Medical Ethics Advisor
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Non-Hospice Patients Receive More Aggressive End-of-Life Care
Patients who do not enroll in hospice are more likely to receive aggressive cancer care at the end of life, according to a recent study.
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ED setting poses unique challenges in palliative care delivery
It is very easy for emergency department (ED) providers to “err on the side of caution” when deciding whether to institute life-sustaining therapies. “But this, in fact, may not be the best course of care,” says Tammie E. Quest, MD, director of Emory Palliative Care Center and associate professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.
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Use proven strategies when conflicts arise over withdrawing futile treatments
Conflict surrounding withdrawal of futile treatments is one of the most common reasons for ethics consults being called.
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Are consultants called the “ethics police?” What’s behind clinicians’ attitudes
At times, providers react negatively to the involvement of ethics; “ethics police” is an often-used derogatory term reflecting this attitude.
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Report: Bioethics programs’ reproductive education doesn’t reflect needs of practicing OB/GYNs
Researchers conducted parallel surveys of directors of graduate bioethics training programs and obstetrician-gynecologists (OB/GYNs) in order to learn whether reproductive health education in bioethics programs reflected real-life concerns for practicing physicians.
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“Don’t worry about the cost” doesn’t reflect patients’ reality
"Don’t worry about the cost. All that matters is getting you well.” Well-meaning physicians frequently say this, but in fact, patients have good reason for wanting to know what care will cost them.
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Ethical controversy erupts over minors’ autonomy
In the controversial “Cassandra C” case, a 17-year old Connecticut girl diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma was ordered by the state Supreme Court to undergo chemotherapy against her will. The girl refused further treatment after undergoing surgery to remove a lymph node, but as of press time is being kept in a hospital room under court order.
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Evidence of economic burden of disparate care for minorities continues to grow
A recent tragic case involving informed consent obtained from parents with limited English proficiency led to a successful lawsuit against the hospital. The parents were told the risks of surgery for their child included kidney damage, but there was no interpreter in the room.
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Study validity may be compromised if patients drop out
Occasionally, individuals who agreed to participate in a research study withdraw for various reasons; some simply stop participating without communicating with investigators.
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Surprising data on FDA committee members’ financial ties
Food & Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee meetings have, on average, 13% of members with financial conflicts of interest, according to a recent study. Researchers analyzed financial conflicts of 1,400 advisory committee members over a 15-year period.1