Abstract

Patients have a fundamental right to be informed about their medical treatments and the implications of anesthesia. Failing to disclose such crucial information is ethically unacceptable. However, there are instances where physicians, concerned about the psychological distress that comes with awareness of a severe illness, opt to keep patients in the dark. In such cases, the responsibility of decisionmaking often falls upon the patient's family or the clinicians themselves. Additionally, concerns about medical confidentiality and patient comprehension can lead to incomplete disclosures regarding surgical procedures. This chapter delves into the ethical dilemmas arising from the withholding of information by healthcare professionals and its profound impact on patients, their families, and healthcare workers. It also explores how these practices influence the public perception of healthcare practitioners. The pressing need in this context is to establish comprehensive regulations and standardized guidelines for information privacy and disclosure within the healthcare sector, ensuring the long-term delivery of satisfactory healthcare services.