Medical Ethics Advisor
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New Data on IRB Members’ Perceptions of Violations
Failure to properly store data and neglecting to maintain project records are the two most common IRB violations, according to a recent survey of 242 faculty members at research-intensive universities in the United States.
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Patients Can Request Ethics Consults, But Almost None Do
In a recently published paper, the authors reported if patients are empowered to ask for ethics consults, it can mean more patient-centered care, better shared decision-making, and a stronger patient/physician relationship.
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Excluding People with Serious Mental Illness from Research Is Ethical Problem
With current treatment methods, many individuals with serious mental illness function well, maintain employment, hold valued roles in their communities, and can consent to and participate in research.
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Novel Ethics Curriculum for Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
At three academic institutions, faculty members recently piloted 13 ethics modules for neonatology fellows. Of the 44 neonatology fellows who participated, baseline ethics knowledge and confidence in addressing ethical dilemmas improved significantly.
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Data Show Larger-Than-Expected Market for Ethics Consultation Training
Based on the survey responses collected from participants at hundreds of U.S. hospitals, researchers estimated approximately 62,000 individuals would benefit from basic-level training on how to perform ethics consultation, and 37,000 would benefit from advanced-level training.
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Many Ethics Consults Involve ‘Unbefriended’ Patients
Most unrepresented patients are living with marginal housing and psychiatric comorbidity in addition to cognitive decline and medical illness. It is helpful to engage in dialogue among inpatient clinicians and outpatient providers, case managers, and social workers. Working together, these groups can facilitate a transition from inpatient care to the community and provide input on options for housing.
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Medical Providers’ Views Vary on Refusals of Life-Sustaining Treatment
Ethicists can help determine how best to proceed with treatment decision-making in cases in which patients lack decisional capacity. They can explain why the tie between treatment decision-making and capacity is morally important and essential for sound ethical medical practice.
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Paying Participants? Incentives Should Be Reasonable for Research Activities Involved
Remember two central ethical concerns: Undue inducement, meaning an offer so attractive it leads to bad judgment, and unjust inducement, meaning payment is more attractive to lower-income people, putting too much of the burden of research participation on them.
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IRBs Face Unique Ethics Questions About Big Data Research
There is a need for ethics review committees to improve oversight capacity for big data research, the authors of a recent paper argued. Researchers assessed the weaknesses of ethics review committees, some of which are not specific to big data research but could be exacerbated by it, and some that are specific to big data research.
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IRBs Scrutinizing Remote Consent, Screening, and Participation in Study Protocols
It is critical to remember face-to-face contact remains the best way to conduct the process of informed consent. Remote processes should not be used as an alternative if face-to-face contact is safe and practical.