Medical Ethics
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Many Ethical Questions Still Unresolved with Xenotransplantation
A group of experts recently convened to explore ethical and legal issues involved with xenotransplantation and attempted to delineate areas of consensus and areas where there is still controversy.
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Clinicians Need Help with Ethically Complex ICU Discharges
Clinicians are struggling with some intensive care unit (ICU) discharges that they believe potentially are unethical.
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Physicians Share Views on Medical Aid in Dying
Ethical controversy over medical aid in dying (MAiD) persists, despite the practice being legal in some jurisdictions.
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‘Ethics Liaisons’ Can Maximize Reach of Ethics Service
Some nurses and physicians are taking on a role of ethics liaison to serve as a point of contact between clinicians, patients, and ethicists.
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Ethical Concerns if Medical Students Struggle with Mental Health
There is a critical need to prepare medical students early in their training to recognize emerging signs of psychiatric illnesses.
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Patients Are Reading Ethicists’ Documentation
Patients can now view ethics documentation in real time, just as they can view the notes of other clinical providers, as a result of the “Open Notes” requirement in the 21st Century Cures Act (implemented in 2021).
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Ethicists Connect Their Work with Hospital’s Mission
The work of ethics usually aligns closely with the mission of the hospital or health system.
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Is Organizational Ethics Part of Ethicists’ Role? It Varies Widely
At many hospitals and health systems, ethicists are focused narrowly on consult requests involving individual patients. However, some ethicists take a broader, systemwide approach with their work.
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POLST Completion Ensures Patient Wishes Are Honored at Future Visits
Having a DNR Portable Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form in place ensures that patients’ stated wishes are followed at future visits.
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Patients Want Spiritual Support — But Can Clinicians Provide It?
Many patients struggling with a serious or advanced illness want to talk with clinicians about spirituality.