Medical Ethics
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Tips for Reopening or Closing Research Studies
The 2020 landscape for clinical trials looks different than it did five or 10 years ago. Even before the worldwide disruption in research from the COVID-19 pandemic, there were systemic shifts that have squeezed trials in ways that add pressure to investigators and IRBs.
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IRBs Look at How to Get Through Pandemic — and Beyond
As human research protection programs and IRBs enter the next leg of the COVID-19 pandemic, they can draw on experience to find the best balance between safety and efficiency. Each institution and IRB will face its own challenges. But one of the more common challenges as the United States copes with more than eight months of the crisis is pandemic fatigue and burnout.
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Do Not Intubate Orders Becoming More Common
Rates increased over time, from about one in 10 patients 20 years ago to about one in three patients in the past five years. The exact reasons for this increase remain unclear.
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Treatment Withdrawal Policies Could Harm Families
Chaplain: "Your patient is not just the person in the bed. It’s the whole family."
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Where Should Clinicians Draw the Line on ‘Grateful Patient’ Donations?
Healthcare philanthropy is an essential activity, but approaches to encourage donations must be mindful of ethical considerations and public attitudes.
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Conflicts Over Decision-Making Frequent in ICUs
Consider psychological, biological, spiritual, and social factors, and the role they play in understanding illness and healthcare delivery. Using this model, clinical ethicists can encourage dialogue between healthcare professionals caring for seriously ill patients.
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Growing Movement Toward More Family Participation in ICUs
Family satisfaction scores increased after ICUs implemented family-centered care initiatives as part of the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s Family Engagement Collaborative.
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Family Members Encouraged to Offer More Care for Loved Ones in ICU
Researchers provide guidance to worried family members who may not know how to act in the intimidating ICU setting.
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Unexpected Issues Hinder Ethics Committees’ Effectiveness
Conflicts of interests and bloated, unfocused panels can torpedo good intentions.
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Controversy Surrounds Exception from Informed Consent Enrollment
The term “exception from informed consent” for some clinical trials has been around for decades, but most patients know nothing about it. Researchers set out to explore attitudes about enrolling subjects in studies without consent.