The Dalai Lama once wrote: “Compassion is one of the main things that gives meaning to our lives. It is the source of lasting happiness and joy and is the foundation of a good heart. Through acts of kindness, affection, honesty and justice we not only help others, but also secure our own advantage. Conversely, the more our hearts and minds are plagued by hostility, the unhappier we become. We cannot escape the need for love and compassion." (Lama)What does this mean when it comes to healthcare? A doctor may feel that he is doing no harm by maintaining the amount of knowledge the patient might have and the time frame at which the patient knows it. Doctors withhold information from the dying so that the patient's suffering is minimal because a patient knowing they are near death would cause them greater harm than remaining blind to their condition (Morrison). A doctor's concern that a diagnosis of a terminal illness could push a patient into depression or cause suicide. This voluntary withholding is sometimes called “therapeutic privilege.” It may also be the case that withholding information could undermine trust between patients and doctors. A doctor who withholds information from a patient, even for humanitarian reasons, puts himself at risk of malpractice lawsuits, even if that information is necessary for patients to make an informed decision about their medical treatment (Topic: Telling the truth). Some family members may even ask doctors to withhold vital information from their patients. Hiding a diagnosis from the patient can be very difficult in the long term, especially if tests and treatments are indicated. The course of medical treatment itself can reveal a diagnosis... middle of paper... know one's diagnosis so the patient can decide for himself what the course of treatment might be. As for Annie, she may have decided to fight the disease or allow nature to take its course, but in Annie's case, since the doctor denied her true diagnosis, Annie had to suffer in her last days because, by giving her the pain-relieving medications could have made Annie realize her true diagnosis. As the Dalia Lama once said: “May I become at all times, now and forever, A protector for those who have no protection, A guide for those who have lost their way, A vessel for those who have oceans to cross, A bridge for those who have rivers to cross." , A sanctuary for those in danger, A lamp for those without light, A place of refuge for those without shelter, And a servant for all the needy (Lama).”A great moral code according to which all health workers they must live.