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How old are you? Newborn gestational age discriminates neonatal resuscitation practices in the Italian debate.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
DiscussionThe Italian scenario reflects the current animated debate, illustrating the difficulty intrinsic in rigid guidelines on the subject, especially when gestational age is taken as a reference parameter for the medical decision.SummaryConcerning the decision to interrupt or not to initiate resuscitation procedures on low gestational age newborns or on newborns affected by severe and highly invalidating diseases, physicians do not need rigid rules based or inflexible gestational age and birth weight guidelines. Guidance in addressing the difficult and trying issues associated with infants born at the margins of viabil...
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - November 12, 2009 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Emanuela TurillazziVittorio Fineschi Source Type: journals

Reporting of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in the Netherlands: descriptive studyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: Dutch physicians substantiate their adherence to the criteria in a variable way with an emphasis on physical symptoms. The information they provide is in most cases sufficient to enable adequate review. Review committees' control seems to focus on (unbearable) suffering and on procedural issues. (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - October 27, 2009 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Hilde BuitingJohannes van DeldenBregje Onwuteaka-PhilipsenJudith RietjensMette RurupDonald van TolJoseph GeversPaul van der MaasAgnes van der Heide Source Type: journals

Microbicides Development Programme: Engaging the community in the standard of care debate in a vaginal microbicide trial in Mwanza, TanzaniaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Participatory methodologies enabled effective partnerships between researchers, participant representatives and community stakeholders to be developed and facilitated local dialogue and consensus on what constitutes a locally-appropriate standard of care in the context of a vaginal microbicide trial in this setting.Trial registration: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN64716212 (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - October 8, 2009 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Andrew VallelyCharles ShagiShelley LeesKatherine ShapiroJoseph MasanjaLawi NikolauJohari KazimotoSelephina SoteliClaire MoffatJohn ChangaluchaSheena McCormackRichard Hayes Source Type: journals

Assessment of the capacity to consent to treatment in patients admitted to acute medical wardsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Prevalence of incapacity to consent to treatment in patients admitted to an acute internal medicine ward is high. While the standardized Silberfeld questionnaire and the MMSE are not appropriate for the evaluation of the capacity to consent in this setting, an assessment by the multidisciplinary medical team concurs with the evaluation by a senior psychiatrist. (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - September 1, 2009 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Sylfa FassassiYanik BianchiFriedrich StiefelGerard Waeber Source Type: journals

Informed recruitment in partner studies of HIV transmission: an ethical issue in couples researchEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: We present ethical arguments in favor of disclosure, discuss how cultural context shapes the ethical issues, and recommend refinement of guidance for couples research of communicable diseases to assist investigators encountering these ethical issues in the future. (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - August 26, 2009 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Louise-Anne McNuttElisa GordonAnneli Uuskula Source Type: journals

Ethical issues relating the banking of umbilical cord blood in MexicoEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article examines and discusses the ethical, medical and legal considerations that arise from the operation of umbilical cord banks in Mexico.DiscussionA number of experts have stated that the use of umbilical cord goes beyond the mere utilization of human tissues for the purpose of treatment. This tissue is also used in research studies: genetic studies, studies to evaluate the effectiveness of new antibiotics, studies to identify new proteins, etc. Meanwhile, others claim that the law and other norms for the functioning of cord banks are not consistent and are poorly defined. Some of these critics point out that the ...
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - August 13, 2009 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Moises Serrano-DelgadoBarbara I Novello-GarzaEdith Valdez-Martinez Source Type: journals

Ethical issues relating to the banking of umbilical cord blood in MexicoEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article examines and discusses the ethical, medical and legal considerations that arise from the operation of umbilical cord banks in Mexico.DiscussionA number of experts have stated that the use of umbilical cord goes beyond the mere utilization of human tissues for the purpose of treatment. This tissue is also used in research studies: genetic studies, studies to evaluate the effectiveness of new antibiotics, studies to identify new proteins, etc. Meanwhile, others claim that the law and other norms for the functioning of cord banks are not consistent and are poorly defined. Some of these critics point out that the ...
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - August 13, 2009 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Moises Serrano-DelgadoBarbara I Novello-GarzaEdith Valdez-Martinez Source Type: journals

Consent for use of personal information for health research: Do people with potentially stigmatizing health conditions and the general public differ in their opinions?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: The heterogeneity in consent choices suggests individuals should be offeredsome choice in use of their information for different types of health research, even if limited toselectively opting-out. Some of the implementation challenges could be designed into theinteroperable electronic health record. However, many questions remain, including how best tocapture the opinions of those who are more privacy sensitive. (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - July 23, 2009 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Donald WillisonValerie SteevesCathy CharlesLisa SchwartzJennifer RanfordGina AgarwalJi ChengLehana Thabane Source Type: journals

Disagreements with implications: Diverging discourses on the ethics of non-medical use of methylphenidate for performance enhancementEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Some positive portrayals of the non-medical use of MPH for performance enhancement in the print media and bioethics discourses could entice further uses. Medicine and society need to prepare for more prevalent non-medical uses of neuropharmaceuticals by fostering better informed public debates. (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - July 5, 2009 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Cynthia ForliniEric Racine Source Type: journals

Expression of therapeutic misconception amongst Egyptians: a qualitative pilot studyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: The presence of TM is not uncommon amongst Egyptian individuals. We recommend further qualitative studies investigating aspects of TM involving a larger sample size distinguished by different types of illnesses and socio-economic variables, as well as those who have and have not participated in clinical research. (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - June 29, 2009 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Mayyada WazaifySusan KhalilHenry Silverman Source Type: journals

Technology assessment and resource allocation for predictive genetic testing: A study of the perspectives of Canadian genetic health care providersEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that largely local and relatively ad hoc decision making processes are being made in relation to resource allocations for predictive genetic tests and that a more coordinated and, potentially, national approach to allocation decisions in this context may be appropriate. (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - June 17, 2009 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Alethea AdairRobyn Hyde-LayEdna EinsiedelTimothy Caulfield Source Type: journals

Knowledge, attitudes and practices survey on organ donation among a selected adult population of PakistanEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Background: To determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding organ donation in a selected adult population. Methods: Convenience sampling was used to generate a sample of 440; 408 interviews were successfully completed and used for analysis. Data collection was carried out via a face to face interview based on a pre-tested questionnaire in selected market places of Karachi, Pakistan. Data was analyzed using SPSS v.15 and associations were tested using the Pearson's Chi square test. Multiple logistic regression was used to find independent predictors of knowledge status and motivation of organ donation. Results...
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - June 16, 2009 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Taimur SaleemSidra IshaqueNida HabibSyedda HussainAreeba JavedAamir KhanMuhammad AhmadMian IftikharHamza MughalImtiaz Jehan Source Type: journals

Research understanding, attitude and awareness towards biobanking: a survey among Italian twin participants to a genetic epidemiological studyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions Level of understanding of aims and methods of a specific research project seems to vary in relation to modalities of approaching research; most of the twins are well aware of having been asked to donate blood for biobanking activities, and seem to be motivated by a "pragmatic" attitude to blood/DNA donation. Genetic influences on this attitude were suggested. The framing of interests and concerns of healthy participants to genetic-epidemiological studies should be further pursued, since research, particularly for "common diseases", is increasingly relying on population surveys and biobanking. (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - June 15, 2009 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Virgilia ToccaceliCorrado FagnaniLorenza NisticoCristina D'IppolitoLorenzo GiannantonioSonia BrescianiniMaria Antonietta Stazi Source Type: journals

Survey of doctors' opinions of the legalisation of physician assisted suicideEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: More senior doctors in England and Wales oppose any step towards the legalisation of assisted dying than support this. Doctors who care for the dying were more opposed. This has implications for the ease of implementation of recently proposed legislation. (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - March 5, 2009 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: William Lee, Annabel Price, Lauren Rayner and Matthew Hotopf Source Type: journals

How do parents experience being asked to enter a child in a randomised controlled trial?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
DiscussionParents want to do their best for their children, and socially and legally their role is to care for and protect them yet the complexities of the medical and research context can challenge their fulfilment of this role. Parents are simultaneously responsible for their child and cherish this role yet they are dependent on others when their child becomes sick. They are keen to exercise responsibility for deciding to enter a child in a trial yet can be fearful of making the 'wrong' decision. They make judgements about the threat of the child's condition as well as the risks of the trial yet their interpretations oft...
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - February 16, 2009 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Valerie Shilling and Bridget Young Source Type: journals

Termination of pregnancy due to Thalassemia major, Hemophilia, and Down's Syndrome: the views of Iranian physiciansEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: The majority of physicians were in agreement with abortion for thalassemia major and Down's syndrome because of the overall prognosis, but opposed to abortion for hemophilia. (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - December 23, 2008 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Mehran Karimi, Mohammadmehdi Bonyadi, Mohhamad reza Galehdari and Soheila Zareifar Source Type: journals

Alternatives to project-specific consent for access to personal information for health research: Insights from a public dialogueEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Because no one approach to consent satisfied even a simple majority of dialogue participants and the importance placed on personal controls, a mechanism should be developed for documenting consent choice for different types of research, including ways for individuals to check who has accessed their medical record for purposes other than clinical care. This could be done, for example, through a web-based patient portal to their electronic health record. Researchers and policy makers should continue to engage the public to promote greater public understanding of the research process and to look for feasible alte...
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - November 19, 2008 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Donald J Willison, Marilyn Swinton, Lisa Schwartz, Julia Abelson, Cathy Charles, David Northrup, Ji Cheng and Lehana Thabane Source Type: journals

Who's minding the shop? The role of Canadian research ethics boards in the creation and uses of registries and biobanksEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Participants were more attuned to issues surrounding biobanks as compared to registries and demonstrated a higher level of concern regarding biobanks. As registries and biobanks expand, there is a need for critical analysis of suitable roles for REBs and subsequent guidance on these topics. The authors conclude by recommending REB participation in the creation of registries and biobanks and the eventual drafting of comprehensive legislation. (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - November 14, 2008 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Elaine Gibson, Kevin Brazil, Michael D. Coughlin, Claudia Emerson, Francois Fournier, Lisa Schwartz, Karen V. Szala-Meneok, Karen M. Weisbaum and Donald J. Willison Source Type: journals

Evidence-based ethics – What it should be and what it shouldn'tEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: The use of the term "evidence-based ethics" should be discouraged, unless there is enough consensus on how to differentiate between high- and low-quality information produced by empirical ethics. In the meantime, whenever empirical information plays a role, the process of ethical decision-making should make use of systematic reviews of empirical studies that involve a critical appraisal and comparative discussion of data. (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - October 20, 2008 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Daniel Strech Source Type: journals

Evidence-based ethics - What it should be and what it shouldn'tEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: The use of the term evidence-based ethics should be discouraged, unless there is enough consensus on how to differentiate between high- and low-quality information produced by empirical ethics. In the meantime, whenever empirical information plays a role, the process of ethical decision-making should make use of systematic reviews of empirical studies that involve a critical appraisal and comparative discussion of data. (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - October 20, 2008 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Daniel Strech Source Type: journals

Evaluation of the quality of informed consent in a vaccine field trial in a developing country settingEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: Notwithstanding the constraints in a developing country, in a population with low levels of literacy and education, the quality of informed consent found in this study can be considered acceptable for public health research. Education level of respondents and experience of research staff taking the consent were predictive of good quality informed consent. (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - September 30, 2008 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Deon Minnies, Tony Hawkridge, Willem Hanekom, Rodney Ehrlich, Leslie London and Gregory Hussey Source Type: journals

Patients' perception and actual practice of informed consent, privacy and confidentiality in general medical outpatient departments of two tertiary care hospitals of LahoreEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: Observance of medical ethics is inadequate in hospitals of Lahore. Doctors should be imparted formal training in medical ethics and national legislation on medical ethics is needed. Patients should be made aware of their rights to medical ethics. (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - September 25, 2008 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Ayesha Humayun, Noor Fatima, Shahid Naqqash, Salwa Hussain, Almas Rasheed, Huma Imtiaz and Sardar Z Imam Source Type: journals

A Survey of Community Members' Perceptions of Medical Errors in OmanEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Background: Errors have been the concern of providers and consumers of health care services. However, consumers' perception of medical errors in developing countries is rarely explored. The aim of this study is to assess community members' perceptions about medical errors and to analyse the factors affecting this perception in one Middle East country, Oman. Methods: Face to face interviews were conducted with heads of 212 households in two villages in North Al-Batinah region of Oman selected because of close proximity to the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), Muscat, Oman. Participants' perceived knowledge about medical erro...
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - July 29, 2008 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Ahmed S Al-Mandhari, Mohammed A Al-Shafaee, Mohammed AlAzri, Ibrahim S Al-Zakwani, Mushtaq Khan, Ahmed M Al-Waily and Syed Rizvi Source Type: journals

Understanding and retention of the informed consent process among parents in rural northern GhanaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: Significant but varied comprehension of the informed consent process exists among parents who participate in research activities in northern Ghana and it appears the existing practices are fairly effective in informing research participants in the study area. (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - June 19, 2008 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Abraham R Oduro, Raymond A Aborigo, Dickson Amugsi, Francis Anto, Thomas Anyorigiya, Frank Atuguba, Abraham Hodgson and Kwadwo A Koram Source Type: journals

Understanding and Retention of informed consent process among Parents in a Rural Northern GhanaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: Significant but varied comprehension of the informed consent process exists among parents who participate in research activities in northern Ghana and it appears the existing practices are fairly effective in informing research participants in the study area. (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - June 19, 2008 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Abraham R Oduro, Raymond A Aborigo, Dickson Amugsi, Francis Anto, Thomas Anyorigiya, Frank Atuguba, Abraham Hodgson and Kwadwo A Koram Source Type: journals

Cesarean delivery on maternal request: can the ethical problem be solved by the principlist approach?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this article, we use the principlist approach to identify, analyse and attempt to solve the ethical problem raised by a pregnant woman's request for cesarean delivery in absence of medical indications. We use two different types of premises: factual (facts about cesarean delivery and specifically attitudes of obstetricians as derived from the EUROBS European study) and value premises (principles of beneficence and non-maleficence, respect for autonomy and justice). Beneficence/non-maleficence entails physicians' responsibility to minimise harms and maximise benefits. Avoiding its inherent risks makes a prima facie case...
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - June 17, 2008 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Tore Nilstun, Marwan Habiba, Goran Lingman, Rudolfo Saracci, Monica Da Fre and Marina Cuttini Source Type: journals

Informed consent in Sri Lanka: a survey among ethics committee membersEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: The number of themes generated for the consent form (N=18) is as many as for the information leaflet (N=19) and had several overlaps. This suggests that the consent form should be itemized to reflect the contents covered in the information leaflet. The participants opinion on components of the information leaflets and consent forms proved to be similar with WHO checklist on informed consent. (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - May 20, 2008 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Athula Sumathipala, Sisira Siribaddana, Suwin Hewage, Manura Lekamwattege, Manjula Athukorale, Chesmal Siriwardane, Joanna Murray and Martin Prince Source Type: journals

Clinical research without consent in adults in the emergency setting: a review of patient and public viewsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: There are too few data to evaluate whether the rules and regulations permitting RWC protects - or is acceptable to - the public. However, any attempts to engage the public should take place in the context of findings from further basic research to attend to the apparently paradoxical findings of some of the current surveys. (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - April 29, 2008 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Jan Lecouturier, Helen Rodgers, Gary A Ford, Tim Rapley, Lynne Stobbart, Stephen J Louw and Madeleine J Murtagh Source Type: journals

What is presumed when we presume consent?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Discussion Any action or decision made on a presumption is accepted in law and science as one based on judgement of a provisional situation. It should therefore allow the possibility of reversing the action or decision. Presumed consent to organ donation will not permit such reversal. Placing prime importance on the functionality of body organs and their capacity to sustain life rather than on explicit consent of the individual will lead to further debate about rights of ownership and potentially to questions about financial incentives and to whom benefits should accrue. Factors that influence donor rates are not fully und...
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - April 25, 2008 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Barbara K Pierscionek Source Type: journals

Is the qualitative research interview an acceptable medium for research with palliative care patients and carers?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: The open interview enables the perspectives of patients and carers to be heard, unfettered from the structure of closed questions. It also enables those patients or carers to take part who would be unable to participate in other study designs. The context is at least as important as the format of the research interview taking into account the relational circumstances with carers and appropriate ways of obtaining informed consent. Consent at the end of the interview could be a solution to enhancing participants control over the interview. (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - April 24, 2008 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Marjolein H. Gysels, Cathy Shipman and Irene J. Higginson Source Type: journals

How do we know that research ethics committees are really working? the neglected role of outcomes assessment in research ethics reviewEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Outcomes assessment of research ethics committees should address the following questions: First, does research ethics committee review improve participants' understanding of the risks and potential benefits of studies? Second, does the process affect prospective participants' decisions about whether to participate in research? Third, does it change participants' subjective experiences in studies or their attitudes about research? Fourth, does it reduce the riskiness of research? Fifth, does it result in more research responsive to the local community's self-identified needs? Sixth, is research ethics committee...
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - March 28, 2008 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Carl H Coleman and Marie CHARLOTTE Bouesseau Source Type: journals

When research seems like clinical care: A qualitative study of the communication of cancer genetic research resultsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the hybrid state created through the disclosure of research results about individuals that are perceived to be clinically relevant may produce neither sufficiently adequate clinical care nor sufficiently ethical research practices. These findings raise questions about the extent to which research can, and should, be made to serve clinical purposes, and suggest the need for further deliberation regarding any ethical obligation to communicate individual research results. (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - February 22, 2008 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Fiona A Miller, Mita Giacomini, Catherine Ahern, Jason S Robert and Sonya de Laat Source Type: journals

Ethics Review Committee approval and informed consent: an analysis of biomedical publications originating from Sri LankaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Only one third of the publications scrutinized recorded ERC approval and procurement of informed consent. However, there is a positive trend in documenting these ethical requirements in local postgraduate research and in the local medical journal. (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - February 11, 2008 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Athula Sumathipala, Sisira Siribaddana, Suwin Hewege, Manura Lekamwattage, Manjula Athukorale, Chesmal Siriwardhana, Joanna Murray and Martin Prince Source Type: journals

Clinical Ethics Consultation: Examining how American and Japanese experts analyze an Alzheimeras caseEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that consensus building through an ethics facilitation approach may be a commonality to the practice of ethics consultation in the US and Japan, while differences emerged in terms of recommendations, surrogate assessment, and assessing treatments. Further research is needed to appreciate differences not only among different nations including, but not limited to, countries in Europe, Asia and the Americas, but also within each country. (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - January 29, 2008 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Noriko Nagao, Mark P Aulisio, Yoshio Nukaga, Misao Fujita, Shinji Kosugi, Stuart Youngner and Akira Akabayashi Source Type: journals

Outcome of a research ethics training workshop among clinicians and scientists in a Nigerian universityEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Background: In Nigeria, as in other developing countries, access to training in research ethics is limited, due to weak social, economic, and health infrastructure. The project described in this article was designed to develop the capacity of academic staff of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria to conduct ethically acceptable research involving human participants. Methods: Three in-depth interviews and one focus group discussion were conducted to assess the training needs of participants. A research ethics training workshop was then conducted with College of Medicine faculty. A 23-item questionnaire tha...
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - January 24, 2008 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Ademola J Ajuwon and Nancy Kass Source Type: journals

Taking tissue seriously means taking communities seriouslyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: Greater attention to community engagement is required to understand the diverse issues associated with tissue exportation. (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - October 26, 2007 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Ross E.G. Upshur, James V. Lavery and Paulina O. Tindana Source Type: journals

Microbicide research in developing countries: have we given the ethical concerns due consideration?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
DiscussionEthical concerns relating to safety in microbicide research are a major international concern. However, in the urgency to develop a medically efficacious microbicide, some of these concerns may not have been anticipated. In the risk-benefit assessment of research protocols, both medical and psycho-social risk must be considered. In this paper four main areas that have a potential for medical and/or psycho-social harm are examined. Male partner involvement is controversial in the setting of covert use of microbicides. However, given the long-term exposure of men to experimental products, this may be methodological...
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - September 19, 2007 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Keymanthri Moodley Source Type: journals

Attitudes, understanding, and concerns regarding medical research amongst Egyptians: A qualitative pilot studyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: Overall, individuals in our sample recognize the value of medical research and have a great deal of trust regarding medical research and their participation in research. There were, however, concerns with the level of research risks associated with several types of medical research. Many also demonstrated confusion with certain research methodologies. We recommend 1) enhanced educational efforts regarding general research concepts to enhance the validity of informed consent and 2) further survey studies in other areas of Egypt to determine the generalizability of our results. (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - August 29, 2007 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Susan S Khalil, Henry J Silverman, May Raafat, Samer El-Kamary and Maged El-Setouhy Source Type: journals

An eight-year follow-up national study of medical school and general hospital ethics committees in JapanEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Overall findings indicated a greater recognized degree of responsibilities and an increase in workload for Japanese ethics committees. (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - June 29, 2007 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Akira Akabayashi, Brian T Slingsby, Noriko Nagao, Ichiro Kai and Hajime Sato Source Type: journals

Attitudes and behaviors of Japanese physicians concerning withholding and withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment for end-of-life patients: Results from an Internet surveyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Background: Evidence concerning how Japanese physicians think and behave in specific clinical situations that involve withholding or withdrawal of medical interventions for end-of-life or frail elderly patients is yet insufficient. Methods: To analyze decisions and actions concerning the withholding/withdrawal of life-support care by Japanese physicians, we conducted cross-sectional web-based internet survey presenting three scenarios involving an elderly comatose patient following a severe stroke. Volunteer physicians were recruited for the survey through mailing lists and medical journals. The respondents answered quest...
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - June 19, 2007 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Seiji Bito and Atsushi Asai Source Type: journals

Ethics takes time, but not that longEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Time was of essence for the ethical encounter. Further, verbal and nonverbal positive behaviors by the physicians also contributed to higher ratings of ethical aspects. These results can help to improve quality of ethical practice in pediatric settings and are of relevance for teaching and policy makers. (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - May 24, 2007 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Mats G Hansson, Ulrik Kihlbom, Torsten Tuvemo, Leif A Olsen and Alina Rodriguez Source Type: journals

Informed consent for research in Borderline Personality DisorderEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Discussion: Despite apparently intact cognition and comprehension of risks, a borderline subject may deliberately choose self-harm in order to fulfill abnormal psychological needs, or due to suicidality. Alternatively, such a subject may refuse enrollment due to transference or the desire to harm him or herself. Such phenomena could be precipitated or prevented by the interpersonal dynamics of the informed consent encounter. Summary: Caution should be exercised in obtaining informed consent for research from subjects with Borderline Personality Disorder. A literature review and recommendations for future research are discu...
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - May 10, 2007 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Rachel E Dew Source Type: journals

Current anti-doping policy: a critical appraisalEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
DiscussionWe review this recent development of increasingly severe anti-doping control measures and find them based on questionable ethical grounds. The ethical foundation of the war on doping consists of largely unsubstantiated assumptions about fairness in sports and the concept of a level playing field. Moreover, it relies on dubious claims about the protection of an athletes health and the value of the essentialist view that sports achievements reflect natural capacities. In addition, costly anti-doping efforts in elite competitive sports concern only a small fraction of the population. From a public health perspective...
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - March 29, 2007 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Bengt Kayser, Alexandre Mauron and Andy Miah Source Type: journals

Health Research Ethics Committees in South Africa 12 years into democracyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: Most major health RECs in South Africa are well organized given the resource constraints that exist in relation to research ethics in developing countries. However, the gender, racial and occupational diversity of most of these RECs is suboptimal, and most RECs are not constituted in accordance with South African guidelines. Variability in the operations of and training needs of RECs is a reflection of apartheid-entrenched influences in tertiary education in SA. While legislation now exists to enforce standardization of research ethics review systems, no provision has been made for resources or capacity develo...
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - January 25, 2007 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Keymanthri Moodley and Landon Myer Source Type: journals

Organ procurement organizations Internet enrollment for organ donation: Abandoning informed consentEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Background: Requirements for organ donation after cardiac or imminent death have been introduced to address the transplantable organs shortage in the United States. Organ procurement organizations (OPOs) increasingly use the Internet for organ donation consent. Methods: An analysis of OPO Web sites available to the public for enrollment and consent for organ donation. The Web sites and consent forms were examined for the minimal information recommended by the United States Department of Health and Human Services for informed consent. Content scores were calculated as percentages of data elements in four information categor...
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - December 22, 2006 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Sandra Woien, Mohamed Y Rady, Joseph L Verheijde and Joan McGregor Source Type: journals

Consenting of the vulnerable: the informed consent procedure in advanced cancer patients in MexicoEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusions: The results presented in this work describe some relevant characteristics of the population seen at public health care institutions in Mexico. Poverty, limited or no education, and the complexity of the information provided to the patients enrolled in clinical trials, may question the validity of the informed consent procedure in this group of patients. (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - December 13, 2006 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Emma L Verastegui Source Type: journals

Pandemic influenza preparedness: an ethical framework to guide decision-makingEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
DiscussionIn this paper, we present an ethical framework for pandemic influenza planning. The ethical framework was developed with expertise from clinical, organisational and public health ethics and validated through a stakeholder engagement process. The ethical framework includes both substantive and procedural elements for ethical pandemic influenza planning. The incorporation of ethics into pandemic planning can be helped if senior hospital administrators sponsor its use, by having stakeholders vet the framework, and by designing or identifying decision review processes. We discuss the merits and limits of an applied e...
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - December 4, 2006 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Alison K Thompson, Karen Faith, Jennifer L Gibson and Ross EG Upshur Source Type: journals

Survey of the general public's attitudes toward advance directives in Japan: How to respect patients' preferencesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: This study revealed that many Japanese people indicate an interest in undertaking advance planning. This study found that there is a range of preferences regarding how advance directives are undertaken, thus it is important to recognize that any processes put into place should allow flexibility in order to best respect patients wishes and autonomy. (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - October 18, 2006 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Hiroaki Miyata, Hiromi Shiraishi and Ichiro Kai Source Type: journals

Global Bioethics - Myth or Reality?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: These exploratory studies support the position that there is no unified global field of bioethics. This is a problem if the only reason is parochialism. But these regional differences are probably of less concern if one notices that bioethics comes in many not always mutually understandable dialects. (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - September 11, 2006 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Soren Holm and Bryn Williams-Jones Source Type: journals

Global bioethics – myth or reality?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Conclusion: These exploratory studies support the position that there is no unified global field of bioethics. This is a problem if the only reason is parochialism. But these regional differences are probably of less concern if one notices that bioethics comes in many not always mutually understandable dialects. (Source: BMC Medical Ethics)
Source: BMC Medical Ethics - September 11, 2006 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Søren Holm and Bryn Williams-Jones Source Type: journals