Withholding Bad News: The Kiss of Death

In medical practice, delivering bad news topatients is a complicated issue. Clinicianssometimes are faced with the dilemma of deliveringbad news to a patient: to tell or not to tell the truth. Inthis context, the religion of patients is an importantfactor. Some people, such as Muslims, believe in lifeafter death and Judgment Day. Accordingly,avoiding disclosure of the pertinent information tosuch patients is a clear violation of patients' rightsbecause it denies them the opportunity to do penanceand seek God's forgiveness for their sins. Thissituation is an instance of "the kiss of death.”I read with interest the Invited Commentary byTahmasebi۱, entitled “Delivering Bad News: DealWith Collusion for Love,” which was recentlypublished in this journal. I would like to drawattention to the issue of breaking bad news to patientsfrom a religious perspective.