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Freigeh GE, Fagen H, Firn J. Review of Outpatient Pediatric Ethics Consults at an Academic Medical Center. HEC Forum 2024:10.1007/s10730-024-09536-3. [PMID: 39172214 DOI: 10.1007/s10730-024-09536-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
Limited data exist in the specific content of pediatric outpatient ethics consults as compared to inpatient ethics consults. Given the fundamental differences in outpatient and inpatient clinical care, we aimed to describe the distinctive nature of ethics consultation in the ambulatory setting. This is a retrospective review at a large, quaternary academic center of all outpatient ethics consults in a 6-year period. Encounter-level demographic data was recorded, and primary ethical issue and contextual features were identified using qualitative conceptual content analysis. A total of 48 consults were identified representing 44 unique patients. The most common primary ethical issue was beneficence and best interest concern comprising 20 (42%) consults, followed by refusal of recommended treatment comprising 11 (23%) consults and patient preference/assent comprising 5 (10%) consults. The most common contextual features were staff-family communication dispute/conflict comprising 28 (58%) consults, followed by legal involvement comprising 25 (52%) consults and quality of life comprising 19 (40%) consults. The most common consulting specialty was hematology/oncology. Ethical issues encountered in the provision of outpatient pediatric care are distinct and differ from those in inpatient consults. Further research is necessary to identify strategies and educational gaps in outpatient ethics consultation to increase its effectiveness and utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- George E Freigeh
- Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, 24 Frank Lloyd Wright Drive, Suite 2100, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, USA.
| | - Hannah Fagen
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, 516 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Janice Firn
- Department of Learning Health Sciences, University of Michigan Medical School, 1111 E. Catherine St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, 2800 Plymouth Road, Bldg. 14, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
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Nanyonga MM, Kutyabami P, Kituuka O, Sewankambo NK. Exploration of clinical ethics consultation in Uganda: a case study of Uganda Cancer Institute. BMC Med Ethics 2024; 25:87. [PMID: 39123154 PMCID: PMC11312825 DOI: 10.1186/s12910-024-01085-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Globally, healthcare providers (HCPs), hospital administrators, patients and their caretakers are increasingly confronted with complex moral, social, cultural, ethical, and legal dilemmas during clinical care. In high-income countries (HICs), formal and informal clinical ethics support services (CESSs) have been used to resolve bioethical conflicts among HCPs, patients, and their families. There is limited evidence about mechanisms used to resolve these issues as well as experiences and perspectives of the stakeholders that utilize them in most African countries including Uganda. METHODS This phenomenological qualitative study utilized in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) to collect data from Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) staff, patients, and caretakers who were purposively selected. Data was analyzed deductively and inductively yielding themes and sub-themes that were used to develop a codebook. RESULTS The study revealed there was no formal committee or mechanism dedicated to resolving ethical dilemmas at the UCI. Instead, ethical dilemmas were addressed in six forums: individual consultations, tumor board meetings, morbidity and mortality meetings (MMMs), core management meetings, rewards and sanctions committee meetings, and clinical departmental meetings. Participants expressed apprehension regarding the efficacy of these fora due to their non-ethics related agendas as well as members lacking training in medical ethics and the necessary experience to effectively resolve ethical dilemmas. CONCLUSION The fora employed at the UCI to address ethical dilemmas were implicit, involving decisions made through various structures without the guidance of personnel well-versed in medical or clinical ethics. There was a strong recommendation from participants to establish a multidisciplinary clinical ethics committee comprising members who are trained, skilled, and experienced in medical and clinical ethics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayi Mayega Nanyonga
- College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Department of Anatomy, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
- Joint Clinical Research Center, Lubowa, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Paul Kutyabami
- College of Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Olivia Kituuka
- College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Nelson K Sewankambo
- College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
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Araujo LG, Shaw M, Hernández E. The Structure of Clinical Ethical Decision-Making: A Hospital System Needs Assessment. HEC Forum 2024:10.1007/s10730-024-09534-5. [PMID: 38850508 DOI: 10.1007/s10730-024-09534-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Bioethical dilemmas can emerge in research and clinical settings, from end-of-life decision-making to experimental therapies. The COVID-19 pandemic raised serious ethical challenges for healthcare organizations, highlighting the need to conduct needs assessments of the bioethics infrastructures of healthcare organizations. Clinical ethics committees (CECs) also create equitable policies, train staff on ethics issues, and play a consultative role in resolving the difficulty of complex individual cases. The main objective of this project was to conduct a needs assessment of the bioethics infrastructure within a comprehensive hospital system. A cross-sectional anonymous online survey, including quantitative and qualitative formatted questions. The survey was sent to five key leaders from the organization's hospitals. Survey questions focused on the composition, structure, function, and effectiveness of their facilities' bioethics infrastructure and ethics-related training and resources. Positive findings included that most facilities have active CECs with multidisciplinary membership; CECs address critical issues and encourage team members to express clinical ethics concerns. Areas of concern included uncertainty about how CECs function and the process for resolving clinical ethics dilemmas. Most reported no formal orientation process for CEC members, and many said there was no ongoing ethics education process. The authors conclude that if CECs are a critical institutional resource where the practice of medicine and mission intersect, having well-functioning ethics committees with trained and oriented members demonstrates an essential commitment to the mission. The survey revealed that more needs to be done to bolster the bioethics infrastructure of this institution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leana G Araujo
- Administration Department, AdventHealth University, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Martin Shaw
- Center for Ministry Education and Research, AdventHealth University, Orlando, FL, USA.
| | - Edwin Hernández
- Administration Department, AdventHealth University, Orlando, FL, USA
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Alexander D, Quirke M, Greene J, Cassidy L, Hilliard C, Brenner M. The role of bioethics services in paediatric intensive care units: a qualitative descriptive study. BMC Med Ethics 2024; 25:20. [PMID: 38374022 PMCID: PMC10877773 DOI: 10.1186/s12910-024-01017-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is considerable variation in the functionality of bioethical services in different institutions and countries for children in hospital, despite new challenges due to increasing technology supports for children with serious illness and medical complexity. We aimed to understand how bioethics services address bioethical concerns that are increasingly encountered in paediatric intensive care. METHODS A qualitative descriptive design was used to describe clinician's perspectives on the functionality of clinical bioethics services for paediatric intensive care units. Clinicians who were members of formal or informal clinical bioethics groups, or who were closely involved with the process of working through ethically challenging decisions, were interviewed. Interviews took place online. Resulting transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS From 33 interviews, we identified four themes that described the functionality of bioethics services when a child requires technology to sustain life: striving for consensus; the importance of guidelines; a structure that facilitates a time-sensitive and relevant response; and strong leadership and teamwork. CONCLUSIONS Clinical bioethics services have the potential to expand their role due to the challenges brought by advancing medical technology and the increasing options it brings for treatment. Further work is needed to identify where and how bioethics services can evolve and adapt to fully address the needs of the decision-makers in PICU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Alexander
- School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mary Quirke
- School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jo Greene
- Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland
| | - Lorna Cassidy
- School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Maria Brenner
- School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
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Nanyonga MM, Kutyabami P, Kituuka O, Sewankambo NK. Exploration of Clinical Ethics Consultation in Uganda: A case study of Uganda Cancer Institute. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-3853569. [PMID: 38343843 PMCID: PMC10854307 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3853569/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Globally, healthcare providers (HCPs), hospital administrators, patients and their caretakers are increasingly confronted with complex moral, social, cultural, ethical, and legal dilemmas during clinical care. In high-income countries (HICs), formal and informal clinical ethics support services (CESS) have been used to resolve bioethical conflicts among HCPs, patients, and their families. There is limited evidence of mechanisms used to resolve these issues as well as experiences and perspectives of the stakeholders that utilize them in most African countries including Uganda. Methodology This qualitative study utilized in-depth-interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) to collect data from Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) staff, patients, and caretakers, who were purposively selected. Data was analyzed deductively and inductively yielding themes and sub-themes that were used to develop a codebook. Results There was no formal committee nor mechanism utilized to resolve ethical dilemmas at the UCI. The study uncovered six fora where ethical dilemmas were addressed: individual consultations, tumor board meetings, morbidity and mortality meetings, core management meetings, rewards and sanctions committee meetings, and clinical departmental meetings. Participants expressed apprehension regarding the efficacy of these fora due to their non-ethics related agendas as well as members lacking training in medical ethics and the necessary experience to effectively resolve ethical dilemmas. Conclusion The fora employed at the UCI to address ethical dilemmas were implicit, involving decisions made through various structures without the guidance of personnel well-versed in medical or clinical ethics. There was a strong recommendation from participants to establish a multidisciplinary clinical ethics committee comprising members who are trained, skilled, and experienced in medical and clinical ethics.
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Adami C, Murrell J, Fordyce P. Ethical considerations in clinical veterinary research. Vet J 2023; 300-302:106026. [PMID: 37625615 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2023.106026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Adami
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK.
| | - Jo Murrell
- Bristol Veterinary School, Langford House, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK
| | - Peter Fordyce
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
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Weaver MS, Ulrich CM, Moon MR, Walter JK. Adherence to the AAP's Institutional Ethics Committee Policy Recommendations. Hosp Pediatr 2023; 13:e246-e250. [PMID: 37641886 PMCID: PMC10468404 DOI: 10.1542/hpeds.2023-007124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In 2019, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) outlined 8 operational recommendations for pediatric institutional ethics committees (IECs). The study purpose was to quantify the extent to which pediatric IECs adhere to the AAP IEC Policy Statement recommendations. METHODS A convenience sample of ethics points of contact from Children's Hospital Association membership were invited to complete an electronic survey on their ethics programs and practices in spring 2022. Nineteen survey questions were preidentified as reflecting measures specific to best practice standards previously published by the AAP. This subset of questions was analyzed using frequencies and categorized to assess for adherence to the AAP IEC policy recommendations. RESULTS A total of 117 out of 181 surveys were completed (65%). Stark IEC practice gaps include: lack of diversity of membership, training needs to maintain members' competencies, quality improvement within the organization, and scope of ethics service. Over one-quarter of IECs do not have a systematic way of informing hospital staff about ethics consultancy services and how to place an ethics consult. Nineteen percent of responding IEC services do not inform patients or families about the existence of ethics consult services. One-third of responding children's hospitals do not provide resources for the IECs to engage in ethics education at the facility. CONCLUSIONS IECs in children's hospitals are not consistently abiding by operational recommendations. Next steps should include assessment of recommendation barriers and enablers with a goal of enhancing strong practices across IECs in children's hospitals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meaghann S. Weaver
- Pediatric Palliative Care, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
- National Center for Ethics in Healthcare, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Connie M. Ulrich
- School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Margaret R. Moon
- Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Jennifer K. Walter
- Department of Medical Ethics and Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Weaver MS, Shostrom VK, Sharma S, Keegan A, Walter JK. Pediatric Ethics Consultation Services. Pediatrics 2023; 151:e2022058947. [PMID: 36720707 PMCID: PMC9979273 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2022-058947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Although guidelines call for the presence of pediatric ethics consultation services (PECS), their existence in children's hospitals remains unquantified. This study determined the prevalence of PECS in children's hospitals and compared the practice environments of those with versus without PECS. METHOD The Children's Hospital Association Annual Benchmark Report survey from 2020 and PECS data were analyzed for the association of PECS with domains of care. RESULTS Two hundred thirty-one hospitals received survey requests, with 148 submitted and 144 reachable to determine PECS (62% response rate), inclusive of 50 states. Ninety-nine (69%) reported having ethics consultation services. Freestanding children's hospitals (28% of all hospitals) were more likely to report the presence of PECS (P <.001), making up 41% of hospitals with a PECS. The median number of staffed beds was 203 (25th quartile 119, 75th quartile 326) for those with PECS compared with 80 for those without (25th quartile 40, 75th quartile 121). Facilities with palliative care, higher trauma ratio, intensive care, and comprehensive programs were more likely to have PECS. Academic affiliation was associated with PECS presence (P <.001). Settings associated with skilled nursing facilities or long-term care programs were not more likely to have PECS. Hospitals designated as federally qualified health centers (P = .04) and accountable care organizations (P = .001) were more likely to have PECS. CONCLUSION Although PECS function as formal means to clarify values and mitigate conflict, one-third of children's hospitals lack PECS. Future research is needed to understand barriers to PECS and improve its presence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meaghann S. Weaver
- Pediatric Palliative Care
- National Center for Ethics in Healthcare, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Valerie K. Shostrom
- College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Shiven Sharma
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Amy Keegan
- Children’s Hospital Association, Lenexa, Kansas
| | - Jennifer K. Walter
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Medical Ethics and Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Weaver MS, Sharma S, Walter JK. Pediatric Ethics Consultation Services, Scope, and Staffing. Pediatrics 2023; 151:e2022058999. [PMID: 36720710 PMCID: PMC9979255 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2022-058999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES National standards and guidelines call for a mechanism to address ethical concerns and conflicts in children's hospitals. The roles, responsibilities, and reach of pediatric ethics consultation services (PECS) remain unmeasured. The purpose of this study is to quantify staffing, structure, function, scope, training, and funding of PECS. METHODS Cross-sectional online survey was shared with an ethics informant at 181 children's hospitals in the United States from March to June 2022. Data were summarized descriptively and with semantic content analyses. RESULTS One hundred seventeen surveys were received from individual children's hospitals in 45 states and Washington DC (response rate 65%), with 104 qualifying for survey completion. Almost one-quarter of settings received 50 or more pediatric ethics consults in the past 12 months. On average, 7.4 people at each institution have responsibility for completing ethics consults. Estimated full-time equivalent salary support for ethics is on average 0.5 (range 0-3, median 0.25). One-third (33%) of facilities do not offer any salary support for ethics and three-quarters do not have an institutional budget for the ethics program. Clinical staff primarily initiate consults. End-of-life, benefits versus burdens of treatments, and staff moral distress were the most frequently consulted themes. Almost one-quarter (21%) of children's hospitals do not receive any consults from patients or families. CONLUSIONS The findings from this study reveal wide variation in PECS practices and raise concern about the lack of financial support provided for PECS despite substantial workloads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meaghann S. Weaver
- Pediatric Palliative Care, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
- National Center for Ethics in Healthcare, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Shiven Sharma
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Jennifer K. Walter
- Department of Medical Ethics and Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
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Madrigal VN, Curry K. Pediatric Ethics Consults for Caregivers: Anybody Home? Hosp Pediatr 2022; 12:e306-e308. [PMID: 35934746 DOI: 10.1542/hpeds.2022-006734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa N Madrigal
- Pediatric Ethics Program, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC.,Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Children's National Hospital and George Washington University, Washington, DC
| | - Kara Curry
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Children's National Hospital and George Washington University, Washington, DC
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Żaczek M, Górski A, Weber-Dąbrowska B, Letkiewicz S, Fortuna W, Rogóż P, Pasternak E, Międzybrodzki R. A Thorough Synthesis of Phage Therapy Unit Activity in Poland-Its History, Milestones and International Recognition. Viruses 2022; 14:1170. [PMID: 35746642 PMCID: PMC9227841 DOI: 10.3390/v14061170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The year 2020 marked 15 years of the Phage Therapy Unit in Poland, the inception of which took place just one year after Poland's accession to the European Union (2004). At first sight, it is hard to find any connection between these two events, but in fact joining the European Union entailed the need to adapt the regulatory provisions concerning experimental treatment in humans to those that were in force in the European Union. These changes were a solid foundation for the first phage therapy center in the European Union to start its activity. As the number of centers conducting phage therapy in Europe and in the world constantly and rapidly grows, we want to grasp the opportunity to take a closer look at the over 15-year operation of our site by analyzing its origins, legal aspects at the local and international levels and the impressive number and diversity of cases that have been investigated and treated during this time. This article is a continuation of our work published in 2020 summarizing a 100-year history of the development of phage research in Poland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Żaczek
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Department of Phage Therapy, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (A.G.); (B.W.-D.); (E.P.); (R.M.)
| | - Andrzej Górski
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Department of Phage Therapy, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (A.G.); (B.W.-D.); (E.P.); (R.M.)
- Phage Therapy Unit, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (S.L.); (W.F.); (P.R.)
- Infant Jesus Teaching Hospital, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-005 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Beata Weber-Dąbrowska
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Department of Phage Therapy, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (A.G.); (B.W.-D.); (E.P.); (R.M.)
- Phage Therapy Unit, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (S.L.); (W.F.); (P.R.)
| | - Sławomir Letkiewicz
- Phage Therapy Unit, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (S.L.); (W.F.); (P.R.)
- Department of Health Sciences, Jan Długosz University in Częstochowa, 42-200 Częstochowa, Poland
| | - Wojciech Fortuna
- Phage Therapy Unit, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (S.L.); (W.F.); (P.R.)
- Department of Neurosurgery, Wrocław Medical University, 50-556 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Paweł Rogóż
- Phage Therapy Unit, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (S.L.); (W.F.); (P.R.)
| | - Edyta Pasternak
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Department of Phage Therapy, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (A.G.); (B.W.-D.); (E.P.); (R.M.)
- Bioethics Committee, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Ryszard Międzybrodzki
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Department of Phage Therapy, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (A.G.); (B.W.-D.); (E.P.); (R.M.)
- Phage Therapy Unit, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (S.L.); (W.F.); (P.R.)
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-006 Warsaw, Poland
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Mohindra R. 'Value, values and valued': a tripod for organisational ethics. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ETHICS 2022; 48:154-159. [PMID: 33741679 DOI: 10.1136/medethics-2020-106837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Public benefit corporations are National Health Service, that is, state, entities whose function to provide healthcare in discharge of public duties. If we regard value as the output of such organisations, it seems logical to connect the values of the organisation to the value produced by such organisations. But, on closer examination there are competing underlying logics in play: (1) those based on promoting organisational efficiency and efficacy; and (2) those based on the idea of building service provision around the clinician-patient relationship. Underlying these logics are differing value sets. These clash. Because of the clashing of underlying moral frameworks the connection between values and value becomes hard, if not impossible. This paper argues that (1) the clash in these moral frameworks must be addressed by the organisation rather than between individuals or groups of individuals within the organisation; (2) alloying duties within hybrid professionals submerges but does not resolve these conflicts; (3) one approach could be to impose on the organisation itself an ethical imperative to promote, enhance and protect from deterioration the welfare of the patients; (4) a board ethics committee is a possible organisational structure that could transparently and fairly balance clashes within the competing moral frameworks in a way that could reconcile the competing logics and (5) if such conflicts can be better resolved at the organisational level what the organisation must do to achieve its objectives will become clearer because what needs to be valued would naturally emerge connecting values, value and what is valued.
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Maluwa VM, Maluwa AO, Mwalabu G, Msiska G. Assessment of ethical competence among clinical nurses in health facilities. Nurs Ethics 2021; 29:181-193. [PMID: 34346258 DOI: 10.1177/09697330211010259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ethical competence in nursing practice helps clinical nurses to think critically, analyse issues, make ethical decisions, solve ethical problems and behave ethically in their daily work. Thus, ethical competence contributes to the promotion of high-quality care. However, studies on ethical competence in Malawi are scanty. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to explore ethical competence among clinical nurses in selected hospitals in Malawi. METHODOLOGY A cross-sectional survey was conducted in four selected hospitals in Malawi with a sample of 271 clinical nurses. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires, which included a Moral Competence Scale for Home Care Nurses. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were computed for the dataset using STATA version 12.0. ETHICAL CONSIDERATION The study protocol complied with all ethical requirements and was approved by the College of Medicine Research Ethics Committee under the University of Malawi. RESULTS The clinical nurses in Malawi are ethically competent. However, there is a significantly high number (p < 0.05) of nurses 57% (n = 135) with low ethical competence. There was no significant association between respondents' demographic variables and level of ethical competence (p > 0.05). Three determinants of high ethical competence level (strong will, judgement skills and recognition of discrepancy of intention) were identified through a reduced model after stepwise logistic regression analysis. Furthermore, results show that indicators of ethical competence include caring, confidentiality and observance of nurses dressing code. The study has also confirmed that the Moral Competence Scale for Home Care Nurses is a reliable tool to assess ethical competence in low-resource settings. CONCLUSION The majority of nurses who completed the survey had low ethical competence. However, clinical nurses with high ethical competence level are required to competently manage complex ethical challenges in health facilities. Strategies for enhancing ethical competence such as continuing ethics education, establishment of ethics committees and provision of supportive supervision are recommended to enable nurses in Malawi attain a high level of ethical competence.
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Danis M, Fox E, Tarzian A, Duke CC. Health care ethics programs in U.S. Hospitals: results from a National Survey. BMC Med Ethics 2021; 22:107. [PMID: 34325688 PMCID: PMC8320092 DOI: 10.1186/s12910-021-00673-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As hospitals have grown more complex, the ethical concerns they confront have grown correspondingly complicated. Many hospitals have consequently developed health care ethics programs (HCEPs) that include far more than ethics consultation services alone. Yet systematic research on these programs is lacking. METHODS Based on a national, cross-sectional survey of a stratified sample of 600 US hospitals, we report on the prevalence, scope, activities, staffing, workload, financial compensation, and greatest challenges facing HCEPs. RESULTS Among 372 hospitals whose informants responded to an online survey, 97% of hospitals have HCEPs. Their scope includes clinical ethics functions in virtually all hospitals, but includes other functions in far fewer hospitals: ethical leadership (35.7%), regulatory compliance (29.0%), business ethics (26.2%), and research ethics (12.6%). HCEPs are responsible for providing ongoing ethics education to various target audiences including all staff (77.0%), nurses (59.9%), staff physicians (49.0%), hospital leadership (44.2%), medical residents (20.3%) and the community/general public (18.4%). HCEPs staff are most commonly involved in policy work through review of existing policies but are less often involved in development of new policies. HCEPs have an ethics representative in executive leadership in 80.5% of hospitals, have representation on other hospital committees in 40.7%, are actively engaged in community outreach in 22.6%, and lead large-scale ethics quality improvement initiatives in 17.7%. In general, major teaching hospitals and urban hospitals have the most highly integrated ethics programs with the broadest scope and greatest number of activities. Larger hospitals, academically affiliated hospitals, and urban hospitals have significantly more individuals performing HCEP work and significantly more individuals receiving financial compensation specifically for that work. Overall, the most common greatest challenge facing HCEPs is resource shortages, whereas underutilization is the most common greatest challenge for hospitals with fewer than 100 beds. Respondents' strategies for managing challenges include staff training and additional funds. CONCLUSIONS While this study must be cautiously interpreted due to its limitations, the findings may be useful for understanding the characteristics of HCEPs in US hospitals and the factors associated with these characteristics. This information may contribute to exploring ways to strengthen HCEPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Danis
- Department of Bioethics, National Institutes of Health, Building 10, Rm 1C118, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1156, USA.
| | - Ellen Fox
- Fox Ethics Consulting, Arlington, VA, 22213, USA
| | - Anita Tarzian
- National Center for Ethics in Health Care, Veterans Health Administration, 811 Vermont St. NW., Washington, DC, 20571, USA
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15
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Cox DJ. A Guide to Establishing Ethics Committees in Behavioral Health Settings. Behav Anal Pract 2020; 13:939-949. [PMID: 33269203 PMCID: PMC7666231 DOI: 10.1007/s40617-020-00455-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Ethical statements typically involve rules. All rules can vary in accuracy and specificity depending on the context to which they are applied. Codes of ethics often involve ethical rules that are written generally to cover the wide-ranging set of possible situations that any one member of the profession may encounter. But, despite being written generally, codes of ethics are applied to specific situations that professional members encounter. The application of general rules to specific contexts can sometimes be challenging and complex. Health care organizations have several options to help their employees behave ethically. One approach is to appoint a single ethics coordinator. In contrast, the dominant approach in most health care organizations is to develop an organizational ethics committee (Moon Pediatrics, 143(5), e20190659, 2019). Despite the popularity of the ethics committee in other professions, the extent to which organizations that provide applied behavior analysis services have established and operate ethics committees is unknown. Ethics coordinator roles and ethics committees both have benefits and drawbacks. This article reviews the benefits and drawbacks of appointing an ethics coordinator and establishing an ethics committee. And, for interested organizations, this article outlines the steps and considerations that organizations can use to guide the creation of an ethics committee.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J. Cox
- Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 5510 Nathan Shock Dr., Baltimore, MD 21224 USA
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16
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Moodley K, Kabanda SM, Soldaat L, Kleinsmidt A, Obasa AE, Kling S. Clinical Ethics Committees in Africa: lost in the shadow of RECs/IRBs? BMC Med Ethics 2020; 21:115. [PMID: 33208150 PMCID: PMC7672173 DOI: 10.1186/s12910-020-00559-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Clinical Ethics Committees (CECs) are well established at healthcare institutions in resource-rich countries. However, there is limited information on established CECs in resource poor countries, especially in Africa. This study aimed to establish baseline data regarding existing formal CECs in Africa to raise awareness of and to encourage the establishment of CECs or Clinical Ethics Consultation Services (CESs) on the continent.
Methods A descriptive study was undertaken using an online questionnaire via SunSurveys to survey healthcare professionals and bioethicists in Africa. Data were subjected to descriptive analysis and Fischer's exact test was applied to determine associations. Texts from the open-ended questions were thematically analysed. Results In total 109 participants from 37 African countries completed the survey in December 2019. A significant association was found between participants’ bioethics qualification or training and involvement in clinical ethics (p = 0.005). All participants were familiar with Research Ethics Committees (RECs), and initially conflated RECs with CECs. When CECs were explained in detail, approximately 85.3% reported that they had no formal CECs in their institutions. The constraints to developing CECs included lack of training, limited resources, and lack of awareness of CECs. However, the majority of participants (81.7%) were interested in establishing CECs. Participants listed assistance required in establishing CECs including funding, resources, capacity building and collaboration with other known CECs. The results do not reflect CECs established since the onset of COVID-19 in Africa. Conclusions This study provides a first look into CECs in Africa and found very few formal CECs on the continent indicating an urgent need for the establishment of CECs or CESs in Africa. While the majority of healthcare professionals and bioethicists are aware of ethical dilemmas in healthcare, the concept of formal CECs is foreign. This study served to raise awareness of CECs. Research ethics and RECs overshadow CECs in Africa because international funders from the global north support capacity development in research ethics and establish RECs to approve the research they fund in Africa. Raising awareness via educational opportunities, research and conferences about CECs and their role in improving the quality of health care in Africa is sorely needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keymanthri Moodley
- Centre for Medical Ethics and Law, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa.
| | - Siti Mukaumbya Kabanda
- Centre for Medical Ethics and Law, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
| | - Leza Soldaat
- Centre for Medical Ethics and Law, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
| | - Anita Kleinsmidt
- Centre for Medical Ethics and Law, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
| | - Adetayo Emmanuel Obasa
- Centre for Medical Ethics and Law, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
| | - Sharon Kling
- Centre for Medical Ethics and Law, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa.,Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
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Abstract
The ethical dilemmas and predominant frameworks surrounding decision making for critically ill newborns have evolved substantially over the last 40 years. A shared decision-making approach is now favored, involving an exchange of information between parents and clinicians that emphasizes parental values and preferences, resulting in a personalized approach to decision making. In this review, we summarize the history of clinical decision making with a focus on the NICU, highlight different models of decision making, describe the advantages and current limitations of shared decision making, and discuss the ongoing and future challenges of decision making in the NICU amidst medical innovations and emerging technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Sullivan
- Department of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Christy Cummings
- Department of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
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