What are some reasons for withholding information from patients? Cite examples from the Being Mortal film and/or, other readings/media.
What is your personal opinion on veracity (disclosure and/or paternalism) in health care?
How can advanced care planning and serious illness care conversations decrease bioethical end-of-life dilemmas?

Incorporate tenets/principles/beliefs from the Code of Ethics in Nursing and how this was involved in your decision-making, how do these empirical concepts or perceptions impact your view regarding the disclosure of health care information and end of life care.

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

End-of-life care and disclosure of information are challenging areas in health care. This guide will help you organize your discussion by analyzing ethical dilemmas, media examples, and professional principles.

Step 1: Reasons for Withholding Information

Protecting Patients from Harm (Paternalism):
- Clinicians sometimes withhold information to prevent emotional distress, fear, or anxiety.
- Example from Being Mortal: In the film, some patients were not fully informed about the limitations of their treatment options, as families and clinicians tried to shield them from despair.
Uncertainty About Prognosis:
- Physicians may delay full disclosure if outcomes are uncertain to avoid giving misleading hope or causing unnecessary worry.
Cultural or Personal Preferences:
- Some patients or families prefer not to know certain details, and clinicians may respect these wishes.
- Example: In various readings on patient-centered care, families sometimes request partial disclosure to protect older adults.

Step 2: Personal Opinion on Veracity

Disclosure vs. Paternalism:
- Veracity means being truthful and transparent, but ethical practice must balance honesty with compassion.
Sample Statement:
- “I believe that, whenever possible, patients should receive full disclosure in a sensitive manner. While paternalism may be justified in rare cases to prevent harm, transparency is essential for patient autonomy.”

Step 3: Role of Advanced Care Planning

Facilitates Informed Decision-Making:
- Discussing patient goals, values, and preferences early can prevent misunderstandings and conflict.
Reduces End-of-Life Ethical Dilemmas:
- Clear documentation and conversations help families and clinicians make decisions aligned with patient wishes, avoiding crises when the patient cannot speak for themselves.
- Example: POLST forms, advance directives, and structured serious illness conversations.

Step 4: Incorporate Nursing Code of Ethics

Relevant Principles:
- Autonomy: Respecting patients’ rights to make informed choices.
- Beneficence: Acting in the best interest of the patient.
- Nonmaleficence: Avoiding harm, including emotional harm from poorly timed disclosure.
- Veracity: Providing truthful, clear, and compassionate communication.
Application:
- Use these principles to justify when full disclosure is appropriate and when temporary withholding may be ethical.
- Example: “By following the ANA Code of Ethics, I would ensure patients are informed about treatment options while providing support to mitigate distress, balancing truth with compassion.”

Step 5: Organize Your Discussion Post

Introduction: Briefly introduce the topic of disclosure in health care.
Section 1: Reasons for withholding information (with examples from Being Mortal or other media).
Section 2: Your personal view on veracity and paternalism.
Section 3: Role of advanced care planning in reducing ethical dilemmas.
Section 4: Incorporate ethical principles from the Nursing Code of Ethics and connect to your decision-making and beliefs.
Conclusion: Summarize how these concepts shape your approach to disclosure and end-of-life care.

Step 6: Tips for Success

Use specific examples from media, case studies, or readings.
Include at least 2–3 scholarly sources to support your discussion.
Maintain a professional, reflective tone suitable for graduate-level work.
Apply APA 7th edition formatting for in-text citations and references.

Helpful Resources

Being Mortal (Gawande, 2014, documentary/film adaptation)
American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/ethics/code-of-ethics-for-nurses/
Curtis, J. R., & White, D. B. (2008). Practical guidance for evidence-based ICU family conferences. Chest, 134(4), 835–843. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.08-0207
Ferrell, B., & Coyle, N. (2010). Oxford Textbook of Palliative Nursing (4th ed.).

✅ Following this guide ensures students will:

Analyze ethical reasons for withholding or disclosing health information
Reflect on personal beliefs about veracity and paternalism
Discuss advanced care planning as a tool to reduce ethical dilemmas
Integrate principles from the Nursing Code of Ethics in a thoughtful, evidence-based way

Ethical Considerations and Disclosure in End-of-Life Care: Lessons from Being Mortal