How should nurses handle deception or withholding information to benefit patient welfare?

• A. Share information only if asked
• B. Use deception
• C. Avoid deception; provide truthful information at an appropriate level, respect autonomy, and seek ethics consultation
• D. Withhold information whenever risk

Answer: (C)

Truth-telling and respect for patient autonomy guide how information is shared in nursing. Deception or withholding information to “benefit welfare” often backfires by eroding trust and denying the patient the right to make informed decisions about their own care. The best approach is to be truthful while tailoring the information to what the patient can understand and what they want to know, using plain language, checking comprehension, and presenting options so the patient can participate in choices about their treatment.

Respecting autonomy means honoring the patient’s values and preferences about involvement in decisions, not assuming what they should know or do. If a situation creates ethical tension or uncertainty about how much to disclose, seeking ethics consultation helps balance beneficence and nonmaleficence with autonomy and privacy, guiding a plan that protects welfare without resorting to deception. Withholding information is not a default strategy; it should be exceptional and justified within ethical and legal parameters, with efforts made to communicate clearly and support the patient through the process.