Medical Ethics
RSSArticles
-
Ethical Approaches to Informed Consent for Genetic Testing
Participants should understand what the test is for, why, what could be found, what type of information will be returned to them (and how), what resources will be available for any needed follow-up care, what will happen to their data, the point of the research, and potential for data to be used in future research.
-
Ethicists Are Finding Ways to Meet Needs of Rural Clinicians
For many smaller hospitals or health systems, it is simply impractical to hire an ethicist. The Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative pools the resources of smaller hospitals. Meetings target areas in which expertise may be lacking at each hospital, including clinical ethics.
-
Many Ethical Considerations if Surgeons Record Procedures
Ideally, the surgical team uses the recordings in conjunction with quality improvement and risk management to assess efficiency, professionalism, communication, and leadership. The ethics of video recording should be integrated into graduate and continuous education modules.
-
Initiative Raises Organ Referral Rates, Expands Donor List and Transplanted Organ Supply
An individual’s organ donation wishes should be part of their holistic care plan. Ethicists could provide education to clinicians on this point. A culture of trust between the patient community, clinical care providers, the transplant program, and the organ procurement organization is necessary. This takes years to build — and one bad case to break.
-
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.
-
Ethicists Often Called to Resolve Conflicts Over Aggressive Care
Quality, compassionate communication with families is critical to prevent further escalation of conflict and to preserve trust in the therapeutic relationship.
-
High-Intensity End-of-Life Care Remains the Default at Hospitals
Ethicists can help by assisting in developing hospital policies and crafting ethics committees in a way that does not pose unnecessary bureaucratic challenges or prevent physicians from acting in the patient’s best interest.
-
Emergency Physicians Rarely Bill for Advance Care Planning
Clinicians should be aware of the opportunity to provide this important service to patients – while also receiving appropriate compensation.
-
American Heart Association Explains Importance of Shared Decision-Making
Group suggests engaging in these practices can level the playing field and improve cardiovascular health for all patients.
-
Multidisciplinary Initiative Leads to More Referrals, Donors, and Transplanted Organs
Staff training and more visible public awareness helped a Georgia hospital make tremendous improvements.