Articles Tagged With:
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The COVID-19 Vaccine: Usual Ethical Questions in Unusual Times
Informed consent, protection of human subjects, fairness of testing, and eventual distribution: These all are important ethical questions and considerations surrounding the development of a COVID-19 vaccine.
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Scientists Warn Pandemic May Not Decline in Warmer Weather
Seasonal influenza and common human coronaviruses typically fall off in warmer seasons, as heat and humidity diminish transmission sharply. There has been some hope that this will happen with COVID-19, giving the United States a summer respite against a relentlessly accelerating pandemic.
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Shortcuts in Clinical Trials May Cause More Harm Than Good
All clinical trials raise certain ethical issues. But trials conducted during epidemics are especially difficult, both ethically and practically. Poorly designed studies subject patients to the risks of adverse events without learning if the intervention works.
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OSHA Tells Inspectors to Use Discretion in Enforcing Respirator Fit-Testing
Responding to respirator shortages during the outbreak of novel coronavirus, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued a memorandum allowing enforcement discretion” by compliance officers citing the Respiratory Protection standard (29 CFR § 1910.134).
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Transparency Is Central Ethical Concern During COVID-19 Pandemic
Developing an ethical framework before disasters helps leaders make better-informed, values-based decisions. This also engenders public trust, easing fear and reducing misinformation.
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C. difficile Infections Decrease in Hospitals, But Increase in Community
Clostridioides difficile infections are declining in U.S. hospitals, as measures over the last decade to reign in antibiotic use and improve infection control appear to be working.
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With Remote Ethics Consults, Nonverbal Communication Is Lost
Normally, ethics consults include plenty of talking, mostly in-person, with patients, families, and clinicians. The need for more remote consults during the COVID-19 pandemic means missing all the communication that happens through facial expressions and body language.
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Petition Demanding PPE for Healthcare Workers Has 1.7 Million Signatures
An online petition demanding personal protective equipment for healthcare workers to treat suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients had about 1.7 million signatures as this story was filed.
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Ethicists Explain Worst-Case Scenario Policies While Exercising Caution
Clinicians nationwide suddenly have multiple urgent concerns on hypothetical COVID-19 scenarios. They are turning to ethicists for answers. At a Missouri-based system, ethicists are working on policies regarding balancing the public good with patients’ right to leave against medical advice, critical care allocation, and modified visitation.
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Ethical Policies if Critical Care Resources Become Scarce
If and when there are not enough ventilators for all the COVID-19 patients who need them, hospitals can expect lots of public scrutiny. Clear, consistent, and transparent policies can make the ethical rationale behind decisions obvious to everyone.