What term describes the practice of informing a patient of their diagnosis honestly?

The term that describes the practice of informing a patient of their diagnosis honestly is truth-telling. This concept is fundamental in medical ethics and emphasizes the obligation of healthcare providers to disclose information about a patient's condition openly and transparently. Truth-telling fosters trust in the patient-provider relationship, allowing patients to make informed decisions about their care based on accurate and complete information regarding their health status. It respects the patient's autonomy and acknowledges their right to know about their diagnosis, which is critical for effective healthcare communication.

While benevolence refers to the desire to do good for the patient, it does not encapsulate the principle of honesty in communication. Deception, by definition, involves providing false information and is antithetical to the ethical standards of informing patients about their health. Confidentiality pertains to protecting patient information and ensuring privacy, which, while crucial in healthcare, does not directly relate to the honest disclosure of a diagnosis. Hence, truth-telling stands out as the correct term for the practice described in the question.