Written by Angelique Welman
Published in Vol 3 , 2023
The Western notion of libertarian, rights-based autonomy, emphasizing individual rights, can conflict with African cultural values that prioritize communal well-being. In African communitarian ethics, collective interests often take precedence over individual choice, which can influence decision-making processes and challenge the application of standard informed consent procedures in biomedical research. This study examined the perspectives of African biomedical researchers regarding the practic
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Written by Deniz Akdeniz
Published in Vol 3 , 2023
Rapid advancements in intensive care medicine and expanding technological capabilities have raised numerous ethical questions about decisions to withhold or withdraw treatment when it is deemed medically futile. This study aims to explore how intensive care physicians in Türkiye approach end-of-life decisions regarding medical futility and to provide an ethical analysis of these practices. A qualitative approach using grounded theory was applied. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conduct
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As AI becomes increasingly integrated into healthcare and computerised systems influence clinical decision-making, addressing both trust in and the trustworthiness of AI tools is critical. Focusing on computational phenotyping (CP) for diagnosing rare diseases in dysmorphology, this paper investigates the conditions under which medical AI tools employing machine learning can be trusted. Semi-structured qualitative interviews (n = 20) were conducted with stakeholders involved in designing or usin
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Clinical ethics consultation (CEC) remains limited in Japan, partly due to the absence of a structured training system. To address this, we designed an “immersive role-play (IR)” program, which incorporates immersive theater techniques into role-play learning. This approach uses professional actors and studio settings to enhance authenticity and creates a dynamic, realistic scenario flow that engages participants deeply in the role-play experience. Between 2016 and 2019, we conducted an intensiv
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Written by Thi Thu Hang Le
Published in Vol 3 , 2023
The process of obtaining informed consent in clinical trials is intended to safeguard participants and support their autonomy. Nonetheless, implementing consent in a way that is truly meaningful remains a challenge in many settings, due to both practical difficulties and the influence of sociocultural dynamics. This study examined how informed consent is conducted and perceived in two clinical trials run by the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in collaboration with the Hospital for Tropi
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This study investigates the ethical dimensions of Egypt’s newly enacted clinical trial legislation, employing the ethical framework of Emanuel et al. for evaluation and situating it within a comparative context alongside national and supranational laws. Given Egypt’s emergence as a high-growth pharmaceutical market, the country has become a prime location for clinical research. Its extensive population, well-established healthcare system, and largely treatment-naïve patients provide a valuable s
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Written by Domenico Prisa
Published in Vol 3 , 2023
This study evaluates the activities of a Bioethics Unit (BU) over its first five years (2016–2020), examining its dual role in empirical research on clinical ethics, provision of ethics consultations, and education for healthcare professionals (HPs). We employed an explanatory sequential mixed-method design, using qualitative insights to contextualize initial quantitative findings. Quantitative data were extracted from the BU’s internal records and analyzed descriptively. Semi-structured intervi
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Written by Tomas Musulas
Published in Vol 3 , 2023
The question of whether and how to return individual genetic findings (IGF) in biobank research continues to generate debate worldwide. Different return models are being considered, and practical frameworks for their use are gradually evolving. This study explores how both the general public and experts in Lithuania view the return of IGF and seeks to inform future strategies tailored to the Lithuanian biobank system. A mixed-methods design was applied, consisting of semi-structured interviews w
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Written by Anamaria Cristina Hambețiu
Published in Vol 3 , 2023
In the protection of children’s rights, courts hold a pivotal responsibility in ensuring and upholding these rights, particularly regarding personal identity, family life, safeguarding against violence, and guaranteeing their full realization. Legal and psychological professionals recognize the pressing need to revive dialogue among specialists—magistrates/judges, prosecutors, and psychologists—since courts often represent an alien and authoritative space for children. Employing a multidisciplin
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Written by Stephanie Best
Published in Vol 3 , 2023
Data access committees (DAC) serve as gatekeepers for secured genomic and associated health datasets but face increasing difficulty in managing the growing scale and complexity of data production. Automated decision support (ADS) tools have demonstrated potential in enhancing consistency, compliance, and coordination during data access review processes. Despite this, little is known about how DAC members themselves view the added value of ADS in improving the quality and efficiency of their deci
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Written by Ayuk Patricia
Published in Vol 3 , 2023
Advanced Alzheimer’s disease and other late-stage dementias can lead to a prolonged, distressing terminal phase, often lasting years when caregivers continue oral feeding and hydration. Options to prevent extended dying are limited because patients with advanced dementia are ineligible for Medical Aid in Dying. Legal and medical authorities frequently require clear, convincing proof of a patient’s wish to die—something many advance directives fail to provide. Substituted judgment by proxies or a
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In Morocco, the 2015 medical education reform formally incorporated training in research ethics into the national curriculum. That same year, the country adopted a dedicated law aimed at safeguarding the rights and welfare of individuals involved in biomedical research. These two developments (curricular reform and new legislation) were expected to enhance future physicians’ understanding of research ethics and, in turn, strengthen their attitudes and conduct in this domain. The primary goal of
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Written by Mayumi Suzuki
Published in Vol 3 , 2023
In this article, we present findings from an experimental study in reproductive ethics that examines how people think about reproduction and parenthood. Our results show that, although we often take for granted that everyone interprets these concepts—and the links between them—in the same way, this assumption may not hold. For instance, one might expect that if “x is y’s father,” then “y is x’s child” must also be true. Yet our participants did not consistently accept this inference. This sugges
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Written by Yasmin Rahman
Published in Vol 3 , 2023
When researchers have an instrument that accurately captures how mothers perceive ethical conduct in childbirth, it becomes possible to design strategies that strengthen supportive and ethical maternity care attitudes. In this work, we sought to evaluate whether the Medical Ethics Attitude in Vaginal Delivery Questionnaire (MEAVDQ) adequately reflects the underlying constructs it is intended to measure. The research was conducted among 350 mothers, using the MEAVDQ as the primary data-collection
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Written by Noraini Ahmad
Published in Vol 3 , 2023
The COVID-19 pandemic has posed substantial ethical challenges for research ethics committees (RECs), which must balance the urgent review of COVID-19 studies with careful assessment of potential risks and benefits. In Africa, these challenges are compounded by historical mistrust of research, concerns about equitable participation in COVID-19 studies, and the need to ensure fair access to treatments and vaccines. In South Africa, the prolonged absence of a National Health Research Ethics Counci
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Written by Tariq Mahmood
Published in Vol 3 , 2023
Medical ethics education has traditionally received limited emphasis in India’s undergraduate medical programs. The National Medical Commission’s recent formal integration of medical ethics into the new competency-based medical education (CBME) curriculum is therefore a commendable step. However, a key group of stakeholders—the teachers—has largely been overlooked in this process. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of physiology faculty in Delhi regarding the implementation of ethics t
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During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, many healthcare services unrelated to the virus were temporarily halted. In April 2020, the Department of Health in England directed that these services should be reinstated alongside ongoing pandemic management. This process of “resetting” healthcare created a novel context in which it became crucial to examine how ethical principles informed—and should guide—the incorporation of infection control into everyday clinical practice. This paper draw
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Written by Jaspreet Kaur
Published in Vol 3 , 2023
Within debates on mental health ethics, it is typically taken for granted that coercive interventions can be warranted when individuals with psychiatric conditions pose a risk to themselves or to others. Such actions are usually defended only when specific moral requirements—such as the proportionality of the intervention to the anticipated harm—are met. In this article, we argue that this widely accepted evaluative approach is insufficient in contexts where individuals with mental illness are e
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Written by Pimchanok Rattanapong
Published in Vol 3 , 2023
Ethical conduct among healthcare professionals is a fundamental aspect of delivering quality health services. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between professional ethics and commitment, and how these factors are associated with medical students’ respect for patient rights. This study employed a cross-sectional descriptive design to examine students from midwifery, nursing, and emergency medicine programs at Ilam University of Medical Sciences. Participants were chosen through a
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Ambulance clinicians frequently face ethical challenges when caring for patients with impaired decision-making capacity, requiring them to assess the patient’s ability to make decisions while balancing ethical principles. The development of ethical competence appears to be increasingly crucial for clinicians to navigate these complex dilemmas effectively. Ethics rounds are a structured approach aimed at fostering ethical competence among healthcare professionals. Although commonly implemented in
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Written by Suhaila Osman
Published in Vol 3 , 2023
Since 2019, medical ethics education, along with training in attitude and communication skills, has been integrated into the standard MBBS curriculum in India to foster a more empathetic and communicative approach among doctors toward patients. To optimise this educational module for future learners, it is essential to evaluate its effectiveness through real-world case-based learning. We chose three clinical cases and organised online debates in small groups of second-year MBBS students. Followi
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