THE THERAPEUTIC LIE: Ethics and Truth-Telling

Health care professionals often times use "white lies" to redirect clients with dementia; clinicians may withhold the truth in an effort to hold out hope for terminally ill patients. Participants in this seminar will learn of philosophical principles of lying and apply them to ethical issues that are faced in health care today. The pros and cons of using the therapeutic lie to reframe a message to clients will be discussed. Participants will also learn to apply the ethical principles of beneficence and non-malificence when dealing with clients who lack mental capacity.