Emergency medicine clinics of North America
-
Emerg. Med. Clin. North Am. · Aug 2006
ReviewEthical and practical aspects of disclosing adverse events in the emergency department.
Physicians and hospitals should be aware of the ethical duty to disclose a medical error that causes harm to a patient. Disclosure should be made to the affected patient or, when appropriate, to a family member of the patient. ⋯ The initial disclosure can be conducted in a way that maintains or even improves the relationship with the patient, or in a manner that damages trust. This article discusses the importance of disclosure in emergency medicine; the ethical basis for, and barriers to, disclosure; and the key elements of the disclosure process.
-
Neither law nor religion, bioethics absorbs and applies elements of both. Its theories, principles, and methods stem from various philosophical schools. ⋯ Emergency clinicians must be able to recognize bioethical dilemmas, have action plans based on their readings and discussions, and have a method through which to apply ethical principles in clinical settings. This article provides an overview of ethical considerations and guidelines for emergency clinicians.
-
Disasters are defined medically as mass casualty incidents in which the number of patients presenting during a given time period exceeds the capacity of the responders to render effective care in a timely manner. During such circumstances, triage is instituted to allocate scarce medical resources. ⋯ Specific questions include whether resources truly are limited, whether specific numbers should dictate disaster response, and whether triage decisions should be based on age or social worth. The primary question the authors pose is whether disaster triage, as currently advocated and practiced in the western world, is actually ethical.
-
Decision making near the end of life can be complex and laden with emotion for families and health care providers. Families and patients can prepare themselves for these difficult moments by thinking ahead about the patient's wishes and preparing clear documents that express those wishes. Health care providers can prepare themselves by being familiar with those documents, considering the goals of treatment, remembering the principles on which health care ethics are founded and knowing decision-making models that will help them to think through treatment plans and the best options for patient taking into consideration the goals of treatment.
-
Emerg. Med. Clin. North Am. · Aug 2006
ReviewConflict of interest in the physician interface with the biomedical industry.
The physician interface with the pharmaceutical industry stands at the forefront of a debate about the effect this relationship has on the behavior of both researchers and clinicians. The authors explore the basis for this conflict of interest and show how it affects physician judgment and behavior. These effects lead to negative consequences for patients and threaten the professional status that society accords physicians. In view of the potential for ethical compromise, physicians should refrain from contact with pharmaceutical marketing representatives.