Medical Ethics Advisor – December 1, 2016
December 1, 2016
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Some Older, Chronically Ill Patients Don’t Realize They Have a Choice in Deciding Surgery
Patients and family members were surprised that postoperative recovery was so difficult, and lacked knowledge on advance directives and the fact that they could decline major surgery.
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Surprising Conflicts of Advisory Committee Speakers
Much attention has been paid to clinicians with financial ties to industry and resulting conflicts of interest, but patients who speak at public meetings also have financial ties, found a recent analysis.
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Ethical Concerns if Cancer Drugs, and Science in General, are Overhyped
Half of the cancer drugs described with superlatives such as “breakthrough,” “groundbreaking” and “game-changer” were not yet approved as safe and effective, found a recent study.
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Ethical Responses if Patient is Offended by a Healthcare Provider’s Tattoos
If a healthcare provider’s visible tattoos offend a patient or family member, does this supersede the clinician’s rights to self-expression?
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Cost Savings for Palliative Care in ACOs ‘Astounding,’ Say Researchers
Home-based palliative care within an accountable care organization was associated with significant cost savings, fewer hospitalizations, and increased hospice use in the final months of life, found a recent study.
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570 Clinics Found Marketing Unproven Stem Cell Treatments
Stem cell interventions are offered at 570 clinics, with generally unproven treatments being marketed to consumers, found a recent study.