ethics Archives - Page 4 of 6 - Baylor College of Medicine Blog Network

Is there really a perfect way to study humans?

August 17, 2018 Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Clinical Trials, Dr. Stacey Berg, ethics, observational study, randomized controlled trial

Doctors, patients, and researchers are frustrated when a new healthcare approach works well in a study, but then has disappointing results in the “real world.”

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Death vs. dying: Exploring the ‘Timing Problem’

February 16, 2018 Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Death, ethics, Peter Zuk, Philosophy

Is death bad for the individual who dies? We’re inclined, I think, to answer that it is. Answering in the affirmative, however, raises another question:

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The ethics of ‘Tobacco 21’ laws

January 12, 2018 Center, Dr. Stephanie Morain, ethics, health policy, Tobacco 21, Tobacco Policy

Jan. 1 is a day for resolutions and fresh starts. For some individuals, it might be the year he or she finally decides to quit

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One size doesn’t fit all: Understanding the allure of alternative medicine through storytelling

January 3, 2018 alternative medicine, ethics, medical humanities, Narrative Medicine, storytelling

In the era of celebrity-inspired medical treatments, alternative medicine is an easy punching bag. I work in the medical field, and I am familiar with

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The caregiver as clinician: When life informs practice

November 27, 2017 clinical ethics, Courtenay Bruce, ethics, Medical Decision-Making, medical ethics

Editor’s note: This blog post is the second part of a two-part series. Read part one. For me, becoming a caregiver has put into perspective the

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Enduring pain: How much suffering is enough?

November 17, 2017 Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, ethics, HHASS Student, Julia Jung, Pain

When faced with a painful event, people are often told to “hang in there” or “tough it out” as if there is value in the

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Words are important: Improving doctor-patient communication

September 22, 2017 Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, communication, ethics, health policy, Holland Kaplan, Language, medical ethics, medical school

On the first day of medical school, one of my anatomy lab professors emphasized to us, “Words are important.” If we accidentally identified the “flexor

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Organ donation: Opt-out or opt-in?

July 7, 2017 Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, clinical ethics, Critical Organs, Dr. Peter Koch, ethics, Organ Donation, Organ Transplant

Many people need critical organs like hearts and lungs, yet a worldwide shortage of available organs leaves many to die while awaiting a transplant. The

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The importance of case-based study in ethics consultation

June 23, 2017 ASBH, bioethics, Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Clinical Ethicist, Courtenay Bruce, ethics, Ethics Consultation, medical ethics

Ethics consultation is tough stuff. Ethics consultants seek to identify and address value-laden conflicts or ethical uncertainties in cases involving patients, healthcare professionals, and family

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When breastfeeding isn’t best

April 28, 2017 AIDS, Baby, Breastfeeding, Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Cultural Norms, Dr. Janet Malek, ethics, HIV, medical ethics, Values

The joy of a new baby brings new challenges, not the least of which is breastfeeding. These challenges are compounded when the mother is also