In the Asian culture, there is often a belief that terminally ill patients should not be informed about their prognosis. Would you respect the cultural practice and not inform a patient about the prognosis?

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The decision to respect the culture and withhold information about a prognosis from a client depends on several variables. Firstly, it is important to consider the patient’s wishes in regards to what kind of information they are interested in knowing; if they do wish to receive such information then respecting the cultural practice can prove difficult as doing so might be at odds with individual autonomy.

When discussing terminal illnesses, it is important to consider who will be affected. If family members are present during consultation then informing them about patient’s condition may be necessary for process of establishing informed consent which could again be seen as an infringement on cultural values.

The physician-patient relationships and the surrounding environment will ultimately determine whether or not information is disclosed. Therefore, it is essential that all decisions adhere to traditional standards and take into consideration individual wishes and circumstances.