"This is a difficult question because being upfront and honest with a patient is the morally correct thing to do in 99.99% of patient care situations. But, I am aware of therapeutic privilege and how it can be important in psychiatry for patients that may become suicidal after certain diagnoses."

You should have a well-versed answer to this question, as it may come up many times during your time in medical school and into your career as a practicing physician. One great way to answer is to research the concept of "therapeutic privilege" before your medical school interview and then create a reply from there. Your answer should be brief, clean, and not convoluted.

"Overtly lying to a patient is immoral and should not be encouraged except in a very limited circumstance where a patient may pose an immediate threat to him or herself. That being said, few aspects of medicine are black and white; in the context of a difficult patient or complex disease, open discussion of treatment benefits, risks, and research data is always encouraged."