Medical Ethics Advisor – February 1, 2012
February 1, 2012
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Donors kept in the dark about stem cell research
The ethical and moral obligation of healthcare workers to provide informed consent to donors is usually vast, and somewhat cut and dried. -
Regions determine palliative care spending
Medicare patients with advance directives specifying limits in treatment who lived in regions with higher levels of end-of-life spending were less likely to have an in-hospital death, averaged significantly lower end-of-life Medicare spending, and had significantly greater odds of hospice use than decedents without advance directives in these regions, according to a study in a recent issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). -
Pediatric vaccine trial receives ethics review
An advisory board to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has recommended that a proposal to hold pediatric trials of the anthrax vaccine be reviewed by an ethics board before proceeding. -
Surgeons don't discuss end-of-life care
According to a recent survey published in the Annals of Surgery, many U.S. surgeons fail to discuss their patients' wishes in case a risky operation goes awry, and even more say that they would not operate if patients limited what could be done to keep them alive. The survey indicates that the restrictions are being debated among doctors. -
Survey demonstrates effectiveness of POLST
According to published research, a program created to communicate the treatment preferences of those with advanced illness or frailty ensures those preferences are honored 94% of the time. The Program, called Physicians Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST), was launched in Oregon almost 20 years ago. -
Ethicalness of surgical care at end of life
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Finding common ground on Common Rule
In the waning days of the comment period for the advance notice of proposed rule-making (ANPRM) for human subjects protection regulation, some of the institutional review board (IRB) community's heavy hitters have weighed in. -
Protecting participants in human research
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Lower reading levels benefit informed consent
A study published in the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, says that informed consent sheets that are concise and written at lower reading comprehension levels, as well as videotaped presentations, work well in helping patients understand the risks, benefits, and treatment alternatives to cataract surgery. -
Safeguards needed to stop discrimination
There is a new, controversial genetic test of a gene called Apolipoprotein E (APOE) on the horizon. -
News Briefs
The sixth edition of the American College of Physicians' (ACP's) Ethics Manual addresses ethical decisions in clinical practice, teaching, and medical research, as well as the underlying principles and the physician's role in society and with colleagues.