Read the Case-Based Curriculum for Neurology Residents.

Many companies have health plans, disability insurance and orher benefirs that apply ro
all employees. In some instances, new employees musr fill in an application and may be rejected
on the basis oftheir health. Ii is incumbent on applicants to fill the forms our honestly.
Applicants may have to sign a waiver allowing the company ro ask for medical reports from
treating physicians. It is expected that physicians will provide rrurhful informarion. Physicians
may feel an obligation to their patienrs to couch the information in favorable terms.
Professiona.lism demands that the forms be filled in honestly. some physicians may sense a
conflict between their duty to the patient and tbeir duty to society as rcpresented by the company.
However, truthfulness is an important principle thar underlies all social inreractions.
IV.
References
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2- Ford HL, Johnson MH. Telling your patient he/she has muldpre screrosis. postgraduate
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3. Multiple sclerosis. A working party repon of rhe British Sociery of Rehabilitation
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4' Mushlin AL, Mooney C, Grow v, and pherps cE. The value of diagnostic informadon
to parients with suspected muttiple sclerosis. Arch Neurol. 1994:,5l:67 _72.
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multiple sclerosis on patient health perceptions. Arch Neurol. 1994;51:46_51.
6. Pelligrino ED and rhomasma DC- For the patient's Good: The Resroration of
Beneficence in Health Care. New york, Oxford. l9gg.
'7 . Poser CM, Paty DW, scheinberg L, et al. New diagnostic crireria for multiole sclerosis:
guidelines for rcsearch protocols. Ann Neurol. 19g3;13:227-231