Medical Ethics Advisor
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Ethics Committees Are Adding Community Members
This article covers effective approaches regarding ethics committees adding community members to their ranks.
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Doctors Pressured to Participate in Grateful Patient Fundraising
Physicians are struggling with ethical responses if asked to participate in “grateful patient” fundraising for hospitals/health systems. This article discusses a new ACEP paper that addresses this ethically controversial practice.
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Family/Clinician Conflicts Are Top Reason for Pediatric Ethics Consults
Conflicts between family members and clinicians are the most common issue addressed during ethics consults, according to a group of researchers. This article discusses implications for clinicians and ethics consultants.
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New Ethical Guidance on Pediatric Decision-Making
According to the recommendations, ethical decision-making can factor in parents’ consideration of the child’s non-health interests (e.g., a child’s interest in playing football, even if it risks concussions), and also may consider the interests of other family members, provided those do not severely compromise the child’s health.
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Many Ethics Committees Are Not Following AAP Guidance
In a survey of ethics consultant leaders at children’s hospitals, researchers found multiple practice gaps, including training needs; informing staff, patients, and family about ethics services; and scope of ethics service. These practice gaps could erode ethics quality and narrow ethics reach.
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Early, Integrated Education May Prevent ‘Ethical Erosion’
Modalities such as ethics rounds or shadowing could help make these considerations a part of everyday practice.
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Conflicts of Interest Are Prevalent in Clinical Guidelines
Even the appearance of bias in clinical practice guidelines is problematic, since it could diminish public trust in medicine. Ensuring there are functioning systems in place to keep practice guidelines objective and free of this influence must be a priority.
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When Surrogate Decision-Makers Misunderstand Patients’ Condition
In the view of clinicians, surrogates of patients with higher acuity of illness could better understand the clinical situation. However, those surrogates might be less likely to correctly identify all the affected organ systems. Surrogates who seem to strongly grasp the situation may not actually feel as secure in their understanding.
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Patient or Family May Need Translator During Ethics Consult
A good rule of thumb is to stop and check for comprehension after sharing a key point, especially when that point will influence decision-making or may change an individual’s perspective on the situation.
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Lack of Trust and Knowledge Hinders Genetic Research Recruitment
Try using lay language to better explain genetic research as part of the informed consent process. Addressing participants’ concerns carefully may help gain participants’ trust in research, and thus improve recruitment of diverse patient populations.