Bioethical and sociocultural aspects of diagnosis disclosure

Aim: The aim of the article was to analyze various approaches to diagnostic disclosure considering its bioethical, sociocultural, psychoemotional and sociolinguistic implications.

Results: Diagnosis disclosure is considered to be one of the major challenges of doctor – patient communication as it brings forth complex bioethical, legal, sociocultural, and psychoemotional tensions. The former non-maleficence approach to diagnosis delivery has been replaced with the one based on the bioethical principle of patient autonomy obliging physicians to reveal information truthfully and completely. The current bioethical approach has been refined to develop a number of protocols used for effective delivery of negative diagnostic information. However, alongside with the protocols building on this principle, alternative ways of diagnosis disclosure and patterns of diagnosis breaking are practised. The latter rest on culture specific norms, which are followed to balance the principles of non-maleficence and patient autonomy.

Conclusion: The rationale behind the selection of the best approach to diagnostic disclosure has to rest not only on the dominant bioethical principle, but also align with the sociocultural norms as this is the way to ensure greater flexibility, variability and optionality and achieve better management outcomes.