Ethox Seminar: To Tell or Not to Tell: How Different Perspectives Shape the Ethics of Honesty and Concealment
Tuesday, 16 June 2026, 3pm to 4.30pm
Abstract
End-of-life bioethics often presents a seemingly sharp divide between Western emphasis on patient autonomy and truth-telling, and some Asian traditions favoring family-centered concealment to prevent psychological harm. This talk unpacks the moral complexity behind this apparent dichotomy. Using the film The Farewell as a case study — where a Chinese-American family conceals a grandmother's terminal cancer diagnosis — I explore how the ethical principle of non-maleficence operates across different cultures. This talk will also attempt to answer the ethical question: does benevolent concealment, even when motivated by care, constitute a fundamental denial of patient agency?
EVENT DETAILS
- Ethox Seminar, Tuesday 16 June, 15:00-16:30
- Hybrid seminar in the Big Data Institute, Lower Ground Seminar Room 0, or on Zoom.
- Speaker: Professor Roger Chung
- Open to: Public
- Register here