Final answer:
The statement that doctors should inform patients there's nothing more that can be done is false, as ethical practice requires a balance between honesty and compassion, assessed individually. Act and Rule Utilitarianism offer different perspectives on whether to tell the truth or lie. If red blood cells burst after injection, the solution was hypotonic, not isotonic.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that physicians are encouraged to make it clear that there is nothing more that can be done for the patient is false. When it comes to "breaking the bad news" to a patient, modern medical ethics usually recommend a balance between honesty and compassion, assessing the patient's preferences for information.
The ethical dilemma presents a contrast between Act Utilitarianism and Rule Utilitarianism, where Act Utilitarians may consider lying to avoid immediate distress while Rule Utilitarians may emphasize the importance of truth-telling to maintain trust and effective doctor-patient relationships in the long run.
For the case of the isotonic saline solution, if a patient's red blood cells burst after the administration of the solution, it would indicate that the solution was, in fact, hypotonic, not isotonic. A truly isotonic solution would not cause cell lysis (bursting of red blood cells).