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Mayo Clinic Fights Drug Diversion, Reduces Propofol Waste to Zero

A propofol disposal initiative at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, reduced the number of full propofol bottles in an ICU waste bin to zero, successfully addressing drug diversion at the facility.

Drug Diversion Creates Significant Liability Risk

Drug diversion is a perennial problem for healthcare organizations. Risk managers should know there is substantial liability risk from the possible effects on patient safety. This problem is not improving, industry sources say — and some things are getting worse.

Report: Anxiety, Depression Up Significantly Among U.S. Children 2016-2020

Even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health conditions among Americans age 3 to 17 years were trending negatively.

Many Parkinson’s Research Participants Cannot Recall Study Risks

Rather than consenting an individual in the office during the presurgical visit, at a time when the patient was already receiving a large amount of information, the outreach could be conducted by phone later. This would give the subject time to carefully review the study materials.

Uncertainties on Future Use of Study Participants’ Data

Generally, the informed consent process needs improvement, particularly when it comes to explaining to participants what data will be used and how. Responsible data-sharing rests on making quality data accessible to authorized researchers to meaningfully advance science while respecting participant values.

Tips for Researchers Looking to Recruit More Pregnant Black Women

It boils down to trust, communication, education, and building a presence within the community.

Updated Guidance on Informed Consent in Stroke Management

A new position statement aims to help neurologists provide the highest quality patient care for ischemic stroke by providing ethical guidance on how to navigate the decision-making process for stroke patients who may struggle to provide consent.

Ethicists Become Involved in Managing Aggressive, Violent Patients

A facility in Vermont created behavior response teams, with ethicists playing a major role in collaboration with other hospital leaders, a psychologist, security staff, and other stakeholders to better manage volatile situations and protect the well-being of patients and employees.

IRBs Strive to Improve Consistency of Study Protocol Decisions

Is a study protocol OK to go forward? Or are many changes needed for recruitment, consent, or other processes? IRB decisions often are inconsistent on these points — even at the same institution, and sometimes at the same IRB.

Too Many Scientific Articles End Up Retracted

Over five decades, the authors of a meta-analysis discovered guidelines represented a small percentage of total retractions (0.3%). Scientific misconduct (including data fabrication, plagiarism, and duplication) was found in 62.3% of retracted studies. The number of retractions and misconducts increased from 1980 to 2014, but declined after 2015. The median time from publication to retraction significantly decreased over the study period.