Article
Ethics
Sarah Diner
Summary: Advancements in human cerebral organoids (HCOs) research necessitate a critical review of current research policies. The uncertainty about the future development of neural cell cultures poses challenges in assessing necessary research regulations. Ethicists, legal scholars, and neuroscientists rely on similarities to the human brain to validate HCOs as models for research but also to discuss potential ethical concerns. However, given the heterogeneity of HCOs, assumptions about increasing resemblance to the human brain and the resulting ethical issues are not justified.
Article
Ethics
Hazem Zohny, David M. M. Lyreskog, Ilina Singh, Julian Savulescu
Summary: The concept of mental integrity is a significant topic in discussions on the regulation of neurotechnologies. The threat posed by technologies like deep brain stimulation and brain-computer interfaces to mental integrity has led to calls for legal protection. However, there is still uncertainty about its definition and importance in the literature. This article explores various interpretations and argues that the most plausible one focuses on neurotechnologies that bypass one's reasoning capacities and lead to alienation from one's mental states.
Article
Ethics
Szilard D. Kovacs
Summary: Oral health is crucial for an individual's physical, mental, and social well-being. The complex nature of oral health and individual needs result in various treatment options, involving contrasting ethical values and different aspects of oral health. This article aims to propose alternative treatment strategies in dentistry, considering factors such as rehabilitation extent, preservation of anatomical structures, aesthetic outcome, number of sessions, and patient autonomy.
JOURNAL OF BIOETHICAL INQUIRY
(2023)
Article
Ethics
Jason Adam Wasserman, Abram L. Brummett, Mark Christopher Navin, Daniel Londyn Menkes
Summary: This paper explores the ethics of physicians refusing to provide life-sustaining interventions for patients who are likely to remain permanently unconscious. It argues that such refusals can be framed as conscientious objections and meet ethical standards. By framing their refusal as conscientious objection, physicians can make their objection's value-laden nature transparent and improve patient access to requested treatments.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS
(2023)
Review
Ethics
Joschka Haltaufderheide, Annika Lucht, Christoph Struenck, Jochen Vollmann
Summary: Socially assistive devices have the potential to contribute to the well-being and autonomy of elderly users, but there are also challenges and potential negative effects. The available evidence suggests that the effectiveness of these devices may vary depending on the context and population. The claim of efficiency is not well-supported by existing results.
BMC MEDICAL ETHICS
(2023)
Article
Medical Ethics
Cristina Candal-Pedreira, Ali Ghaddar, Monica Perez-Rios, Leonor Varela-Lema, Carlos Alvarez-Dardet, Alberto Ruano-Ravina
Summary: This study examines the perceptions, attitudes, and experiences of Spanish researchers regarding scientific misconduct in the field of biomedicine. The results show a high frequency of scientific misconduct among Spanish biomedical researchers, with 43.3% admitting to engaging in some form of misconduct. False authorship is the most common type of misconduct. There are variations in the types of misconduct based on gender and the type of research institution.
ACCOUNTABILITY IN RESEARCH-ETHICS INTEGRITY AND POLICY
(2023)
Article
Ethics
T. V. Brigden, C. Mitchell, K. Kuberska, A. Hall
Summary: This article discusses the challenges of providing care for patients with cognitive impairment in busy acute wards and the use of visual identifiers as tools to identify and meet their needs. The paper proposes a set of legal and ethical principles to guide the implementation of visual identifiers, and emphasizes the need to consider ethical, legal, and potential benefits and harms when using these tools.
JOURNAL OF BIOETHICAL INQUIRY
(2023)
Article
Ethics
Alexis Heng Boon Chin, Jean-Didier Bosenge Nguma, Charles Nkurunziza, Ningyu Sun, Guoqing Tong
Summary: The majority of women who freeze their eggs for non-medical or social reasons often do not use them eventually, resulting in an accumulation of unused frozen eggs in fertility clinics worldwide. These unused eggs can be donated to infertile women undergoing IVF treatment, but thorough counseling is necessary to ensure informed decision-making. Motivating factors for donation include wanting to share the joys of motherhood and avoiding wastage, while dissuading factors include concerns about incest and future contact with donor-conceived offspring.
ASIAN BIOETHICS REVIEW
(2023)
Article
Ethics
Krishani Jayasinghe, W. A. S. Chamika, Kaushalya Jayaweera, Kalpani Abhayasinghe, Lasith Dissanayake, Athula Sumathipala, Jonathan Ives
Summary: Engagement with genomic medicine and research has increased globally, including in Sri Lanka. A qualitative study in Sri Lanka revealed potential issues with participants' understanding and attitudes towards genomic medicine. Trust can serve as a basis for consent, but researchers must address misconceptions and earn public trust.
ASIAN BIOETHICS REVIEW
(2023)
Article
Ethics
Nishakanthi Gopalan
Summary: This study analyzes the ethical and regulatory perspectives of aesthetic medicine in selected Asian countries. Aesthetic medicine plays a significant role in medical tourism in Asia, but there is a lack of literature on its ethical and regulatory aspects. This study is important for healthcare providers, policymakers, and consumers, as it identifies areas for improvement in current regulatory frameworks to protect stakeholder rights.
ASIAN BIOETHICS REVIEW
(2023)
Article
Medical Ethics
Cynthia Jones-Nosacek
Summary: COVID-19 is a serious illness and vaccines have been developed to prevent its spread. Mandates can be used to protect public safety and vulnerable populations while considering individual autonomy. The effectiveness of vaccines and their ability to prevent infection are important factors in implementing mandates.
Article
Medical Ethics
Joseph B. Stanford, Marguerite Duane, Rebecca Simmons
Summary: Fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs) allow couples to avoid pregnancy by abstaining from intercourse on fertile days. Users want to know the highest effectiveness (lowest pregnancy rate) if they use FABMs correctly and consistently. In this simulation study, we compare two measures: the method-related pregnancy rate and the correct use pregnancy rate. We find that the method-related pregnancy rate is biased too low if some users do not consistently use the method to avoid pregnancy, while the correct use pregnancy rate provides an accurate estimate.
Article
Ethics
Dhrusti Patel, Lucy Kilburn, Lisa Fox, Emma Hall, Judith Bliss, Rebecca Lewis
Summary: Clinical trials should aim to be inclusive and reflect the population they are targeting. An audit of oncology trials conducted by ICR-CTSU revealed areas for improvement, such as reducing the use of gendered language and improving the readability of patient information. The collection of socio-economic factors needs to be standardized to adequately monitor under-served groups identified by NIHR.
BMC MEDICAL ETHICS
(2023)
Article
Ethics
Max Drezga-Kleiminger, Joanna Demaree-Cotton, Julian Koplin, Julian Savulescu, Dominic Wilkinson
Summary: This paper aims to assess public attitudes on whether AI should be used in liver allocation and how it should be implemented. Most participants found AI in liver allocation acceptable and would not be less likely to donate their organs. They thought AI was more likely to be consistent and less biased compared to humans, although they were concerned about the dehumanisation of healthcare.
BMC MEDICAL ETHICS
(2023)
Article
Ethics
Irvine Sihlahla, Dusty-Lee Donnelly, Beverley Townsend, Donrich Thaldar
Summary: Artificial intelligence (AI) will have a significant impact on the healthcare system, especially in radiology. AI-enhanced technologies in healthcare can improve workflow efficiency, diagnostic accuracy, and mitigate medical personnel shortages. However, there are legal, ethical, and human rights concerns associated with the development of AI in healthcare. This article outlines the normative principles and recommends vigilant monitoring, reforms to the liability framework, and appropriate guidance for the ethical use of AI in radiology services in South Africa.
DEVELOPING WORLD BIOETHICS
(2023)
Article
Ethics
Alexander Kremling, Jan Schildmann, Marcel Mertz
Summary: The concept of translational bioethics, which aims to implement and evaluate ethical interventions, has gained attention in recent years. However, there are vague and differing descriptions regarding its meaning and conceptual frameworks. This article explores the analogies and disanalogies between translational medicine and translational bioethics to determine if the reference to translational medicine in bioethics is justified. The analysis reveals conceptual differences and unsolved problems, suggesting that meaningful analogies between translational bioethics and biomedicine are currently not feasible.
Article
Ethics
Chiara Cattaneo, Iuliia Urakcheeva, Gianmarco Giacomini, Maria Antonietta Stazi, Susanna Lana, Antonio Arnofi, Miriam Salemi, Virgilia Toccaceli
Summary: The aim of this study was to explore attitudes and opinions towards post-mortem brain donation (PMBD). The findings revealed that participants had limited knowledge about PMBD, and their attitudes were influenced by concerns, emotions, and misconceptions. Factors such as religion, spirituality, trust in research and medical institutions, and uncertainty about brain death ascertainment played a role. Family also played a central role in decision making. Previous experience with neurodegenerative diseases appeared to favor brain donation.
BMC MEDICAL ETHICS
(2023)
Article
Ethics
Esther Braun, Matthe Scholten, Jochen Vollmann
Summary: According to the discrimination argument, excluding people with mental illness from access to assisted suicide would be discriminatory. However, an objection to this argument suggests that the exclusion is based on their inability to meet the eligibility criteria for assisted suicide. This article discusses two ethical approaches to justifying assisted suicide and examines whether people with mental illness can fulfill these criteria.
Article
Ethics
I. Meester, M. Polino Guajardo, A. C. Trevino Ramos, J. M. Solis-Soto, A. Rojas-Martinez
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the attitude and willingness of the Mexican population towards voluntary post-mortem donation to science (PDS) and to identify the sociodemographic profile of those willing to donate. The results showed that a large proportion of the participants expressed willingness towards post-mortem organ donation and PDS. Furthermore, mature age and a background in social sciences were associated with a higher willingness to engage in PDS.
BMC MEDICAL ETHICS
(2023)
Review
Medical Ethics
Daniel Crean, Bert Gordijn, Alan J. Kearns
Summary: This article presents a systematic literature review of how RI teaching is discussed in national and international research integrity codes. The authors identified 52 national and 14 international codes and found that RI teaching is addressed in 46 national and 10 international codes. However, there is a lack of detailed guidance on the ethics approach, assessment and/or evaluation, and challenges in RI teaching. The authors provide recommendations for improving the current codes.
ACCOUNTABILITY IN RESEARCH-ETHICS INTEGRITY AND POLICY
(2023)
