Bioethics Grand Rounds | Virtual

George Orwell coined the term "doublethink" to describe the act of "holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them."

Speaker: Irene Ying MD MHSc CCFP(PC) FRCPC Palliative Care Physician, Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto 

Abstract: George Orwell coined the term "doublethink" to describe the act of "holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them." Patients at end-of-life may be using “Therapeutic Doublethink” as a psychological mechanism to cope with the cognitive dissonance that arises from accepting a terminal diagnosis while still desiring curative therapy. In this talk, we will explore the literature on unrealistic optimism and examine how neuroimaging studies can help explain the biological mechanisms that permit unrealistic optimism and therapeutic doublethink to coexist. These findings help us appreciate the challenges patients face when trying to make “rational” treatment decisions. They also raise questions about the effectiveness and potential harm of truth-telling, which is a common approach used by physicians who are confronted by unrealistic optimism. In some cases, clinicians may be able to use Therapeutic Doublethink to harness the beneficial aspects of unrealistic optimism while simultaneously supporting patients in accepting the terminal nature of their condition. Although this approach may be conceptually and ethically challenging for many clinicians, it has important implications for improving patient care.

Please note: This educational event is designed for healthcare professionals and those associated with academic or healthcare institutions. Please register using your institutional or organizational email address. Registrations submitted with personal email accounts may not be accepted.