Medical Ethics
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Aggressive end-of-life care persists in cancer patients
Despite a 40% increase in the number of patients with cancer who designated a durable power of attorney, there was no decrease in the rates of aggressive medical care received in the last weeks of life, according to a recent study.
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Study: Emergency doctors overstate treatment benefits
Emergency physicians overstated the risks of myocardial infarction and potential benefit of hospital admission to chest pain patients, according to a recent study of 425 patient-physician pairs.
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Do nurses report moral distress after palliative sedation?
It’s not uncommon for nursing staff to report moral distress after administering palliative sedation to a patient who dies shortly afterward.
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Caregivers of LVAD patients face “huge challenges”
Caregivers of patients with left ventricular assist devices face significant emotional, physical and financial burdens, according to a recent review.
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Americans disagree with restricting access to OTC pain medications
Americans prefer education over restricted access to over-the-counter pain medications, according to a recent survey.
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Are terminally ill patients referred to hospice? Physicians play biggest role
Physicians played the biggest role in whether terminally ill patients were referred to hospice care, according to a recent study.
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When is the ICU Inappropriate? Clinicians now Have Guidelines
The American Thoracic Society supports the clinical team’s decision to not offer life-sustaining treatments in some circumstances.
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Choose your words carefully
Some commonly used medical terms may mislead patients and family members, leading to misunderstandings about prognosis.
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Medicare proposes paying for advance care planning
Proposed changes to the 2016 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule includes a provision for two new advance care planning codes. These would be used to pay for a provider’s time discussing patient choices for advance directives and completing necessary forms.
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Cystic fibrosis patients face ethical issues with direct-to-consumer genetic testing
Researchers surveyed 47 patients with cystic fibrosis and 65 parents of children with cystic fibrosis to assess their views on direct-to-consumer carrier tests; most indicated they preferred healthcare systems to provide testing, as opposed to commercial companies.