Ethics

Clinicians Positioned to Support Partnerships That Address Community Health

Clinicians can promote community investment by helping to create the data and demand that will catalyze efforts to address the root causes of ill health.

One Solution for the Interpreter Shortage: Medical Students

A fourth-year medical student discusses the benefits (and challenges) of certifying medical students as interpreters, helping to build a workforce of well-trained, culturally competent physicians.

Using A Capabilities Framework to Improve Refugee Health Care: An Acceptable Start

Even when refugees resettle in a safe environment, they often continue to face physical and emotional hardships and are at increased risk for mental disorders and other harm. According to a study published in the AMA Journal of Ethics, clinicians serving refugee patients need to pay special attention to the social determinants of health and…

How Does Disclosure of Hospital Religious Affiliation Affect Patient Care?

Lack of transparency in disclosure of hospital religious affiliations and subsequent healthcare restrictions greatly inconveniences patients.

Limiting the Documentation of Patient Immigration Status in Medical Records

This commentary examines physician options for documenting immigration status considering ethical, legal, and historical circumstances when caring for stigmatized populations during changing political landscapes.

AMA Code of Medical Ethics: Guidelines for Immigrant Patient Care

The AMA Code of Medical Ethics offers guidance on how physicians and healthcare systems can best support undocumented and lawfully present immigrants to promote the best possible care for all who need it.

How Can Artificial Intelligence Improve Medical Education?

Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) technology should result in an overhaul of medical school curricula.

What Does the AMA Augmented Intelligence Policy Mean for Healthcare Professionals?

While artificial intelligence mimics tasks done by a human being, augmented intelligence is intended to help humans — like a dependable, highly intelligent associate.

Facial Recognition Technology Raises Ethical, Legal, Privacy Concerns in Health Care

Physicians must consider the challenges associated with using facial recognition technology in healthcare settings.

Lawsuit Alleges Illegal Use of Psychotropic Medications at US Border

Reports have found that children in border detention centers were being unlawfully administered psychotropic medications.

Examining the Ethics of Organ Retransplantation for Undocumented Immigrants

There is an ongoing discussion in America about how undocumented immigrants both access and use health resources.

Strategies for Providing High-Quality Care to Undocumented Immigrants

Many healthcare professionals will see immigrant patients whose lives are profoundly impacted by immigration policies.

AI Medical Devices Pose Numerous Challenges to Clinical Practice

The growth of AI use in healthcare has created a new list of ethical dilemmas for clinicians to address.

Potential Benefits and Ethical Concerns Surrounding Supervised Injection Facilities

Supervised injection facilities may help reduce overdose fatalities, particularly if they provide overdose prevention, counseling, and treatment referral services.

It’s Not Elementary: Examining the Ethics of IBM’s Watson

Even though Watson has won Jeopardy twice, the computer’s answers should be treated with caution by healthcare professionals.

The Case for Keeping Patient Immigration Status Private

Should healthcare professionals be legally obligated to report undocumented immigrants to officials?

To Mars and Beyond: Is It Ethical for NASA to Collect Astronauts’ Genetic Data?

NASA is both an employer of and a primary care provider to current astronauts, raising potential issues about collecting genetic data for research.

What Can Healthcare Professionals Do About the Systemic Failure of Medical Care in Detention Centers?

Since the beginning of the last decade, 23 immigrants have died in detention centers because of poor medical care.

Considerations When Treating Patients Who Work in Agriculture

When treating a patient who is ill as a result of working in agriculture, there are some specific factors physicians should consider.

Challenges in Addressing Parents Who Care for Children With Complex Health Needs

Many parents who devote their lives to caring for their children with complex health needs believe themselves to be experts on their child’s condition.