Reply: Cancer patients' awareness of their disease and prognosis.

Doctors in different countries have various approaches to bioethical problems. Oncologists face ethical dilemmas during their daily practice with newly diagnosed cancer patients, particularly with regards to the disclosure of information about their diagnosis and prognosis. Medical literature suggests that most patients want to be told the truth about a diagnosis of cancer. 1,2 In Saudi Arabia this issue is still not clear among physicians, patients and their families. Full disclosure of the presence of cancer to newly diagnosed patients is not well accepted by the majority of families. Most family members of cancer patients request that their patient should not be informed about the diagnosis of cancer and its prognosis. This attitude will, inevitably, influence the decision of a majority of doctors in giving cancer patients information about diagnosis, prognosis, treatment options and the side effects of treatment. This study has been conducted to provide some guidelines and draw some conclusions with regards to the issue of disclosure of information to patients diagnosed with cancer in our community.