Ethics

Why Biosimilars Are Not Living Up to Their Promise in the United States

Effective for illnesses ranging from cancer to autoimmune diseases, biologics are among the most expensive prescription drugs in the United States.

Training in Ethics and Prescribing May Curb Opioid Overprescribing

As opioid overprescribing is a key contributor to the current opioid crisis, implementing appropriate prescribing strategies in medical education may prepare future physicians to appropriately and ethically prescribe opioids.

ACP Releases Policy Statement on DOI, COI Management for Clinical Guideline Development

The American College of Physicians endorses the necessity of a comprehensive process for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest to ensure the integrity of clinical guidelines and guidance statements.

Does Religion Have a Place in Medicine?

A growing number of physicians and ethicists suggest that religion and prayer do not necessarily fall outside the bailiwick of modern-day Western medicine.

Alternative Healthcare Decision Making Options for Unrepresented Patients

The author investigates the use of a regional state unrepresented patient advocacy committee as an alternative to appointing legal guardians or using physicians as decision makers.

Incarcerated Patients Need Formally Assigned Surrogates Pre-Incarceration

Investigators evaluate medical decision making for patients who are incarcerated and unrepresented and identifies advantages and disadvantages of different classes of decision makers for them.

Proposed Framework for Error Management With the Unrepresented

In cases in which an error is made in the care of an unrepresented patient, the absence of a surrogate does not preclude the clinician’s ethical responsibilities to document, disclose, and, insofar as possible, rectify the mistake.

Disciplinary Action Needed to Curb Use of Unproven Stem Cell Therapies

State medical boards should consider investigating licensees suspected of violating professional standards when providing unproven stem cell interventions, especially those advertising treatment outside their scope of training.

Recommendations for Caring for Those Who Are Incapacitated and Unrepresented

Despite the challenge of decision making for unrepresented patients, few laws or professional organization policy statements offer a solution.

Egg Donor Contact Ethical to Aid in Diagnosis of Donor-Conceived Children

Investigators of a recent study argue that an updated approach to consent regarding egg donation is needed in the era of progressing technology.

Mayo Clinic Offers Policy for Reporting and Responding to Patient Bias

The Mayo Clinic has instituted a Patient and Visitor Conduct Policy that balances the dual needs of providing optimal patient care while maintaining a supportive, respectful workplace for staff.

Facilitating Religious Concordance Between Patients and Physicians

Investigators recommend a case-by-case approach to handle situations when patients request religious concordance or to be transferred to a physician with similar religious beliefs.

Hospitals Should Adopt Protocols to Support Trainees Against Discrimination

Article offers 5 concrete protocols for supporting trainees when they encounter patient discrimination.

Affect Labeling Can Help Clinicians Respond to Patients With Racist Behaviors

All clinicians should be taught to respond to racist symbolism through ameliorative practices such as affect labeling.

Dual Duties Could Allow HCPs to Consider Interests of Genetic Relatives

Healthcare providers have a high-profile and continuing dilemma: specifically whether one’s sense of duty of care to genetic relatives of a patient helps or hinders decision making in cases where a patient’s genetic information may be pertinent to the health of the patient’s family members.

Various Pressures Faced by Practitioners in Dealing With Euthanasia Requests

Findings revealed 6 categories of pressure general practitioners in The Netherlands experienced in dealing with euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide requests.

Surgeons’ Unprofessional Behavior Tied to Higher Complication Risk

Patients whose surgeons have higher numbers of coworker reports about unprofessional behavior may be at increased risk for postsurgical complications.

Organization Policies Should Address Expressions of Racism by Patients

This case and commentary considers how organizations should respond to overt racism expressed by patients.

Ethical Considerations in Initiating VA-ECMO in Incapacitated Individuals

Editorialists comment on a case of withdrawal of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in an unrepresented patient and discuss Extracorporeal Life Support Organization guidelines to make decisions, highlighting how important proportionality in a benefits-to-burdens analysis is.

Physician Impairment: Rehabilitation, Reintegration, and Patient Safety

The ACP has issued a position paper that examines the professional duties and principles that should guide the response of colleagues and the profession to physician impairment.