Which statement best describes the ethical concept of veracity in patient disclosures?

• A. Beneficence guides telling the truth.
• B. Veracity involves truth-telling to patients about their condition.
• C. Autonomy requires withholding information to prevent harm.
• D. Nonmaleficence requires always disclosing medical errors.

Answer: (B)

Veracity is the obligation to tell the truth to patients about their condition. This directly supports informed decision-making and respects the patient’s autonomy by providing the information needed to understand their diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment options. When clinicians communicate clearly and honestly, patients can weigh benefits and risks, ask questions, and participate meaningfully in their care, which is the essence of veracity.

Beneficence is about acting in the patient’s best interest and may involve truth-telling, but it’s a broader principle rather than the specific act of truth-telling. Withholding information to prevent harm sounds paternalistic and compromises a patient’s right to know, which runs counter to veracity. Nonmaleficence focuses on not causing harm and does not by itself mandate always disclosing errors; transparency can be part of ethical practice, but veracity specifically centers on truthful disclosure.