Confidentiality and the ethics of medical ethics.
(65/399)
In this paper we consider the use of cases in medical ethics research and teaching. To date, there has been little discussion about the consent or confidentiality requirements that ought to govern the use of cases in these areas. This is in marked contrast to the requirements for consent to publish cases in clinical journals, or to use personal information in research. There are a number of reasons why it might be difficult to obtain consent to use cases in ethics. Many cases concern people who are incompetent, and thus unable to give consent. Often the material is of a sensitive nature, it is not clear who should give consent, or the ethicist has no access to those involved. We argue that the use of cases in ethics research and teaching can be justified by appeal to the public interest argument, and suggest a number of areas for discussion and clarification. (+info)
The implications of starvation induced psychological changes for the ethical treatment of hunger strikers.
(66/399)
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate existing ethical guidelines for the treatment of hunger strikers in light of findings on psychological changes that accompany the cessation of food intake. DESIGN: Electronic databases were searched for (a) editorials and ethical proclamations on hunger strikers and their treatment; (b) studies of voluntary and involuntary starvation, and (c) legal cases pertaining to hunger striking. Additional studies were gathered in a snowball fashion from the published material cited in these databases. Material was included if it (a) provided ethical or legal guidelines; (b) shed light on psychological changes accompanying starvation, or (c) illustrated the practice of hunger striking. Authors' observations, opinions, and conclusions were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Although the heterogeneous nature of the sources precluded statistical analysis, starvation appears to be accompanied by marked psychological changes. Some changes clearly impair competence, in which case physicians are advised to follow advance directives obtained early in the hunger strike. More problematic are increases in impulsivity and aggressivity, changes which, while not impairing competence, enhance the likelihood that patients will starve themselves to death. (+info)
Determining resuscitation preferences of elderly inpatients: a review of the literature.
(67/399)
Studies have shown that discussions with elderly hospital patients about cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) preferences occur infrequently and have variable content. Our objective was to identify themes in the existing literature that could be used to increase the frequency and improve the quality of such discussions. We found that patients and families are familiar with the concept of CPR but have limited understanding of the procedure and overestimate its benefit. Most patients are interested in being involved in discussions about CPR and in sharing responsibility for decisions with physicians; however, older patients who participate in these discussions may have variable decision-making capacity. Physicians do not routinely discuss CPR with older patients, and patients do not initiate such discussions. When discussions do occur, the information provided to patients or families about resuscitation and its outcomes is not always consistent. Physicians should initiate CPR discussions, consider patients' levels of understanding and decision-making capacity, share responsibility for decisions where appropriate and involve the family where possible. Documentation of discussions and patient preferences may help to minimize misunderstandings and increase the stability of the decision during subsequent admissions to hospital. (+info)
Predictors of efficacy in depression prevention programmes. Meta-analysis.
(68/399)
BACKGROUND: Worldwide, 340 million people are affected by depression, with high comorbid, social and economic costs. AIMS: To identify potential predictors of effect in prevention programmes. METHOD: A meta-analysis was made of 69 programmes to reduce depression or depressive symptoms. RESULTS: The weighted mean effect size of 0.22 was effective for different age groups and different levels of risk, and in reducing risk factors and depressive or psychiatric symptoms. Programmes with larger effect sizes were multi-component, included competence techniques, had more than eight sessions, had sessions 60-90 min long, had a high quality of research design and were delivered by a health care provider in targeted programmes. Older people benefited from social support, whereas behavioural methods were detrimental. CONCLUSIONS: An 11% improvement in depressive symptoms can be achieved through prevention programmes. Single trial evaluations should ensure high quality of the research design and detailed reporting of results and potential predictors. (+info)
Pacing extremely old patients: who decides--the doctor, the patient, or the relatives?
(69/399)
Decision making competence is not necessarily present or absent. In many cases it is partial or compromised. This applies especially to those over 80 years old, in whom the prevalence of dementia is high. Three patients who presented with indications for permanent pacemaker insertion are considered. One was apparently competent, one had partial competence, and one was clearly incompetent. In all three cases the closest relatives were opposed to decisions made by either the patient or the doctors. The three cases reflect the tension between doctors, patients, and relatives in situations where medical interests, individual interests, and familial interests conflict. The cases illustrate the type of problems encountered in clinical practice. The current legal position is reviewed. (+info)
Research ethics committees and paternalism.
(70/399)
In this paper the authors argue that research ethics committees (RECs) should not be paternalistic by rejecting research that poses risk to people competent to decide for themselves. However it is important they help to ensure valid consent is sought from potential recruits and protect vulnerable people who cannot look after their own best interests. The authors first describe the tragic deaths of Jesse Gelsinger and Ellen Roche. They then discuss the following claims to support their case: (1) competent individuals are epistemologically and ethically in the best position to say which risks are reasonable for them, so RECs should be no more restrictive than the "normal" constraints on people taking risks with themselves; (2) RECs do not judge individual competence (that is for researchers and psychiatrists); (3) individual liberty is mostly limited by what serves the public interest, and RECs do not determine public interest; (4) RECs may have a paternalistic role in preventing exploitation of competent people vulnerable to the use of incentives, and in protecting the interests of incompetent people; however, (5) the moral and political authority of RECs has not been established in this respect. (+info)
Impracticability of informed consent in the Registry of the Canadian Stroke Network.
(71/399)
BACKGROUND: Government legislators and research ethics boards in some jurisdictions require all patients to give written informed consent before enrollment in clinical registries. However, the effect of such a requirement on the use of clinical registries and the extent to which registry data can be generalized remain uncertain. METHODS: We examined the effectiveness of a comprehensive attempt to obtain informed consent between June 2001 and December 2002 on the overall participation rate and the characteristics of participating patients in the Registry of the Canadian Stroke Network, a prospective registry based at 20 major stroke centers across Canada. RESULTS: The overall participation rate (i.e., the consent rate among all potential participants) was 39.3 percent of 4285 eligible patients during phase 1 of the project (June 2001 through February 2002) and 50.6 percent of 2823 eligible patients during phase 2 (June 2002 through December 2002), despite the presence of neurologic research nurse coordinators at each site. Many patients died or left the hospital before they could be approached for consent. Major selection biases were found; the in-hospital mortality rate was much lower among patients who were enrolled (6.9 percent) than among those who were not enrolled (21.7 percent) (relative risk of in-hospital death, 3.13; 95 percent confidence interval, 2.65 to 3.70; P<0.001). We estimate that approximately 500,000 dollars (Canadian dollars) was spent on consent-related issues during the first two years of the registry. CONCLUSIONS: Obtaining written informed consent for participation in a stroke registry led to important selection biases, such that registry patients were not representative of the typical patient with stroke at each center. These findings highlight the need for legislation on privacy and policies permitting waivers of informed consent for minimal-risk observational research. (+info)
Capacity to consent to treatment: empirical comparison of three instruments in older adults with and without dementia.
(72/399)
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare adults with and without dementia on capacities to consent to treatment as assessed by three instruments. DESIGN AND METHODS: Eighty-eight older adults with mild to moderate dementia were compared with 88 matched controls on four indices of legal competency to consent to medical treatment as assessed with three capacity instruments. RESULTS: Mean performance of adults with dementia on a legal standard of understanding treatment information was impaired relative to controls on all instruments, and it was also impaired for an appreciation standard on one instrument and a reasoning standard on two instruments. However, in categorical ratings, most adults with dementia were within the normal range on all decisional capacities. Legal standards were operationalized differently across the three instruments for the capacities of appreciation and reasoning. IMPLICATIONS: Most adults with mild dementia can participate in medical decision making as defined by legal standards, although memory impairments may limit demonstration of understanding of diagnostic and treatment information. In dementia, assessments of reasoning about treatment options should focus on whether a person can describe salient reasons for a specific choice, whereas assessments of appreciation of the meaning of diagnostic and treatment information should focus on whether a person can describe the implications of various choices for future states. More research is needed to establish the reliability and validity of assessment tools and of capacity constructs. (+info)