not the Doctors who are held responsible for their actions.

_e.g. If a negligence claim is made following negligence from a doctor working in University College London Hospital's A&E department, the claim will be against University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, not the doctor._

# All Doctors (GP and Hospital)

All doctors owe a legal duty of care to anyone they _offer help to_ (assuming this help is accepted). For example, a hospital doctor doesn't owe a legal duty of care to a woman he finds collapsed in the street, until she accepts his offer of help.

# The GMC 

The General Medical Council (GMC) sets out a professional duty (which applies to all doctors) to offer assistance in an emergency.

NB: this is a professional, not legal, obligation.
579
592
Legal duty of care
Topic
30
Ethics and Law
12470
An 80-year-old woman is admitted to the hospital for shortness of breath and coughing up blood-stained sputum. Imaging studies show a mass in her lung that is likely to be cancer. A biopsy confirms the diagnosis. The patient's family requests the doctor not to tell her about the cancer diagnosis because they believe it will be too much for her to handle, given that her husband recently died of prostate cancer. The family asks for the results to be presented as inconclusive instead.

What is the most appropriate course of action?
a