Browse Hospital Publication Articles by Topic

Telehealth Continues to Pose Liability, Regulatory Concerns

The use of telehealth boomed during the pandemic and continues to be a popular option for both patients and providers, but legal risks continue.

Hospitals Cutting Infection Control Staff, Creating Patient Safety Risks

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology and The Leapfrog Group have joined to express concern about how hospitals are cutting infection control resources and the dire effects that may have on patient safety.

Are Rules Really Meant to Be Broken?

Risk managers spend a lot of time and effort promoting policies and procedures meant to improve patient safety and protect the organization from liability. But is there ever a time to condone breaking those rules?

Gender-Affirming Care Caught in Legal Gray Area, Liability Possible

Healthcare organizations providing gender-affirming care — which may be defined broadly — could face consequences if they do not conform with recently imposed federal restrictions. Understanding the changes and how they affect clinical treatment is key to avoiding potentially serious regulatory violations and other liability.

Informed Consent Forms Omit Specifics on Overlapping Surgery

Many hospitals fail to disclose overlapping surgeries in consent forms, raising concerns about autonomy and transparency. Clearer communication, standardized disclosures, and consistent practices are recommended to build patient trust while maintaining efficiency and trainee involvement.

Physicians Have Ethical Obligation to Provide Palliative Care: New Guidance

The American Medical Association affirms that physicians are ethically obligated to provide palliative care at any stage of illness and in all care settings. Barriers include training gaps, resource shortages, and cultural sensitivity issues, requiring expanded education and systemwide integration.

Ethical Approaches to Obtain Surrogate’s Research Consent for Critically Ill Patient

Best practices for surrogate consent in critical care research include minimizing coercion, giving surrogates time and space, and ensuring decisions reflect patient values. Strategies to address family disagreements and confirming patient autonomy also are important.

Early Goals of Care Conversations Ensure Ethical Care in the ED

Integrating goals of care discussions and palliative consults early in the emergency department improves patient-centered outcomes, reduces unnecessary intensive interventions, and lowers costs. Early engagement aligns treatment with patient wishes and helps avoid ethical conflicts.

Clinicians May Not Be Following Hospital Policies on Withdrawing/Withholding Life-Sustaining Treatments

Although most hospitals have policies on limiting life-sustaining treatment, many clinicians misunderstand, overlook, or inconsistently apply them. Greater education, ethics consultation, and standardized procedures are needed to ensure fairness, safeguard autonomy, and guide appropriate medical care.

Surge of Scientific Fraud Is a Persistent, Rapidly Growing Ethical Problem

The rise of “paper mills” producing fraudulent research is undermining scientific integrity. Systemic pressures, institutional complicity, and weak detection systems accelerate the problem, threatening public trust in science and posing risks to health research.