Articles tagged with Medical Ethics
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.
A survey of US citizens found that many are willing to donate a kidney, with 68% open to donating to anyone and 59% motivated by $50,000 payment. The study suggests compensating living kidney donors could alleviate the organ shortage.
Two experts argue over whether doctors should boycott working in Australia's immigration detention centers, with one advocating for a firm stance against supporting torture and the other suggesting that physicians should focus on providing adequate care while promoting redress through other means.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis created a quality-control tool called PopQC to ensure hard-working cells dominate in microbial fermentation processes, resulting in threefold enhanced production of free fatty acid and tyrosine. This innovation addresses the universal problem of biological noise, which affects the work ...
The US medical community will play a key role in determining the ethically acceptable path forward for clinical application of mitochondrial replacement techniques (MRTs). MRTs aim to prevent certain debilitating diseases related to mutated mitochondrial DNA by replacing a mother's mtDNA with that of another woman. The first use of MRT...
Gynaecologists propose permitting small surgical 'nicks' or minimalist procedures that change the appearance of young women's external genitalia without harming them. This compromise approach aims to uphold cultural traditions while safeguarding girls' and women's health and wellbeing. However, some experts disagree, arguing that such ...
A doctor is calling for the removal of provisions that can imprison doctors who prioritize patient care over government instructions. The move follows a high-profile case where paediatricians refused to discharge a baby facing deportation, highlighting the 'impossible ethical and legal position' faced by doctors in Australia.
Research by Michigan State University found that ethical leaders are more likely to experience mental exhaustion, leading to moral licensing and increased abuse towards employees. To combat this, experts recommend prioritizing employee self-care, such as breaks, sleep, exercise, and boundary-setting.
A study on the history of hemodialysis explores how medical research and technological advancements impact resource distribution. The investigation found that bioethical principles, such as autonomy and justice, are weighed differently over time, emphasizing the need for sustainable ethical solutions.
Recent epigenetics research highlights molecular mechanisms influencing gene expression through socioenvironmental factors. Big data raises concerns over immortalized participant data, privacy, and anonymity, prompting recommendations for strengthening ethical consent practices.
Scholars Lawrence O. Gostin and Anna E. Roberts examine state laws surrounding physician-assisted death, highlighting concerns over coercion, devaluation of human life, and potential abuse. They advocate for stricter safeguards to ensure the practice remains consistent with social and ethical thought.
The US military health care environment should adopt and implement the Defense Health Board's recommendations to prioritize patient ethics. The board's review highlighted dual loyalty conflicts between professional obligations and organizational requirements.
A national survey of 255 Muslim American physicians found nearly half experienced greater scrutiny at work due to their religion. Despite no association with religious appearance or practice, these doctors face similar rates of career advancement restrictions, sparking calls for targeted workforce diversity efforts.
A national survey of 255 Muslim American physicians found that nearly half felt greater scrutiny at work, and one in four experienced workplace religious discrimination. The study emphasizes the need for policies to promote respect and accommodation for minority religions in the healthcare workforce.
The November-December issue of the Hastings Center Report explores the ethics of neural devices, including deep brain stimulation and brain-computer interfaces. The issue also examines the use of e-cigarettes in health care organizations, where controversy surrounds their safety and effectiveness.
A new study ranks drugs based on their transparency and ethical practices, finding that nearly half of all reviewed drugs had undisclosed Phase II or III trials. The 'Good Pharma Scorecard' aims to incentivize pharmaceutical companies to improve disclosure, benefiting consumers and protecting human research subjects.
A new paper by Rice University experts warns that unproven stem cell-based interventions are causing harm to patients and hindering scientific progress. The authors argue that public policy is needed to reduce 'stem cell tourism' and promote responsible research.
A new consensus guideline recommends that researchers share genomic findings with family members when necessary to avert imminent harm. The guidelines also emphasize the importance of protecting participant privacy and involving relatives in decision-making.
The Hastings Center Report explores enhancement debates, including gene editing and emotions. Alberto Giubilini argues that the methodological divide between bioconservatives and bioliberals is less significant than thought. The report also examines genome editing, ecological research ethics, and organ donation conversations.