Our cultural disagreements can often be anticipated, negotiated and resolve
d using shared methods of moral reasoning. This claim is incompatible with
any extreme version of communitarianism or strong ethical relativism, which
hold that one's culture is the final arbiter of good, bad, right and wrong
, or that the rights of the community should trump individual rights within
that community. This view is discussed and found to be implausible using t
he example of common grounds for responding to different cultural views abo
ut being truthful in medical practice. Its implausibility stems from diffic
ulties individuating cultures, and accounting for intercultural goals, valu
es and methods. Given our increasingly diverse populations, problems arise
as clinicians from one culture try to care respectfully and compassionately
for people from other groups. Yet working from shared values and goals, we
can use some bridging methods such as discussing grim news in the third pe
rson. Claims that something is a cultural belief or attitude, moreover, can
not always be taken at face value. Various meanings of 'multiculturalism' a
re distinguished.