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Evolution of Truth-Telling Practices in Brazil and South America

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New Challenges in Communication with Cancer Patients

Abstract

Truth-telling practices represent an old dilemma for caregivers, generating controversy in every age of mankind. The twentieth century witnessed the growing supremacy of truth and the gradual decline of merely “instilling hope” regarding the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer. More recently, with the introduction of more effective therapies and easier access to information by the general public, physicians are shifting towards an attitude of disclosing the correct diagnosis to patients. In a culturally, religiously, and socioeconomically heterogeneous population, such as in South America and Brazil, known for cancer health disparities, the development of tailored communication strategies and educational interventions are highly desirable. Here, it was common practice until 2 decades ago for doctors to withhold the diagnosis of cancer from patients. Although cancer prognosis is discussed more openly in some cultures, such as in North America and certain countries in Europe, there seems to be a trend towards disclosure of more detailed information regarding diagnosis and prognosis, at least in the more developed areas of South America and Brazil, compared to the past; although it should be accepted that many differences still remain as part of our cultural and socioeconomic background.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2350, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035903, Brazil

    Gilberto Schwartsmann & Andre T. Brunetto

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  1. Gilberto Schwartsmann
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  2. Andre T. Brunetto
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Correspondence to Gilberto Schwartsmann .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Medicine, New York University Medical School, First Avenue 530, New York, 10016, USA

    Antonella Surbone

  2. Institute of Oncology, Zaloška 2, Ljubljana, 1000, Slovenia

    Matjaž Zwitter

  3. Institute of Oncology, Zaloška 2, Ljubljana, 1000, Ljubljana-Center, Slovenia

    Mirjana Rajer

  4. 38th Street 2838, Astoria, 11103, New York, USA

    Richard Stiefel

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Schwartsmann, G., Brunetto, A.T. (2013). Evolution of Truth-Telling Practices in Brazil and South America. In: Surbone, A., Zwitter, M., Rajer, M., Stiefel, R. (eds) New Challenges in Communication with Cancer Patients. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3369-9_35

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3369-9_35

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