Medical Ethics Advisor
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Study Recruitment Incorporated Into Check-In Process
Recruitment through patient portals has become more common, but actual enrollment rates remain low. As part of patients' routine appointment check-ins, researchers included a study information sheet and a HIPAA authorization form. This led to a 37% enrollment rate, which was seven to eight times higher than what researchers expected.
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Researchers Are Boosting Study Recruitment with ‘Cold Contact’ Processes
The Medical University of South Carolina recently switched to a new patient outreach recruitment model. Now, researchers can contact patients unless they opt out. The new process has dramatically increased the number of potential study participants who can be contacted, from 52,000 to more than 1.7 million patients.
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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.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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The Trouble with ‘Grateful Patient’ Fundraising
Although philanthropic donations are important, physicians pushing patients and families to chip in is ethically problematic.