Deception,Catholicism, and Hope: Understanding Problems in the Communication of Unfavorable Prognoses in Traditionally-Catholic Countries

The doctor's use of deception in appropriate circumstances has commonly been considered a necessity of the medical art. Resistance to full and frank communication is typical of many traditionally Catholic countries, and particularly of Italy, a western country where Catholicism remains particularly influential. The Catholic teaching on truth and lies, and the problem of telling the truth to a severely ill patient is discussed. It is suggested that the contemporary Catholic model of gradually telling a terminal patient the truth, which looks reasonable and feasible in theory, is rarely followed in practice, as in the majority of cases the truth is not told tout court. Problems stem from the way in which medicine is currently practiced in Italy; from the synergism between Catholicism and the medical tradition's grounded paternalism; and from the ambiguity of the term ‘hope’. Catholic ethics in fact recommends that the truth must be told without destroying hope, but the Catholic meaning of ‘hope’ is very different from its meaning in current language.     

50例晚期肿瘤患者对病情告知需求分析

研究在晚期肿瘤患者及其家属中影响病情告知的相关因素,及病情告知对晚期肿瘤患者的影响和患者及其家属的需求,探讨病情告知在宁养服务中的作用。对50例晚期肿瘤患者及50例晚期肿瘤患者家属分别进行问卷调查,内容包括被问卷者的一般资料、情绪状态及需求。得知病情的患者多数对于生命是积极的、乐观的,少数处于消极状态中,而多数不知道病情的患者因对自身情况的猜疑导致情绪障碍,患者的需求因自身情况的差异而不同,年龄、教育程度及宗教等因素对患者病情告知的需求有不同程度的影响。病情告知在宁养服务中起重要作用,有利于患者生活质量的提高,但仍要根据个体特点并掌握一定技巧。     

The Meta-Ethical Issue of the Nature of Lying: Implications for Moral Education

I argue that lying has many dimensions, hence, some putativecases of lying may not match our intuitions or acceptedmeanings of lying. The moral lesson we should teach must be that lying is not a simple principle or feature, buta cluster of features or spectrum of shades, where anythingin the spectrum or cluster is considered lying. I argue thatthe view regarding lying as a single principle or featurehas problematic meta-ethical implications. I do a meta-ethicalanalysis of the meaning of lying, not only to indicatesuch problems, but also the need to teach the act ofrational discussion and meta-ethical analysis. I arguethat the process of meta-ethical analysis and rationaldiscussion should be part of moral education, in that itmay help to develop critical thought about the abilityand practice of making good and rational moral judgments.     

意图线索对5-11岁儿童理解说谎概念及道德评价的影响

研究探讨了交往意图的直接阐述与否对5、7、9和11岁儿童说谎/说真话概念判断及其道德评价的影响。结果表明:5岁儿童在作说谎或说真话的判断及其道德评价时,还不会利用意图线索;自7岁或9岁起意图明确与否影响着儿童概念判断与道德评价;但对不同言语情景的影响并不相同。由此也证实了意图线索对儿童说谎概念的判断及其道德评价的作用除了与儿童的年龄有关外,还取决于言语的情景。     

不同情景下小学儿童对说谎与说真话的道德评价

研究探讨了小学7、9、11岁儿童在对说谎与说真话进行道德评价时不同情景间的差异.研究结果发现,小学儿童对于具有积极意义的说谎/真话的评价显著地好于消极性的说谎/真话.但在对具有积极意义的说谎以及具有消极意义的真话进行评价时,具有显著的情景间差异.总的来说,在个体情景下,对谦虚谎及做好事说真话的评价具有年龄的效应,且谦虚谎的评价比白谎更为积极,而白谎的评价比集体情景下的说谎与伤害性说谎更为积极;而儿童对于交往情景下直率真话的评价在所有的年龄都趋于中性,有别于其他情景.     

为集体或为个人情境下小学儿童对说谎或说真话的理解和道德评价

研究探讨了291名7、9、11岁小学儿童在为集体或为个人情境下对说谎或说真话的理解和道德评价。结果表明,集体观念已经对11岁儿童对说谎概念的理解产生显著影响,11岁儿童在为集体情境下更少将主人公的话判断为说谎;随着年龄的增长,小学儿童对个人真话的评价越来越消极,对集体谎的评价越来越积极;当诚实原则和集体观念发生冲突时,7岁儿童主要受到诚实原则的支配,9岁儿童集体观念与诚实原则几乎是并驾齐驱,11岁儿童主要受到集体观念的影响;随着年龄的增长,小学儿童更多地从诚实和为集体两个方面陈述评价的理由。     

小学儿童对说谎及说真话的评价

该研究分析比较了７、９、１１岁儿童对故事中好／坏行为的评价,及对此两种行为说谎／说真话的评价。研究目的是想通过小学儿童对好行为与坏行为说谎或说真话的道德评价来检验说谎发展中的一些普遍性问题。结果表明：被试都有相当的能力区别行为与言语反应间的差异。对好／坏行为都予积极／消极的评价;而对相应的言语反应的评价则因条件而不同。