Ethical debate: Truth, the first casualty   Deadly charades   Communication is a vital part of care   Doctors and patients should be fellow travellers

The patient movement as an emancipation movement

“…35 Mitzi Blennerhassett became an activist when she found that her requests for information and for pain relief during the insertion of brachytherapy rods for anal cancer were disregarded. 36 Nor had she been told, in consenting to the procedure, that the doctors doing it unsupervised had never done it before. 36 She judged her treatment to have been Ôharsh, mendacious and unethicalÕ.…”

“…36 Nor had she been told, in consenting to the procedure, that the doctors doing it unsupervised had never done it before. 36 She judged her treatment to have been Ôharsh, mendacious and unethicalÕ. 36 Looking back on these episodes and their consequences suggests comparisons with recognized emancipation movements.…”

“…36 She judged her treatment to have been Ôharsh, mendacious and unethicalÕ. 36 Looking back on these episodes and their consequences suggests comparisons with recognized emancipation movements. First, the radicalization that engenders these movements starts from disillusion with social, professional or institutional beliefs, policies, practices or standards.…”