What do you guys think about this? Say you are a doctor and a couple comes in wanting another child. Their first child has a genetic disorder so they go to the doctor to see whether their second child is at risk. You test them and find that there is no chance for the 2nd child to get the illness because the husband is not the father of the 1st child. Would you tell them this?
I feel like the doctor shouldn't because this is additional information that does not deal with the question at hand. But I'm interested to see what you guys think.
2007-10-11 15:50:01 · 13 answers · asked by vla001 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Other - Pregnancy & Parenting
ah sorry the title should be ethical question haha
2007-10-12 04:45:08 · update #1
For those who do support telling her, why do you think so?
2007-10-12 05:25:31 · update #2
Leaving out a few variables, the doctor should speak privately with the wife, perhaps at another appointment and explain things.
However if the disease was genetic and their first child had it, I would believe the husband would be a little suspicious on why it wasn't happening again, and he might just come out and ask the doctor WHY it's not possible. In that situation, the doctor can't LIE to the man as he knows the real reasoning behind it, and can't very well say "Well things have changed" which is usually not the case. The question you ask comes into play that the husband would just gallantly roll over and accept what is being said without question and I don't think that is a normal reaction. Lots of people would want to know why, and perhaps if he did ask why the wife should be the first to speak up and tell of her infidelity.
2007-10-11 16:43:43 · answer #1 · answered by Zyggy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's a very interesting question.
Doctors take a Hyppocratic Oath citing such words as they will "remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug," and that they will "respect the privacy of my patients".
If that's the case, and the mother has explained in private to the doctor that she does not want the father to be explained why the genetic disorder is not possible in a 2nd child, then I would expect the doctor to honour that request.
2007-10-11 23:29:45 · answer #2 · answered by Miss Sally Anne 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
thats a good question. Um... I do think that has some medical bearing that may cause father who is not the father to find out because when hes drilling the doc for all kinds of medical info and questions why would the doc discuss something that is not a possibility ? Also I do think if I was the doc I wouldnt say anything in one sense because whats done is done but at the same time it is not right for a child not to know their true family history. And if its not his is this something mom knows or is the baby totally not theirs and switched at birth. Theres another question !
2007-10-11 22:59:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
One has an obligation to answer truthfully what is asked. Here the question related to whether the child was at risk and the answer is no. Offering gratuitous information, however truthful, is another matter entirely and is uncalled for unless specifically requested ( e.g. if the husband follows up with a question as to how the doctor arrived at his conclusion ).
2007-10-11 23:01:24 · answer #4 · answered by LucaPacioli1492 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think that it should be known that this man is not the biological father to the first child. Just because he is not biologically the father, he is still a part of this child's life. The mother should have told this to him when that information became available.
2007-10-11 23:16:39 · answer #5 · answered by kat_kris2001 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A doctor's ethics should never come into question.
Ethically speaking, a doctor is not allowed to divulge this information, no matter what his personal opinion is.
2007-10-11 23:02:31 · answer #6 · answered by raticals.com 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, I don't think the doctor should tell them either. Like you said, that's not what they asked to know.
2007-10-11 22:54:59 · answer #7 · answered by TaDaa! 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I don't think that the doctor should mention it if nobody asked. The doctor should just stick to the situation that he is being asked to resolve.
2007-10-11 23:01:21 · answer #8 · answered by mimi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ethically the doctor is obligated to give the couple this information.
2007-10-12 02:07:40 · answer #9 · answered by RN 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the dr. should tell the wife in private but leave it up to the wife to tell the husband.....
2007-10-12 10:51:17 · answer #10 · answered by It's a Girl!!! 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋