Browse Medical Ethics Advisor Articles by Topic

Ethical Guidance for Autism Genomics Research

Autism genomics research raises some unique ethical concerns. The story will report on new ethics recommendations.

Ethics Committees Are Adding Community Members

This article covers effective approaches regarding ethics committees adding community members to their ranks.

Doctors Pressured to Participate in Grateful Patient Fundraising

Physicians are struggling with ethical responses if asked to participate in “grateful patient” fundraising for hospitals/health systems. This article discusses a new ACEP paper that addresses this ethically controversial practice.

Family/Clinician Conflicts Are Top Reason for Pediatric Ethics Consults

Conflicts between family members and clinicians are the most common issue addressed during ethics consults, according to a group of researchers. This article discusses implications for clinicians and ethics consultants.

Plastic Surgeon Ethics Complaints: Expert Testimony, Marketing

Allegations concerned deceptive advertising, including using altered pictures and making claims that could not be verified. Also, some surgeons have been accused of exaggerating their expertise or scope of practice to cash in on lucrative expert testimony opportunities.

Ethics Committees Need Successful Recruitment Tactics

Leaders share tips on how they managed to successfully recruit more colleagues to serve.

Study Recruitment Incorporated Into Check-In Process

Recruitment through patient portals has become more common, but actual enrollment rates remain low. As part of patients' routine appointment check-ins, researchers included a study information sheet and a HIPAA authorization form. This led to a 37% enrollment rate, which was seven to eight times higher than what researchers expected.

Researchers Are Boosting Study Recruitment with ‘Cold Contact’ Processes

The Medical University of South Carolina recently switched to a new patient outreach recruitment model. Now, researchers can contact patients unless they opt out. The new process has dramatically increased the number of potential study participants who can be contacted, from 52,000 to more than 1.7 million patients.

Lack of Trust and Knowledge Hinders Genetic Research Recruitment

Try using lay language to better explain genetic research as part of the informed consent process. Addressing participants’ concerns carefully may help gain participants’ trust in research, and thus improve recruitment of diverse patient populations.

Patient or Family May Need Translator During Ethics Consult

A good rule of thumb is to stop and check for comprehension after sharing a key point, especially when that point will influence decision-making or may change an individual’s perspective on the situation.