Medical Ethics Advisor – February 1, 2005
February 1, 2005
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Chaplains offer far more than just a prayer and a handshake
The link between a persons religion or spirituality and physical condition is one that has gained increasing recognition and consideration in health care discussions, and hospital chaplains have been in the thick of the debate. -
Simple steps, big payoff in patient safety
You may think your hospital is doing a good job of preventing common errors that result in patient deaths, but the American Medical Asso ciation (AMA) and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) think you can do better. In fact, they think hospitals in the United States can save 100,000 lives between now and June 2006. -
Who decides when to turn off lifesaving devices?
Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are lifesaving devices, as demonstrated by a 2004 study that showed ICDs reduced death by 23% in people with moderate heart failure and poor pumping function, compared to patients who did not receive ICDs. But what if that lifesaving device outstays its welcome and prolongs death because its users havent discussed when their ICDs should be deactivated? -
Elective C-sections continue to rise
Women increasingly are electing to give birth by cesarean when there is no medical necessity to do so; meanwhile, the debate about the safety to the mother continues. -
Drug re-importation: Risks worth the rewards?
Its illegal, it may undermine international treaties, and there are warnings that patient safety is at risk but for many, the cost savings of buying re-imported drugs outweighs all the arguments against it. -
CAM, conventional therapies held to same research standard
In a new report, the Institute of Medicine calls for conventional medical treatments and complementary and alternative medical (CAM) treatments to be held to the same standards for demonstrating clinical effectiveness to make it easier for health care providers and the public to make evidence-based decisions about CAM use.