Literature Review
All posts tagged with “Clinical News | Ethics.”
[Netherlands] A care ethical perspective on family caregiver burden and support
04/19/25 at 03:00 AM[Netherlands] A care ethical perspective on family caregiver burden and supportNursing Ethics; Maaike Haan, Jelle van Gurp, Marianne Boenink, Gert Olthuis; 3/25Family care-when partners, relatives, or other proxies care for each other in case of illness, disability, or frailty-is increasingly considered an important pillar for the sustainability of care systems. Especially in a palliative care context, however, family care can be challenging. Witnessing caregivers' challenges may prompt compassionate nurses to undertake actions to reduce burden by adjusting tasks or activities. The question is then whether self-sacrifice is a problem that nurses should immediately solve. Therefore, we suggest that caregiver experiences should always be interpreted in an explorative dialogue, focused on what caring means to a particular family caregiver. Nurses do not have to liberate family caregivers from the situation but should support them in whatever overwhelms or drives them in standing-by their loved ones until the end.
Integrating social determinants into palliative care
04/18/25 at 03:00 AMIntegrating social determinants into palliative care Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 4/16/25 Strong staff education and reimbursement are among the keys to successfully integrating social determinants of health within a palliative care program. Screening tools developed by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) include five areas of social determinants of health: food and housing insecurity, transportation needs, utility difficulties and interpersonal safety. Supplemental domains include financial stability, employment and family and social support, among others.
Why good palliative care clinicians get fired
04/17/25 at 03:00 AMWhy good palliative care clinicians get fired JAMA Network - Viewpoint; by Abby R. Rosenberg, MD, MS, MA; Elliot Rabinowitz, MD; and Robert M. Arnold; 4/14/25 Even the most seasoned palliative care clinician gets fired. In the past year, one of us was fired after asking whether a patient endorsing suicidal ideation had access to a gun; the patient requested not to see the palliative care team because we asked intrusive questions and documented the encounter. One of us was fired after supporting a family’s decision to discontinue life-sustaining therapies for their loved one with multisystem organ failure; the primary intensivist suggested palliative care overstepped in discussing options for which the family (and clinical teams) was not ready. And one of us was fired after sharing the impression that a patient with cancer was dying; the family suggested they preferred the oncologist’s version of a more hopeful future.
German doctor charged with murdering 15 patients
04/17/25 at 03:00 AMGerman doctor charged with murdering 15 patients Time.News; Press Release; 4/16/25 ... The accusations against the unnamed 40-year-old doctor are disturbing: administering lethal doses of drugs to terminally ill patients without their knowledge. This raises unsettling questions about the boundaries of medical ethics and the role of healthcare professionals in the lives—and deaths—of their patients. Between September 2021 and July 2024, the doctor allegedly unmasked a hidden danger, killing 12 women and three men, some as young as 25 and others as old as 94. Prosecutors have warned that the total may rise as investigations deepen, with additional exhumations of suspicious deaths planned. ... What makes this case even more sinister is the alleged attempts by the doctor to conceal his actions—setting fire to his patients’ homes to destroy evidence.
Brain activity before death: Do we see our lives flash?
04/15/25 at 03:00 AMBrain activity before death: Do we see our lives flash? Time.News; interview with Dr. Eleanor Vance; 4/12/25 What flashes through our minds in the final moments of life? Could it be an intense reel of our most cherished memories or a profound sense of calm? Recent studies suggest that the brain may not simply shut down at death; instead, it could be engaged in a powerful replay of life’s most significant moments, offering a glimpse into the mysteries of consciousness and the human experience.
As ‘right to die’ gains more acceptance, a scholar of Catholicism explains the position of the Catholic Church
04/01/25 at 03:00 AMAs ‘right to die’ gains more acceptance, a scholar of Catholicism explains the position of the Catholic Church The Conversation; by Mathew Schmalz; 3/31/25 An individual’s “right to die” is becoming more accepted across the globe. ... Assisted suicide is now permitted in 10 U.S. states and in Washington. In 2025,five more states are set to consider “right to die” legislation. The “right to die” can refer to several means of dying. ... [Descriptions of terms "right to die," "euthanasia," "assisted suicide/dying."] ...
Bioethics Artificial Intelligence Advisory (BAIA): An Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) framework for bioethical clinical decision support
03/29/25 at 03:25 AMBioethics Artificial Intelligence Advisory (BAIA): An Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) framework for bioethical clinical decision support Cureus; by Taposh P. Dutta Roy; 3/12/25 Healthcare professionals face complex ethical dilemmas in clinical settings in cases involving end-of-life care, informed consent, and surrogate decision-making. These nuanced situations often lead to moral distress among care providers. This paper introduces the Bioethics Artificial Intelligence Advisory (BAIA) framework, a novel and innovative approach that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to support clinical ethical decision-making. The BAIA framework integrates multiple bioethical approaches, including principlism, casuistry, and narrative ethics, with advanced AI capabilities to provide comprehensive decision support.
Children as living solid organ donors: Ethical discussion and model hospital policy statement
03/29/25 at 03:15 AMChildren as living solid organ donors: Ethical discussion and model hospital policy statementThe Journal of Clinical Ethics; Gyan C. Moorthy, Aidan P. Crowley, and Sandra Amaral' Spring 2025In recent years, more attention has been paid to living donation as a means to reduce the suffering of individuals with end-stage kidney or liver disease. Implicated ethical issues include medical risk and risk of coercion, counterbalanced by improved medical outcomes and the benefits of saving a life. Living donation becomes particularly ethically complicated with the prospect of child donation, given the child’s developing autonomy and uniquely dependent status. We outline four broad ethical considerations pertinent to living child organ donation: (1) beneficence, (2) respect for the family as a moral unit, (3) respect for the child as a person, and (4) justice. We conclude that it can be ethical for a healthy child to donate a kidney or liver lobe to a close relative who has exhausted other options provided that certain protections are put into place.
Moral agency in healthcare: What does it mean?
03/28/25 at 03:00 AMMoral agency in healthcare: What does it mean? Healthcare Business Today; by Editorial Team; 3/27/25 ... Moral agency, as defined by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, is ”having the intent and then acting to pursue, achieve, and maintain optimal beneficial outcomes consistent with the moral/ethical principles of one’s practice.” ... A moral agent is a person who can tell right from wrong and is held accountable for his or her actions. Moral agents have a moral responsibility not to cause unjustified harm, which is especially important in a healthcare setting. ...
Hidden battles: Keeping cancer secret
03/27/25 at 03:00 AMHidden battles: Keeping cancer secret Harvard Health Publishing - Harvard Medical School; by Maureen Salamon; post is dated 4/1/25, retrieved from the internet 3/25/25 Some people choose to conceal their diagnosis and treatment. Here's why — and reasons that approach can sometimes backfire. ... [In addition to privacy motives, Cristina Pozo-Kaderman, a senior psychologist at Harvard-affiliated Dana-Farber Cancer Institute] says cancer patients may also wish to:
Pope Francis was so close to death that doctors considered ending treatment
03/26/25 at 03:00 AMPope Francis was so close to death that doctors considered ending treatment Reuters, Vatican City; by Joshua McElwee; 3/25/25 Pope Francis came so close to death at one point during his 38-day fight in hospital against pneumonia that his doctors considered ending treatment so he could die in peace, the head of the pope's medical team said. After a breathing crisis on February 28 ... "there was a real risk he might not make it," said Sergio Alfieri, a physician at Rome's Gemelli hospital. "We had to choose if we would stop there and let him go, or to go forward and push it with all the drugs and therapies possible, running the highest risk of damaging his other organs," Alfieri told Italy's Corriere della Sera in an interview published on Tuesday [3/25]. "In the end, we took this path," he said. [Continue reading ...]
The marginalizing and dehumanizing of our sickest and oldest Americans
03/26/25 at 03:00 AMThe marginalizing and dehumanizing of our sickest and oldest Americans ABA - The American Bar Association; by Charles P. Sabatino; 3/19/25 Being old and with a disability ranks high as a target for discrimination in American culture, where ageism and ableism often prevent the public from seeing marginalization as an aberration. ... Summary:
Carolyn Hax: Does sibling love justify traveling to abusive mom’s deathbed?
03/25/25 at 03:00 AMCarolyn Hax: Does sibling love justify traveling to abusive mom’s deathbed?The Washington Post, Washington, DC; 3/24/25 Sister asks the letter writer to join her at their dying mom’s bedside — despite their PTSD-inducing childhoods. [The rest of this article may require a subscription to The Washington Post.]Editor's note: Even if you're not able to access the full article, what does this question stir in you? Be aware that many family caregivers (or simply family members) face complex, conflicted relationships with the persons they are tending--or in this case, even considering visiting or not. Be attuned to these common, everyday occurrences that your direct care interdisciplinary team members regularly navigate. What family systems' education and support do you provide for them?
[Australia] Advance care planning has brought 'comfort and peace' to Annaliese Holland
03/21/25 at 03:00 AM[Australia] Advance care planning has brought 'comfort and peace' to Annaliese Holland ABC News; by Eva Blandis and Daniel Keane; 3/19/25Young South Australian woman Annaliese Holland, who is preparing for major high-risk surgery, has spoken about the importance of advance care planning. The 25-year-old was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease and terminal illness several years ago. Ms. Holland wants young people to have more open conversations about death and end-of-life care. ... "I say my life is like walking on a field of landmines, not knowing when it will go off," she said. While it is a harrowing statement, she is harnessing her situation to help others — Ms. Holland is a strong supporter of advance care planning.
‘Early discussions on what to expect can lessen the strain’
03/21/25 at 03:00 AM‘Early discussions on what to expect can lessen the strain’ Nursing Times; by Kylie Chaffin; 3/19/25 The article explains the pros and cons of nutrition and hydration at end of life and the several types of artificial nutrition and hydration that can be used, written in a way patients and families can understand. Resources and educational articles, like this one, can also be a great way to introduce new or even more effective ways nurses and care team members can support patients and families when pursuing a palliative approach to their health and wellbeing. My question for readers is, “Should the conversation of end-of-life, hospice and palliative care, and nutritional changes, be initiated sooner rather than later in patients with a terminal diagnosis?”
Hastening death by stopping eating and drinking: Hope Wechkin, Thaddeus Pope, and Josh Briscoe
03/21/25 at 03:00 AMHastening death by stopping eating and drinking: Hope Wechkin, Thaddeus Pope, and Josh Briscoe GeriPal Podcasts; by Hope Wechkin, Thaddeus Pope, and Josh Briscoe Eric and Alex have featured discussions about complex bioethical concepts around caring for people at the end of life, including voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED), and multiple episodes about the ethical issues surrounding medical aid in dying (MAID). Recently, discussion has emerged about how these issues intertwine in caring for patients with advancing dementia who have stated that they would not want to continue living in that condition: for those with an advanced directive to stop eating and drinking, how do we balance caring for their rational past self and their experiential current self? Should these patients qualify for medical aid in dying medications? And is there a middle path to provide some degree of comfort while also hastening the end of life?
Impacting end-of-life care with new healthcare legislation: Patient-Directed Medical Orders (PDMO) in advance care planning
03/20/25 at 03:00 AMImpacting end-of-life care with new healthcare legislation: Patient-Directed Medical Orders (PDMO) in advance care planningAmerican Nurse - State Nurses Associations - Florida News Journal; by Meredith Fischer, BSN, RN, CHPN; 3/19/25 Over the summer, a friend’s elderly father underwent resuscitation and intubation because his nursing facility could not locate his Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNRO) or Advanced Directive (AD). ... New legislation is being filed for a Patient-Directed Medical Order (PDMO) document designed to address the shortcomings of the ADs and DNRO forms—currently the primary tools for addressing end-of-life care preferences in Florida. The PDMO form originates from the POLST paradigm, which has been adopted by most states since its inception in Oregon in the early 1990s (National POLST, 2022). Healthcare professionals recognized that many individuals were not receiving the end-of-life care outlined in their ADs and DNROs due to accessibility, clarity, and practicality (National POLST, 2022).
Assisted Living Facility owner indicted, facing numerous felony charges
03/19/25 at 03:00 AMAssisted Living Facility owner indicted, facing numerous felony charges Knoxville Daily Sun; 3/17/25 ... In June 2024, after receiving a referral from Adult Protective Services, [the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Medicaid Fraud Control Division (TBI)] special agents began investigating allegations involving Wendy Henley, the owner of Sunset Gardens Assisted Living Facility in Mountain City. ... [Agents] learned that Henley used a patient’s insurance benefits card to purchase items for the facility. In July, ... they discovered that seventeen residents, including two hospice patients, had been left in the care of two juveniles who were not authorized to provide direct patient care. Agents requested an immediate response from the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission and evacuated the facility, transferring the residents to other local facilities to assure their safety and continued care.
[International] Healthcare on the brink: Palliative Care Unit and Late Shift
03/18/25 at 03:00 AM[International] Healthcare on the brink: Palliative Care Unit and Late Shift The 75th Berlin International Film Festival - Part 7, wsws.org; by Martin Nowak and Bernd Reinhardt; 3/16/25 Two films, the drama Late Shift (Heldin) and the documentary Palliative Care Unit (Palliativstation), featured at this year's Berlin International Film Festival, addressed the current situation in German and Swiss hospitals. The sold-out festival screenings reflected the burning public interest in this topic. This is particularly remarkable bearing in mind that Palliative Care Unit has a running time of more than four hours. ... [In the] documentary Palliative Care Unit by Philipp Döring, shot at the Franziskus Hospital in Berlin, ... [the] camera quietly observes the daily routine, staff consultations and the constant empathy of the head of the ward towards employees and seriously ill patients, who usually spend their last weeks here. The very calm, always discreet images emphasise the necessity of sufficient time for care and reflection when making life-critical decisions. ... How can the highest possible quality of life be achieved? The high ethical standard of treating incurable patients as active human beings ... is admirable and makes a lasting impression throughout the film.
Less wealth at death linked to more end-of-life symptoms
03/18/25 at 02:30 AMLess wealth at death linked to more end-of-life symptoms McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Kristen Fischer; 3/10/25 Older people with less wealth showed a higher burden of symptoms when they approached the end of their lives compared with those who had more wealth, a study found. The report was published in JAMA Network Open on March 6. Investigators looked at data from 8,976 older adults. The team evaluated 12 end-of-life symptoms including difficulty breathing, frequent vomiting, low appetite, difficulty controlling arms and legs, depression, and severe fatigue or exhaustion.Then they correlated symptoms to individuals’ wealth. Wealth was broken into three categories: low wealth was having less than $6,000; medium wealth was having between $6,000 and $120,000; and high wealth was considered having more than $120,000 at the time of death. Of respondents, 22.5% had low wealth, 50.5% had medium wealth and 27.1% had higher wealth. People who had less wealth were more likely to have a higher burden of symptoms compared to those who had more money. Functional impairment, multimorbidity and dementia were factors that affected the association, data revealed.Editor's note: Click here for this important JAMA article, posted in our Saturday Research issue 3/15/25, "Wealth disparities in end-of-life symptom burden among older adults."
How Houston Methodist’s ACO reduced its end-of-life spending by nearly 20%
03/13/25 at 03:00 AMHow Houston Methodist’s ACO reduced its end-of-life spending by nearly 20% MedCity News - Hospitals; by Katie Adams; March 10, 2025 Houston Methodist Coordinate Care is reducing costs through a partnership with Koda Health, a digital platform that guides patients through their end-of-life choices. Preliminary findings show the technology resulted in a 19% reduction in the total cost of care for patients at the end of their life, which equals nearly $9,000 in savings per patient. ... The ACO has been working with Koda Health for more than three years — and it is saving money by getting patients more involved in their end-of-life care plan.
At the end of life, doctors’ actions and patients’ wishes may be misaligned, according to a Rutgers Health study
03/10/25 at 03:00 AMAt the end of life, doctors’ actions and patients’ wishes may be misaligned, according to a Rutgers Health study Rutgers; by Greg Bruno; 2/28/25 For terminally ill cancer patients, the final days of life are immensely personal, having the choice to continue cancer treatments, or to stop treatments and prioritize a more comfortable passing. What a patient wants, however, isn’t always what they receive, according to a Rutgers Health study published in the journal Cancer. “A patient's end of life is often not a reflection of what they want, but rather, who their oncologist happens to be,” said Login S. George, a health services researcher at the Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, and lead author of the national study. “The data doesn’t indicate patient-centered treatment decisions, but rather, more habitual or default ways of treating patients,” says George, who is also a member of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program at Rutgers Cancer Institute, the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. ... [Click on the title's link for more statistics, insights, and recommendations.]
Understanding a patient’s AI medical journey
03/10/25 at 02:00 AMUnderstanding a patient’s AI medical journey The Hastings Center; by Ian Stevens, Erin William, Jean-Christophe Bélisle-Pion, and Vardit Ravitsky; 3/5/25As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into U.S. health care, patients should know the ways in which AI is being used in their care, concludes a new paper, “Bring a ‘Patient’s Medical AI Journey’ to the Hill.” Transparency is crucial for interactions between health care providers and individual patients, as well as for systemic level uses of AI, including:
Patient put in hospice at 52 celebrates life years after admission thanks to heart surgery
03/05/25 at 03:00 AMPatient put in hospice at 52 celebrates life years after admission, thanks to heart surgery KCTV-5, Kansas City, MO; by Morgan Riddell; 2/27/25 A local man with heart failure who was told numerous times he only had months to live now has a new outlook on life two years later. ... It started in 2023. Sam Edwards, who was diagnosed with ALS after serving in the military, started experiencing new pains. He went to doctors who all determined Sam was just experiencing issues related to ALS. Then, a doctor at the VA Hospital noticed some tests were off and found Sam was experiencing heart failure. What he needed was open heart surgery, but doctors determined the risk of putting Sam on the operation table was too high. Not only was he at risk of having a stroke and dying on the operating table, but his recovery would also be months long and painful. They declined to do the surgery at the VA and suggested Sam go get a second opinion. This is when he was connected with Dr. Michael Gibson.Editor's note: While we in the palliative and hospice field promote earlier admissions to care and elimination of overtreatment, another side of the coin exists. Click on the title's link to read more about this hospice patient who sought out a second opinion. Imagine: the hospice patient is you (at age 52); or a family member; or a best friend. Especially as AI becomes more prevalent in assessing palliative and hospice referrals, we must see the bigger picture and retain human element.
Exploring the role of AI in palliative care and decision-making
03/05/25 at 03:00 AMExploring the role of AI in palliative care and decision-making Penn Today; by Erica Moser; 2/28/25 Oonjee Oh [nursing Ph.D studen] was the lead author on the paper “The ethical dimensions of utilizing Artificial Intelligence in palliative care,” which published in the journal Nursing Ethics in November. ... The paper applies the moral principles of beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, justice, and explicability to examine the ethical dimensions of three hypothetical use cases: machine learning algorithms that predict patient mortality, natural language processing models that capture the signals of psychological distress from clinical notes, and chatbots that provide informational and emotional support to caregivers.