To Omit Or Not To Omit? Why Transparency And Humility Are Compatible With Health Services And Public Health Leadership Author: Brian G. Southwell

https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2026.00806 Professionals who oversee and implement communication efforts related to health services and public health face many challenges and sometimes may be tempted to omit information for a variety of reasons. Three important considerations undermine the case for adopting omission as a regular practice to pursue without caution. Wholesale omission is relatively difficult to correct after the fact; is often unnecessary, given the existence of established conventions to indicate missing information instead of withholding it; and misses opportunities to build trust by acknowledging nuance and uncertainty. We should avoid steering people toward what we think are the optimal perceptions for them to have if those perceptions are not based on accurate comprehension, even if we have legitimate or moral reasons in mind. We also should caution against message simplification without thoughtful justification. Communication benefits from humility: awareness of one’s own limits, openness to learning and change, and respect for others’ needs.