Medical Ethics
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Clinicians Need Proactive Approach to Ensure Ethical Artificial Intelligence Use
Rather than reacting to associated risks, clinicians implementing AI algorithms should ensure policies and safeguards are in place and routinely assess them. They also can be advocates for such protections through interactions with industries and organizations, as well as mentorship of trainees.
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Higher Mortality Rates Among ICU Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease
Consider early and timely palliative care services instead of the ICU. Early exposure to palliative care may improve both survivability and quality of life, and may lower the risk of hospital-acquired infections.
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Ethics Consults Focus on the Criteria Used to Determine Death
Some families simply need more time to process strong emotional reactions and grief. Establishing trust can help resolve these cases. Particularly in critical care, it is important from the moment that clinicians meet a family to start to build a good therapeutic relationship with them.
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Survey: Patient and Family Ethical Worries May Go Undetected
Some respondents indicated a provider did not listen, did not communicate clearly, did not provide helpful information, lacked empathy, was dismissive, or was not knowledgeable or experienced. For at least some of those cases, an ethics consult probably would have been a good idea.
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Compensation, Employment Models Vary Widely in Clinical Ethics Field
The disparities stem in part from a lack of evidence establishing the fact that trained ethicists experience better outcomes compared to their untrained counterparts. Researchers could determine if the notes of trained ethicists reference best practices and national consensus standards more often than the notes of untrained ethicists. Gathering tangible data allows ethicists to make reasonable, evidence-based arguments.
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How Ethicists Can Make Business Case for Resources
Ethics consultation services may boost patient satisfaction, improve employee morale, lower the risk of litigation, or enhance productivity. However, proving it is challenging.
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Surgeons May Need Additional Ethical Guidance
There is an evolving recognition of surgical ethics as a distinct branch of medical ethics — and an integral part of surgical practice itself.
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Physicians Suggest Small But Important Update to Standards for Determining Death
The Uniform Law Commission is debating possible revisions to the Uniform Determination of Death Act.
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Biden Administration Releases 10 Drugs for Price Negotiation
Medications represent 20% of the total Medicare Part D gross covered prescription costs.
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Highly Publicized Research Fraud Erodes Public Trust
There is not much IRBs can do to spot misconduct or fraud in clinical trials. IRBs do not typically review data. However, IRBs should promote compliance with legal and ethical requirements, and deal with suspected noncompliance in a fair, reasonable, and timely fashion.