therapeutic privilege

Therapeutic privilege refers to a situation in healthcare where a doctor withholds certain information from a patient if they believe that disclosing it could cause harm or significant distress. For instance, if a patient is seriously ill and the doctor thinks learning about their prognosis might lead to severe anxiety or impact their treatment decisions negatively, the doctor might choose not to share all the details. This practice aims to protect the patient's well-being, but it raises ethical questions about patient autonomy and the right to make informed decisions about their own health.