Ethical Issues in Medicine

‘Medical Gaslighting’: When Patients Believe They’re Not Taken Seriously

Publish Date September 29, 2023

Physician bias in clinical reasoning, lack of empathy, and inadequate communication skills can give patients a sense that their health issues are being dismissed or ignored.

Elevator Ethics: No Talking About Patients

Publish Date July 14, 2023

Health care providers should avoid talking about specific patients even when members of the public or patients are not present.

The Power and Value of Feedback

Publish Date June 16, 2023

From an ethics perspective, giving and receiving feedback is central to quality improvement at both an individual and institutional level.

The Psychology of Conflict Resolution

Publish Date April 14, 2023

Health care providers should try not to make the common mistake of assuming that they have not contributed even in a small way to a conflict.

Holistic Care Lacking for Patients Who Forgo Kidney Replacement Therapy

Publish Date April 13, 2023

Survey findings highlight the need to train staff on comprehensive conservative care.

Finerenone May Provide Cardiovascular Benefits in Stage 4 Diabetic Kidney Disease

Publish Date March 30, 2023

Patients with stage 4 diabetic kidney disease are understudied and lack treatment options.

Organ Donation Policies Lacking in More Than Half of US Prisons

Publish Date March 21, 2023

To ensure equity, data collection and reporting on organ donation by incarcerated individuals need to improve.

10 Percent of New Drugs Approved Without Meeting Primary Efficacy End Points

Publish Date March 1, 2023

Findings seen for 21 drug approvals between 2018 and 2021, with only one-third needing postmarketing studies

Massachusetts Bill Would Let Prisoners Donate Organs in Exchange for Shorter Sentence

Publish Date February 16, 2023

Program would allow inmates to receive sentence reductions of 60 days to one year after donating organs or bone marrow

Improving End-of-Life Discussions With Cancer Patients

Publish Date January 17, 2023

Timely discussions about end-of-life preferences can ensure patients with advanced cancer receive care that aligns with their goals, experts say.