Abstract

Stereotyping, particularly negative stereotyping, is an important and pragmatic social issue. Contemporary mores have rightly condemned stereotyping by race, nationality and gender. Stereotyping in medicine has a number of important practical connotations. One of the most important is the attitudinal tradition of medical paternalism. Doctors have often stereotyped patients as subjects not being capable of considering relevant options in their own personal, clinical circumstances - for example, where major surgical intervention might be one course of action. Withholding full information of all the outcomes, and rushing the doctor-patient decision process in such circumstances, constitutes one type of unethical stereotyping.