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Fraud Is Persistent, Pervasive Ethics Concern with Social Media Recruitment

Fraudulent participants increasingly compromise research recruitment via social media, threatening data integrity. Although verification methods can deter scams, they often create accessibility barriers, especially in disability research. Ethicists and institutional review boards must balance inclusivity with fraud prevention strategies.

Some IRB Policies Unfairly Exclude People with Uncertain Decision-Making Capacity

Many IRB policies exclude individuals with impaired decision-making capacity, raising ethical and civil rights concerns. Researchers and ethicists advocate for inclusion, reassessment of capacity, and accommodations to ensure fair participation while balancing risk, consent, and autonomy.

New Ethics Training Approaches Better Prepare Medical Students for Reality

Medical schools are adopting innovative ethics training methods, such as resident-led case conferences and humanities-based end-of-life education. These programs connect ethical principles to real clinical practice, helping trainees handle complex issues such as futility, patient autonomy, and dying patients.

Growing Demand for Ethics Expertise to Evaluate AI Tools Before Use in Healthcare

Ethicists increasingly are needed to guide the responsible development and use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Their expertise ensures fairness, privacy protection, bias reduction, and patient-centered care, bridging gaps often overlooked in technical and business evaluations.

Purl Decision Affects HIPAA Compliance, Reproductive Health

A recent court ruling has a significant effect on HIPAA compliance as it pertains to reproductive health. It can be seen as relief from a rule that some criticized as burdensome and unnecessary. When the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization prompted states to restrict access to reproductive health services, Health and Human Services issued a rule strengthening reproductive health privacy protections under HIPAA.

Court Upholds Record $207 Million Malpractice Verdict

In July 2025, an appellate court unanimously affirmed a record-breaking medical malpractice judgment of $207 million against a hospital for catastrophic birth injuries. The case involved a newborn who sustained severe brain damage leading to cerebral palsy and profound lifelong disabilities after a mishandled delivery at the hospital. A jury had awarded $183 million (later increased to $207 million with delay damages) for the child’s future care needs and pain and suffering. On appeal, the hospital argued that the verdict was exorbitant and unsupported, but the appellate court held that the award did not “shock the conscience” in light of the trial evidence.

Jury Awards $20 Million in Fatal Surgery Malpractice Case

A jury awarded $20 million to the estate of a 68-year-old patient who died following what was supposed to be a routine abdominal surgery. The three-week trial revealed that the patient experienced internal bleeding during a sigmoid colon resection, but neither the hospital’s surgeons nor the anesthesia group recognized or adequately responded to it. By the time action was taken, the patient had entered hemorrhagic shock and could not be revived.

Spouse and Family Access to PHI Often Disputed

As long as HIPAA has been around, one of the most contentious issues has been whether spouses, partners, other family, or friends can receive information about a patient — or whether non-healthcare entities can discuss someone’s health. Healthcare providers often misinterpret HIPAA requirements in this area, either being overly restrictive or releasing protected health information improperly.

Know When to Settle and When to Fight

With any medical malpractice case, or other lawsuit, the healthcare organization always comes to a decision point about whether to settle or fight the claim in court. Thinking ahead about how to make that decision can help you make the right choice when the time comes.

Staying Compliant Can Be Challenging in 2025

Compliance is always a main concern for healthcare leaders, but some periods can be more challenging than others. Different federal administrations address compliance in different ways, and it is important to understand their particular areas of focus.