Medical Ethics Advisor – October 1, 2023

Does Current IRB System Ensure Ethical Research?

A consensus is needed for how to measure IRB quality or effectiveness, and more inspections are needed to ensure instances of IRB noncompliance are identified, according to the authors of a recent report.

Growing Concerns About Health Data Use

A group recently outlined ethical, legal, and societal standards for data collection, use, and reuse to which researchers, technology companies, and others can be held accountable. The statement assures people the stewardship of their data is taken seriously, and that the company is committed to using it ethically.

Patients Say Researchers Are Ethically Obligated to Return Study Data

Returning patient-reported outcome data to study participants is a growing priority for researchers. it is important to do it in a way that is comprehensible, actionable, and aligned with participants’ preferences.

To Pay or Not to Pay: Researchers Grapple with Implications of Reimbursing Study Participants

Pushback on paying participants comes from both researchers and IRBs. From the researcher’s perspective, concerns revolve around budgetary limitations and how much they can afford to pay. IRBs generally are more concerned about payment amounts causing undue influence on participation.

Literature Review Reveals Gaps in Research on Assisted Reproductive Technologies

Ethicists should consider the potential for discrimination and inequality in access to assisted reproductive technologies, and help make these solutions available to all who need them, regardless of their socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, or other factors.

Clinicians Need Proactive Approach to Ensure Ethical Artificial Intelligence Use

Rather than reacting to associated risks, clinicians implementing AI algorithms should ensure policies and safeguards are in place and routinely assess them. They also can be advocates for such protections through interactions with industries and organizations, as well as mentorship of trainees.

Higher Mortality Rates Among ICU Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease

Consider early and timely palliative care services instead of the ICU. Early exposure to palliative care may improve both survivability and quality of life, and may lower the risk of hospital-acquired infections.

Ethics Consults Focus on the Criteria Used to Determine Death

Some families simply need more time to process strong emotional reactions and grief. Establishing trust can help resolve these cases. Particularly in critical care, it is important from the moment that clinicians meet a family to start to build a good therapeutic relationship with them.

Survey: Patient and Family Ethical Worries May Go Undetected

Some respondents indicated a provider did not listen, did not communicate clearly, did not provide helpful information, lacked empathy, was dismissive, or was not knowledgeable or experienced. For at least some of those cases, an ethics consult probably would have been a good idea.

Compensation, Employment Models Vary Widely in Clinical Ethics Field

The disparities stem in part from a lack of evidence establishing the fact that trained ethicists experience better outcomes compared to their untrained counterparts. Researchers could determine if the notes of trained ethicists reference best practices and national consensus standards more often than the notes of untrained ethicists. Gathering tangible data allows ethicists to make reasonable, evidence-based arguments.

How Ethicists Can Make Business Case for Resources

Ethics consultation services may boost patient satisfaction, improve employee morale, lower the risk of litigation, or enhance productivity. However, proving it is challenging.

Surgeons May Need Additional Ethical Guidance

There is an evolving recognition of surgical ethics as a distinct branch of medical ethics — and an integral part of surgical practice itself.