Telling a Lie
Sukhit Phaosavasdi MD*, Surasak Thaneepanichskul MD*, Yuen Tannirandorn MD*, Vorapong Phupong MD*, Boonchai Uerpairojkit MD*, Chumsak Pruksapongs MD*, Aurchart Kajanapitak MD*
Affiliation : * Member of Medical Association of Thailand
At present, medical ethics is widely taught in many medical schools(1). As there is no unified curricu-
lum, each school develops their own medical ethics curriculums. Furthermore, this subject is seen as an easy
class as, in some medical schools, the students are required to take a medical ethics examination but the mark
is not counted, and no one can fail.(2-5). Since medical schools will open for the academic year 2550-2551
soon, we would like to know whether this subject will be taught in the same way.
Over the past few years, evidence supporting the notion that some basic medical ethics can be
consciously learned has been challenged. One ethical issue is telling a lie(5). Highly respected people in the
society consider this matter normal. As a result, it has been left unsolved. However, they may forget that while
medical students are adults, old enough to be aware of what is going on, they may not be mature enough to
judge whether what they have heard a lie or a fact. It seems that medical ethics, as a subject, does not lay firm
foundations for medical students because its content is not complete. Some important points are missing.
Consequently, this gives rise to confusion(4). How can others, who are not in the medical field, rely on or trust
us if there is still confusion in our community? If a doctor does not tell the truth to his patient, how can the
patient be aware of his true health?
Keywords : Medical ethics, Telling a lie
