Browse Hospital Articles by Topic

No Evidence of Bias on Pediatric Ethics Rounds

Researchers compared sociodemographic factors between patients admitted to an academic children’s hospital during ethics rounds in the PICU, PCTU, and NICU in 2017 and 2018 who were identified as having ethics issues and all other patients admitted to those same units during the same period. The researchers expected racial and/or socioeconomic differences between the groups, with socially vulnerable patients disproportionately identified as having ethical issues on rounds. But they did not find this to be the case.

Some Code Status Discussions Are Rushed, Incomplete, or Misleading

Learning how to engage in code status conversations is as important as learning how to perform medical procedures. Clinicians would not ask patients in completely neutral terms whether they want a procedure that has no chance of working or would inflict serious harm. Any conversation around resuscitation status should take into account patients' goals and values, what is important to them in life, and the minimum acceptable quality of life.

Challenges with Surrogate Informed Consent

The central ethical question is whether a surrogate’s judgment for consenting or refusing a medical intervention on behalf of a patient is consistent and congruent with this patient’s preferences, interests, and values.

Is It a Problem to Pay Research Participants?

Paying people to participate in clinical research can be seen as ethically problematic. Yet community members expressed the opposite view, according to the results of a recent study.

Changing Practice Models in Healthcare Raise Some Ethical Concerns

With all the ongoing changes in healthcare, such as physician contract clauses, new regulatory requirements, private equity ownership, and physician leadership, hospitals worry about the implications on revenue, patient satisfaction, and compliance. There also are important ethical considerations. The authors of a new policy paper from the American College of Physicians examined these.

Policies Support Clinicians if Asked to Provide Inappropriate Care

When a family demands possibly inappropriate life-sustaining interventions, clinicians often turn to hospital policies for guidance. The authors of a recent study examined the effectiveness of Yale New Haven Hospital’s Conscientious Practice Policy. A theme emerged, focused on the inconsistent use of the policy. Whether it was used depended mostly on how resistant the family was to limiting interventions.

Study Reveals Increased IUD Expulsion Rate After Vaginal Delivery

Physicians sometimes worry that women who have not given birth will have more difficulty with an intrauterine device, experiencing a higher expulsion rate. But the results of a recent study show that the opposite is true.

Ask Women if They Use More than One Contraceptive Method

Nearly one out of five women used two or more methods of contraception the last time they had sexual intercourse, researchers found. Specifically, 18% of women ages 15 to 44 years who had used some form of contraception at last intercourse said they used two or more methods. Condoms and another method were the most commonly used method among dual users (58%). But women also reported using the withdrawal method, or a long-acting reversible contraceptive and another method that did not include condoms or withdrawal.

SAFE Intervention Brings Reproductive Health Services to Women in Treatment

Women with opioid use disorder may avoid visiting a family planning clinic or seeing a physician for contraceptive care and counseling because of their fear of stigma and judgment. The Sex and Female Empowerment (SAFE) intervention helps this at-risk group receive evidence-based contraceptive information safely and without risk of stigma.

Take Practical Actions to Help Employees Cope

Employers sometimes offer staff tips on self-care to help them cope with stress and prevent depression and other mental health issues. But there also are actions leaders can take to help prevent their staff from becoming burned out or experiencing long-term mental health problems related to the COVID-19 pandemic.