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The ethics of semantics in medicine
- Source :
- Journal of Medical Ethics, 48(12), 1026-1031. BMJ Publishing Group
- Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- In this paper, we discuss the largely neglected topic of semantics in medicine and the associated ethical issues. We analyse several key medical terms from the informed perspective of the healthcare professional, the lay perspective of the patient and the patient’s family, and the descriptive perspective of what the term actually signifies objectively. The choice of a particular medical term may deliver different meanings when viewed from these differing perspectives. Consequently, several ethical issues may arise. Technical terms that are not commonly understood by lay people may be used by physicians, consciously or not, and may obscure the understanding of the situation by lay people. The choice of particular medical terms may be accidental use of jargon, an attempt to ease the communication of psychologically difficult information, or an attempt to justify a preferred course of action and/or to manipulate the decision-making process.
- Subjects :
- Health (social science)
IMPACT
Process (engineering)
Decision Making
paternalism
DECISION-MAKING
Semantics
Paternalism
Course of action
ALLOW NATURAL DEATH
Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
Physicians
Humans
Ethics, Medical
Ethics
RESUSCITATE
Health Policy
Communication
Perspective (graphical)
clinical ethics
patient perspective
Term (time)
Issues, ethics and legal aspects
Jargon
Accidental
Medicine
Engineering ethics
Psychology
WORDS
BEHAVIOR
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14734257 and 03066800
- Volume :
- 48
- Issue :
- 12
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of medical ethics
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....96c3b1c4ad9a57cedee42eb4d611c2d2