Medical Ethics Advisor – September 1, 2007
September 1, 2007
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Does patient confidentiality end with death? Depends on definition of person
One of your patients dies as the result of an AIDS-related infection. During the time he was under your care, he made it clear that he did not want his parents to know that he was HIV-positive or suffering from AIDS. -
Postgrad certificate offered in spirituality, health care
Spirituality has been tied to physical health throughout the history of cultures worldwide, but only recently has it been gaining new attention as a component of modern health care. -
EOL in incapacitated ICU patients with no surrogates
Physicians in intensive care settings at times make the decision to withdraw life-supporting care from patients who are incapacitated and have no surrogate decision makers or advance directives. -
AMA, ANA hail failed prosecution of Katrina doc
While a grand jury in New Orleans has cleared otolaryngologist Anna Pou, MD, in the deaths of patients at Memorial Medical Center in the days following Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, allegations that she and two nurses actively killed patients trapped in the hospital, some doctors fear, could deter health care providers from remaining at their posts in future disasters. -
Preserving patients' dignity lends value to end of life
Preserving a patient's dignity is more important than some doctors think, according to a palliative care expert who points out that loss of dignity is one of the most common reasons patients seek out physician-hastened death. -
Is legislating universal health coverage enough?
With the implementation of health care reform passed in 2006, Massachusetts became the first state in the country to enact a law guaranteeing health insurance coverage to all its citizens. -
AMA on implantable ID chips, patenting procedures
The American Medical Association has spoken out on two medical technology-related ethics issues, affirming that it is unethical to patent medical procedures and cautioning that the use of implantable radio frequency identification devices should come with a strong dose of caution to the user. -
Chronic pain: Is it a human rights issue?
Chronic pain has gathered increasing international attention as a human rights issue, and a bipartisan bill introduced in Congress in July seeks to mandate the right of chronic pain sufferers to education, treatment, and research into the condition. -
Pain doctor gets five years in prison for trafficking
A Virginia physician who specialized in pain management has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison for prescribed large amounts of opiates.