Articles tagged with Medical Ethics
Experts argue that the assisted dying debate needs a radical shift in perspective, moving beyond a medical framework. Studies show that depression, hopelessness, and perception of being a burden are stronger predictors of desire to hasten death.
A new report highlights the need for ethical guidance in responding to high local rates of suicide risk discovered through anonymous student health surveys. CU researchers urge national public health and education associations to produce clear guidelines for surveyors, emphasizing the importance of timely intervention and support.
Researchers propose national and global citizens' assemblies to examine the ethical and moral issues surrounding genome editing, involving laypeople from diverse backgrounds. The goal is to develop moral and political regulation and ensure fair access to the technology.
A University of Illinois expert warns that DIY COVID-19 vaccines can be dangerous and undermine public trust in vaccines. The development of homemade medical interventions lacks the rigorous testing and safety protocols required by law, posing significant risks to public health.
Critics argue that male circumcision campaigns in Africa are not based on robust science but on racist assumptions about culture, health, and sexuality. The campaigns have been carried out without sufficient contextual research and with underrepresentation of African voices.
The opioid crisis presents complex ethical challenges, including the conflation of pain policy with drug policy. Researchers argue that tailoring policy to root causes can improve treatment outcomes. Disentangling these issues is crucial for developing humane and ethical solutions.
An interdisciplinary team at TUM advocates integrating ethics into AI development from the beginning. Key findings show that embedded ethics approach can promote ethical awareness and social issues analysis in engineering teams. The project aims to develop concrete solutions for engineers and designers.
Researchers propose empirical bioethics studies to address unique ethical challenges in COVID-19 management, including resource allocation and patient rights. The studies aim to provide a body of evidence describing these challenges and informing interventions.
A new viewpoint piece in JAMA outlines key considerations for implementing chatbots in healthcare, including patient safety, trust, and transparency. The authors propose a framework to inform decision-making on chatbot implementation, emphasizing the need for robust evaluation and research.
A new study explores patients' views on hospital fundraising practices, finding that certain strategies cause concerns. Hospitals can show appreciation to donors through nicer hospital rooms, expedited appointments, or providing doctors' cell phone numbers, while avoiding wealth screening and sharing patient names without permission.
Medical ethicists warn against premature COVID-19 triage, citing concerns over fairness and strain on patients and medical personnel. The experts advocate for increased regional, national, and international collaboration in intensive care to avoid shortages.
A new Hastings Center special report critiques the role of genomics in perpetuating racism and inequality. The report argues that genomic knowledge can thwart medicine's advancement of justice and create new forms of social classification and surveillance.
Certain medications and medical devices contain hormone-disrupting chemicals, posing risks to vulnerable patients. Healthcare providers must be aware of these hidden risks to provide ethically sound care.
Clinic staff prioritize future child welfare and responsible use of public resources when assessing potential parents, limiting access to fertility treatment. The study highlights the need for a discussion on prioritizing assisted reproduction over individual rights.
New articles in the Hastings Center report explore the ethics of COVID-19 vaccine distribution, with a focus on social justice and historical disadvantage. The articles discuss the allocation of scarce resources, safety concerns for healthcare workers, and the impact on marginalized communities.
Researchers argue that deliberate infection can be done ethically and speed up vaccine development, with safeguards in place. The study provides guidance for regulators and researchers on maximizing benefits and minimizing risks.
Current ICU protocols lack detail, leaving doctors exposed to legal liability in case of medical shortages. The study argues that denying treatment based on disability or age could violate patient rights and cause unlawful death.
The Hastings Center recommends a triage protocol that prioritizes patients most likely to survive with treatment. However, critics argue that this approach may be biased against people with disabilities, who often face barriers in accessing care. The authors aim to balance life-saving interventions with respect for human dignity.
CHI studies could accelerate vaccine development, but raise significant ethical concerns due to risks and potential harm to participants. An expert framework outlines conditions under which such studies would be ethically acceptable.
The Wits Journal of Clinical Medicine published the first clinical data on COVID-19 in South Africa, covering various aspects of the pandemic. The special issue includes articles on diagnosis, ethics, social dimensions, and herd immunity as a strategy for fighting COVID-19.
Researchers from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center describe ventilator triage policies developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The American College of Physicians Ethics Committee also warns against using universal do-not-resuscitate orders and life-years approaches to ration resources, citing ethical concerns.
Ethicists from Carnegie Mellon and McGill universities recommend prioritizing rigorous research approaches, such as master protocols, to ensure high-quality clinical trials. They argue that crises like the COVID-19 pandemic heighten the responsibility of key actors in the research enterprise to uphold scientific standards.
Experts argue that age should not be used to decide who receives life-saving treatment, as it leads to unfair discrimination. Dave Archard suggests the fair innings argument, while Arthur Caplan believes age can be a valid criterion supported by data.
A new framework has been developed to share clinical data for research and AI algorithm development, prioritizing patient privacy and ethical standards. The framework supports the release of de-identified and aggregated data, with safeguards in place to protect patient identity.
A coronavirus mobile app could significantly help contain the spread of the virus, according to Oxford University experts. The team recommends deploying the app as part of an integrated control strategy that identifies infected people and their recent contacts using digital technology.
A large-scale malaria vaccine study by the World Health Organization has been criticized for failing to obtain informed consent from parents whose children are taking part in the study. The WHO claims that a 'pilot introduction' and not a research activity, but experts argue that this violates international ethical standards.
A study finds that about 42% of physicians experience moral distress when making decisions for surrogate decision-makers, leading to burnout, depression, and compromised professional integrity. Effective communication with surrogates and patients is key to diminishing physician moral distress.
The US healthcare system is facing significant mistrust issues, with experts calling for action to improve patient trust and care. Experts recommend five actions: exploring patients' mistrust, developing individual and institutional efforts to mend and prevent mistrust, being culturally humble, making empathy part of relationships, and...
A pilot program launched by the Berlin Institute of Health aims to enhance the quality and value of translational research through training, tools, and monetary incentives. The QUEST Center's initiative seeks to address concerns over transparency and reproducibility in biomedical science.
The article discusses the vulnerability of crowdsourced research participants and the need for improved ethics oversight. Proposed measures include encouraging collective action by crowd workers and ground-up crowdsourced research ethics guidelines, as well as reviewing the differences between expanded access and Right to Try pathways.
Primary care physicians should discuss 'virginity' testing as part of comprehensive sexual education, building trust and assessing knowledge, attitudes and practice in at-risk patients.
Ethicists argue that sperm donation after death is morally permissible to plug the UK's shortage of donor sperm and increasing demand. The process would involve collecting and freezing sperm after death through electrical stimulation or surgery, with health checks addressing potential genetic concerns.
A new study finds that volunteer tourism can aid disaster recovery in communities by considering local conditions and the community's needs. The study examined the impact of volunteer tourism programs in Nepal after the 2015 earthquake, showing its potential to contribute to recovery and resilience.
The development of neural-digital interfaces raises concerns about equality, identity, security, privacy, and access. The roundtable explores societal and ethical issues surrounding these technologies.
The NIH BRAIN Initiative collaboration highlights potential issues and offers recommendations for clinical research with neural devices, emphasizing the need for informed consent and post-trial responsibilities. The paper discusses three main areas of ethical challenges related to these devices.
The article discusses human-animal chimeras with brains composed of human cells, raising questions about their moral status. The author argues that a standard view, which considers human cognitive capacities morally significant, is mistaken and proposes a better framework for thinking about the moral status of part-human beings.
Researchers are expanding brain organoid research, raising concerns about the potential for consciousness in host animals. The authors propose an ethical framework grounded in scientific principles to address these issues and ensure responsible use of this technology.
A study found that lop-eared rabbits are more prone to ear canal narrowing, ear infections, tooth overgrowth, and dental problems, potentially leading to pain and discomfort. The research calls into question the ethics of breeding and buying these popular pet rabbits.
A commentary by University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing nurse-bioethicist Connie Ulrich explores the impact of ethical issues on clinicians. Moral distress can lead to burnout and erosion of moral strength, but developing coping skills and addressing organizational factors can help.
The University of Miami has received a $50,000 grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Research Integrity to promote research integrity in Argentina. The grant aims to increase awareness of institutional policy and training in responsible conduct of research.
A study on learning health organizations highlights the paradox of bystander ethics, where researchers must navigate ethical principles with quality improvement research. The authors propose a workaround to address this challenge, but critics argue it is inadequate.
The SING workshop brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous scientists to discuss genomic tools and their social and political ramifications. Participants learn about the limitations of genomics research and its applications in health and environmental policy.
Researchers from the University of Otago propose a more nuanced approach to gender divisions in elite sports, considering principles of inclusion and fairness. They suggest alternatives to current guidelines, including options for transwomen's participation, to balance diversity and fair competition.
A multistakeholder study proposes six policy options for governing heritable genome editing, including proactive regulation and broad public engagement. Meanwhile, gynecological surgery reform is urged due to declining OB-GYN skills and lack of transparency, putting patient safety at risk.
A new national study led by Columbia University aims to understand barriers to minority group participation in genetic studies and support policies to create a more diverse genetic database. The four-year study will analyze diversity and inclusion practices at academic medical centers across the US.
The Centre of Genomics and Policy at McGill University will develop policies, tools, and support to enable efficient and ethical international data sharing for the Human Cell Atlas. The project aims to address regulatory and ethical questions arising from research at scale, including patient consent and guiding principles.
The Hastings Center is conducting groundbreaking research on dementia and end-of-life choices, examining the ethical implications of living with dementia. The study aims to identify areas where further research or policymaking is needed to improve the experiences of those affected by dementia.
A new publication provides recommendations for policy makers to support organ and tissue donation in patients who choose medical assistance in dying or withdrawal of life-sustaining measures. The guidelines emphasize the importance of protecting patient autonomy, ensuring consent is informed and withdrawn at any time.
A study explores how parents make decisions about enrolling their critically ill children in research, finding that low-risk studies with potential benefits to future children are more likely to be enrolled. Another article highlights the importance of considering inclusion benefits in ethics committee assessments of research studies.
Seven former FDA commissioners and a new paper suggest the FDA should become an independent agency to protect science-based drug safety decisions from political interference. The authors propose safeguards, including six-year terms for commissioners and budgetary independence, to ensure the agency's mission is upheld.
The use of embodied AI in psychiatry raises concerns about access, effectiveness, and social effects. While AI applications have enormous potential, urgent action is needed to establish guidelines and regulations.
Bioethicists investigate body donation after medically-assisted death, highlighting ethical challenges for institutions and potential benefits for education and research.
A new article recommends explicit management of conflict of interests, banning exclusive rights to research results, and enhanced informed consent to guide germline gene editing. The author argues that regulation and penalties are necessary to ensure public trust in science.
The federal right-to-try law has been criticized for undermining the FDA's role in monitoring drug safety and efficacy, potentially creating a loophole for pharmaceutical companies to sell unapproved drugs. In contrast, citizen science and gamification are changing the way research is conducted, with nonprofessional volunteers contribu...
A majority of US states restrict decision-making for incapacitated pregnant women, with 25 laws invalidating advance directives during pregnancy. Thirty-eight states have laws that identify pregnancy as a condition affecting decisions for incapacitated women, but these laws vary widely in content.
Researchers have developed a high-tech support system called BrainEx that can preserve limited brain function in isolated postmortem brains. The system delivers an artificial blood substitute to prevent degradation and allows for the study of cellular and molecular functions, but without functional activity in brain circuits.
Experts call for a national effort to rethink how health data is protected in the US, citing inadequate data privacy laws. A process similar to the Belmont Report could provide a blueprint for amendments to the law, with established data ethics review boards serving as safeguards.
Researchers at Yale University successfully restored circulation and cellular activity in a pig's brain four hours after its death using a specially designed chemical solution. However, the treated brain lacked recognizable global electrical signals associated with normal brain function.
A commentary published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine warns that removing explicit ethics and values from NICE's revised Social Value Judgements document undermines the organization's innovative approach. Experts argue that this revision leaves patients and clinicians struggling to understand NICE's decisions.
The use of medically assisted death (MAID) has resulted in ethical concerns over body donations to anatomy programs in Canada. McMaster University's head of anatomy, Bruce Wainman, argues that guidelines are needed to ensure respectful treatment of MAID donors and avoid pressuring vulnerable individuals into donation.