Veracity refers to which ethical practice?

Veracity refers to which ethical practice?

• A. Truth-telling
• B. Privacy
• C. Fairness
• D. Beneficence

Answer: (A)

Veracity means being truthful in all professional communications. It underpins patient autonomy by ensuring patients receive accurate information to make informed choices. In practice, this means telling the truth about diagnoses, prognoses, and treatment options, explaining risks and benefits in plain language, and correcting misinformation, even when the truth is difficult. It also requires presenting information honestly while being compassionate and mindful of the patient’s readiness and emotional state. Withholding information or deceiving a patient undermines trust and autonomy. The other listed ethical practices address different duties: privacy safeguards who can know information, fairness concerns equal treatment, and beneficence is about acting to promote good.

Veracity means being truthful in all professional communications. It underpins patient autonomy by ensuring patients receive accurate information to make informed choices. In practice, this means telling the truth about diagnoses, prognoses, and treatment options, explaining risks and benefits in plain language, and correcting misinformation, even when the truth is difficult. It also requires presenting information honestly while being compassionate and mindful of the patient’s readiness and emotional state. Withholding information or deceiving a patient undermines trust and autonomy. The other listed ethical practices address different duties: privacy safeguards who can know information, fairness concerns equal treatment, and beneficence is about acting to promote good.