Articles tagged with Medical Ethics
The article examines the persistence of continuous electronic fetal monitoring as a standard of care, despite evidence that it increases risks. It also discusses the lack of mechanisms for ensuring medical professionals stay current with best practices and the role of malpractice law in setting boundaries on acceptable interventions.
The report examines how financial constraints, clinical expectations, and societal pressures impact reproductive autonomy. It also delves into the 'criminalization of pregnancy' causing racial disparities in reproductive autonomy.
The shift from public to private funding in biomedical research poses significant challenges, including collaborative research models, intellectual property rights, and oversight. Researchers must navigate conflicts between private benefactors, institutions, and scientists to ensure the integrity of research.
Researchers will examine patients' and family members' perspectives on personality changes before and after Parkinson's disease treatment. The study aims to develop personalized measures of personality and inform public discussions of identity and autonomy in the context of deep brain stimulation.
The separation of conjoined twins presented a complex medical challenge, requiring coordination of multiple specialists and consideration of the ethical implications. The case highlighted the importance of collaboration and compassion in providing care to vulnerable populations.
A new study argues that voluntary stopping of eating and drinking (VSED) is a form of suicide, requiring regulation by physicians. In many cases, patients would need substantial medical assistance to carry out their intention of fasting to death.
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing's Connie M. Ulrich emphasizes the value of ethic preparedness among nurse bioethicists, addressing challenges in everyday practice and nursing's role in bioethics and care delivery.
The Hastings Center Report examines ethical dilemmas in global health, including resource sensitivity, physician-assisted death and parental authority. The case for providing cheaper, less effective treatments to promote health and realize ethical values is presented.
A new code of ethical behavior for sharing plastic surgery videos on social media aims to curb vulgar content and prioritize patient safety. The guidelines, proposed by Northwestern Medicine authors, are based on four guiding principles of medical ethics and will be presented at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons annual meeting.
Researchers found that open-label placebos can be effective in treating physical complaints such as chronic back pain and migraine. The placebo effect is enhanced when participants are given a clear explanation of how it works, suggesting that a narrative plays a crucial role.
The American College of Physicians (ACP) has reaffirmed its opposition to the legalization of physician-assisted suicide, citing ethical and clinical concerns. ACP emphasizes the importance of improving palliative care, including awareness and access, as a more effective approach to end-of-life care.
The American College of Physicians opposes the legalization of physician-assisted suicide, citing ethical concerns and a focus on improving hospice and palliative care. The organization recommends 12 steps for physicians to provide compassionate supportive care to patients nearing the end of life.
The Your DNA Your Say project gathers public opinions on the sharing of genetic information through a film-based survey. The results will feed into the work of GA4GH and inform policy development on how genetic data is used and distributed.
A new concept of nonvoluntary treatment could distinguish psychiatric patients who refuse help but likely would have accepted it in a healthy state of mind from traditional involuntary treatment. This distinction aims to provide more precise categorization and alleviate ethical concerns.
A new review examines the evolution of animal experimentation ethics, providing strategies for teaching and alternatives like tissue cultures and computer modeling. Practical approaches are offered to improve ethical practices in animal research.
In the wake of Charlie Gard's high-profile court case, Professor Dominic Wilkinson emphasizes the need for fair, accurate, and balanced discussion in cases involving life-prolonging treatment. One potential solution is to allow medical professionals to make public the medical evidence on which they are basing their decisions.
The Precision Medicine Initiative raises concerns about protecting participant data and balancing health needs across sociocultural groups. Research on life extension also sparks debates over its necessity and potential economic and social impacts.
The Nuffield Council on Bioethics recommends banning invasive cosmetic procedures for under 18s, citing social media pressure and lack of regulation. The report calls for improved testing and training for practitioners, as well as public awareness campaigns to ensure safe procedures.
Children with DSD may be able to preserve fertility using experimental techniques, but this raises concerns about cost, insurance coverage, and transmission to offspring. The procedure also presents complex ethical dilemmas, particularly regarding gender dysphoria and autonomous decision-making.
The Hastings Center Report explores the ethics of opioid treatment agreements, which critics say are ethically suspect. The authors conclude that the purpose of these agreements is to disclose their requirements to patients, promoting mutual decision-making on pain management programs. In contrast, some experts propose replacing agreem...
A South African team has successfully performed the second penis transplant, a procedure that aims to address penile mutilation caused by traditional circumcisions. The recipient is expected to regain full urinary and reproductive functions within six months, paving the way for cost-effective solutions to help affected men.
A recent study published in Annals of Internal Medicine reveals that Nazi-era physicians were required to study medical ethics in German medical schools, with a focus on the 'people's body' over individual health. This challenges the notion of medical ethics as a universal construct.
Actress Kiruna Stamell argues that gene editing raises significant ethical concerns, threatening social inequality and the adaptation of diverse communities. Dr. Christopher Gyngell counters that well-regulated gene editing can improve human health by reducing fatal genetic diseases.
A comprehensive analysis of US state laws reveals a complex and conflicting system that poses barriers to safeguarding patients' choices. Inconsistent laws create ambiguity about who is responsible for decision-making, adding stress to an already emotionally challenging moment.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine highlights the confusing nature of state laws governing medical decision-making for incapacitated patients. The research found a complex and conflicting system that poses barriers to safeguarding patients' choices in their most vulnerable moments.
Researchers discuss the challenges of understanding genomic data, including incidental findings and false-positive results. The authors highlight the need for informed patient preferences, risk assessment, and knowledge of compensating variants to navigate these complexities.
The Hastings Center Report explores how bioethics can address authoritarian populism and contribute to the rebuilding of civic foundations. A study on prisoners' participation in clinical research found unique influences that may leave them vulnerable to exploitation.
A Canadian research team studied the ethics codes of the Canadian Medical Association and the Department of National Defence. They found that dual loyalty between medical and military professions can coexist with the principle of 'do no harm'. The researchers interviewed over 50 military health professionals, who face complex challenge...
Nurses are urged to use the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics as a framework to address policy issues relevant to their profession's care for older adults. The code prescribes compassion, respect for dignity, and commitment to patients, families, and communities.
According to Dr. Rochelle Tractenberg, a statistical crisis is emerging due to improper analysis and interpretation of data, leading to irreproducible results. She advocates for responsible conduct in research and the importance of treating data ethically.
Gene drives have the potential to address persistent problems like eradicating mosquito-borne diseases and conserving endangered species. However, they also pose risks to entire ecosystems, highlighting the need for careful public engagement and regulatory policies.
A researcher argues that permitting some individuals to continue self-injuring in mental health units can be a more respectful and less harmful approach than traditional methods. This harm reduction strategy aims to reduce the risk of serious injury while acknowledging the individual's autonomy.
Researchers propose creating a phased regulatory system for autonomous vehicles, mirroring the drug approval process to ensure safety and reliability. This approach would involve pre-clinical trials, in-human studies, and monitored testing before easing restrictions.
Experts discuss four core ethical issues: whether death is beneficial, PAS/E vs. WWLST, intentional causation of death, and reasonable accommodations. Proponents argue for legalization, while opponents highlight moral differences.
The Hastings Center Report explores the disagreement between physicians and surrogates on cardiopulmonary resuscitation and palliative sedation. The articles examine policy adopted by Massachusetts General Hospital to support doctors who judged CPR would not benefit a patient, and discuss limitations of surrogate decision-making author...
Emerging reproductive technologies like IVG hold promise for treating infertility and diseases, but also raise scientific, legal, and ethical challenges. The authors call for proactively addressing these concerns to ensure the technology is developed responsibly.
The 'Right Care Series' highlights the extent of overuse and underuse of healthcare services worldwide. Both issues are widespread and often coexist, causing harm to patients and wasting resources. By tackling these problems together, countries can achieve sustainable universal health coverage and ensure that healthcare is a human right.
A severely brain-injured woman regained the ability to communicate through eye movements, with researchers capturing the restoration process by measuring brain structure and function. The study suggests that other patients in chronic care facilities may harbor organized brain function, raising questions about diagnosis and treatment.
The Hastings Center Report examines the ethics of crowdfunding for medical care, citing concerns over fraud, misinformation, and health inequities. The article proposes reducing the number of clinical trials to improve their quality and provide evidence-based decision-making.
A new report proposes severing NFL doctors' ties with clubs to resolve structural conflicts and promote singular loyalty to players. The authors recommend establishing a new group of medical professionals dedicated exclusively to player care.
Conflicts of interest between players and club doctors pose a threat to NFL players' health, according to a new special report. The report proposes changing the structure of medical care for football players to prioritize player-patient loyalty over dual obligations to clubs and players.
A new study raises concerns about the effectiveness of expensive new cancer drugs in improving survival rates, citing limitations in clinical trials and high costs. Experts call for stricter approval criteria and improved patient consent processes to ensure fair and equitable treatment.
A Johns Hopkins study reveals that former trainees from sub-Saharan Africa are leaving a positive mark on the African bioethics landscape, with many becoming instructors, serving on IRBs, or publishing bioethics-related research. The training programs have built sustainable capacity in Africa and fostered lasting networks of profession...
Leading ethics journals urge stricter protections for patients from doctors' personal values and conscientious objection. Bioethicists advocate prioritizing patient needs over clinicians' subjective moral opinions.
A review article explores the ethics of discussing disease prognosis with terminally ill adolescents, emphasizing the importance of gentle but persistent conversation. Clinicians are advised to engage patients directly, allowing time for exploration of values and goals, while balancing the need for truth-telling with emotional distress.
Researchers developed a checklist to measure respect and dignity in ICUs, identifying differences between ICU types with distinct patient populations. The study found significant correlations between clinician behavior and patient outcomes, highlighting the importance of respectful care.
The Hastings Center Report explores the implications of precision medicine on ethics and society. The article highlights how the term change from 'personalized' to 'precision' medicine brings new ethical and social concerns, including promoting medical paternalism. It also discusses the risks of stigmatizing certain populations and pri...
A new study reveals that some Catholic hospitals hinder clinicians from providing referrals for reproductive services such as sterilization and abortion. The study found that in some hospitals, administrators encouraged or tolerated referrals, while others discouraged them or kept them hidden.
Experts review clinical, psychological, and ethical issues related to face transplantation in children. Children with severe facial disfigurement could potentially benefit from the procedure, but a rigorous selection process would be required.
A survey of medical students found that nearly all reported tracking former patients in electronic health records to confirm diagnoses and follow up on progress. However, many expressed ethical concerns about accessing patient records without institutional direction.
Studies on nonhuman primates spark debate over ethics of infection challenges, with experts arguing for stricter safeguards to balance human need with animal welfare
European countries should not adopt Australia's immigration system, which perpetuates human rights abuses and torture in detention centers. The lack of transparency in the system is particularly concerning, with allegations of waterboarding, force-feeding, and restraints on asylum seekers surfaced.
The Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics will lead a university-wide team studying the ethical, legal and social implications of applying genomics to infectious diseases. The grant establishes a Specialized CEER with over $4 million in funding to explore genomic ELSI issues in infectious disease.
Researchers propose revisiting the internationally recognized '14-day rule', which restricts in vitro research on human embryos. The rule has been theoretical until now, but technological advancements have enabled scientists to sustain human embryos in vitro for up to 14 days, raising questions about its relevance and implications.
The NIH has created an atlas of human malformation syndromes in diverse populations to help diagnose genomic diseases. The atlas features photos and descriptions of people with different inherited conditions, allowing healthcare providers to diagnose patients from non-European ancestry more accurately.
An interdisciplinary team will focus on ethics and research in pregnancy, beginning with the current Zika context. Bioethicists aim to develop guidance for conducting research with pregnant women in public health crises.
The Hastings Center Report explores bioethics' racial dimensions, including medical racism and conscientious care. The article discusses approaches to mitigate the effects of laws that raise moral conflicts, such as abortion regulations in North Carolina. Two 'Other Voices' essays also examine the role of conscience in healthcare.
The editorial highlights the need for evidence-based investigation into nurse-industry relationships to understand their effects on ethical conduct. The authors emphasize the importance of balancing potential benefits with harms for patients and maintaining public trust.
A landmark report has called for radical reform of the Medical Council of India to address corruption, lack of uniform standards, and quality issues in healthcare. The report highlights the need for a rigorous transparent system for accrediting medical colleges and creating a robust regulatory framework.
Bernard Rollin, a renowned bioethics expert and philosopher at Colorado State University, has been honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Research Ethics. The award recognizes his seminal work in advancing research ethics, particularly in animal care and use.