Browse Medical Ethics Articles by Topic

Preventing Age Disparities in Cancer Trials

A leading researcher explains why patients should have equity regarding their ability to access clinical trials, to the greatest extent reasonably possible, in this Q&A.

Analyses: Older Patients Excluded from Many Research Studies

Investigators learned age disparities were worse for industry-funded trials; for trials with enrollment criteria restrictions based on age cutoffs or performance status; for trials that evaluated a targeted, systemic therapy; and for lung cancer trials.

Lack of Basic Knowledge on Clinical Trials Makes Study Recruitment Harder

Survey respondents with a history of cancer and those who have heard of ClinicalTrials.gov knew more about trials. Such knowledge also was more abundant among college graduates and those who had been asked to participate in a trial.

Recommendations Target Making Improvements in U.S. Organ Transplant System

The authors aimed for equity, transparency, and efficiency.

Survey: OB/GYN Residents Feel Unprepared to Care for LGBTQ+ Patients

Lack of experienced faculty and curricular crowding were the two most commonly identified barriers.

Physicians Might Discuss Medical Aid in Dying, Providing the Service Could Be Another Matter

Considered one of the most controversial subjects in medicine, some physicians might talk with patients about medical aid in dying, but providing the service could be a different story — for several reasons, both ethical and practical.

Chaplains Distinctly Equipped to Address Moral Injury

When healthcare professionals experience moral injury, they experience spiritual and existential distress in the forms of self-doubt, guilt, frustration, anger, depression, and burnout. Collaborating with chaplains is crucial in supporting staff when they believe they have compromised their moral integrity.

Chatbots Can Help Care Managers Provide Ethical Treatment

There is no way around it — health systems are facing an ongoing shortage of clinicians to meet the needs of patients who need longitudinal care management. For one system, chatbot technology turned out to be at least a partial solution.

More Than 2,000 Consent Forms Posted Publicly

Creators of federally funded studies have been mandated to post informed consent documents on ClinicalTrials.gov ever since the revised Common Rule requirements became effective in January 2019. However, it was unclear how many or what kind of consent forms were posted — and who was posting the forms. A group of investigators set out to answer these rudimentary questions.

Children Undergoing Stem Cell Transplant Lack Palliative Care

Palliative care teams can shorten length of stay, prevent readmissions, improve patient satisfaction, lower costs, and reduce burnout rates.