Doctor’s Views On Disclosing Or Withholding Information On Low Risks Of Complication
Abstract
Background
More and more quantitative information is becoming available about the risks of complications arising from medical treatment. In everyday practice, this raises the question whether each and every risk, however low, should be disclosed to patients. What could be good reasons for doing or not doing so? This will increasingly become a dilemma for practitioners.
Objective
To report doctors' views on whether to disclose or withhold information on low risks of complications.
Methods
In a qualitative study design, 37 respondents (gastroenterologists and gynaecologists or obstetricians) were included. Focus group interviews were held with 22 respondents and individual in‐depth interviews with 15.
Results
Doctors have doubts about disclosing or withholding information on complication risk, especially in a risk range of 1 in 200 to 1 in 10 000. Their considerations on whether to disclose or to withhold information depend on a...‐.