From time to time I get requests from various meds and students asking for help with a particular project.
Sometimes I can help on a one to one basis, other times I may not feel comfortable with what is being asked and dismiss the request. This case, however, really peaked my interest.
Rather than chatting on about it I thought I would quite the email word for word:
From: Daniel Sokol
Date: 12/07/04 20:25:14
To:
webmaster@skincell.orgSubject: Plea for help in medical ethics research
Hello,
I'm a PhD candidate in Medical Ethics at Imperial College, London (under the
supervision of Professor Raanan Gillon, a retired GP and Emeritus Professor
of Medical Ethics, and Dr Tim Rhodes, a social scientist). My research is on
truth-telling and deception in medicine and attempts to answer the question
"should doctors ever deceive their patients?". The project is funded by the
Wellcome Trust and has been approved by the Oxfordshire Hospital Ethics
Committee.
As part of the project, I am conducting empirical research on doctors,
patients and members of the public to find out what these groups think about deception in medicine, and why. I then plan to
compare the views and reasoning of each of those groups and attempt to
reconcile (or at least reduce!) any differences between them. Over 50 doctors have so far participated in the study but I now need patients (especially dermatology patients as we're comparing dermatologists and their patients with oncologists and their patients). This is why I come to you for assistance.
I was wondering if Skincell Int. Forum might be able to help me, however slightly,
in recruiting patients for the study. This could simply be by encouraging patients to
complete a 25-min on-line questionnaire via placing the link on your website
or an e-mail list/newsletter. The questionnaire is entirely anonymous and consists
mainly of scenarios in which deception is a realistic option. Most of the
respondents so far say they have enjoyed completing the questionnaire!
For details of the project and to have a look at, or (better still!) complete the
questionnaire, please go to
www.medicalethicist.net/deception.htm, click on
'patient' and plug in:
Username: patient
Password: ethics33
I sincerely believe that this project could help improve current practice
and policy regarding disclosure of information to patients.
Many thanks for your help and please don't hesitate to contact me if you have
any questions about the project.
Kind regards,
Daniel Sokol
p.s - I'm afraid the study is restricted to UK residents. Hope that's not too much of a problem!
My initial reaction on reading the first few lines was "Oh no, not another one
" but as I read the email something nagged at me to follow this one up more closely.
I decided to read the questionnaire. It is a very pointed document and it certainly made me think more than about the issues of medical and moral ethics. Then, I decided to check out Daniel and I have to say that this man's reputation is already widely recognised and he certainly is who and what he claims to be. In light of all this I thought that the fairest thing to do would be to allow the members to make a personal choice whether they would like to take part in the Q or not.
Admittedly, this survey may not turn the med profession on its head alone, but it certainly made me stop and think about some of issues facing doctors every day and it has left me with a few questions that I wouldn't mind taking the time to ponder over.
A fascinating subject and a very well constructed Q by Daniel
