An elective cesarean section before a fetus is full-term involves various risk factors and should not be done for convenience or emotional reasons.

An elective cesarean section before a fetus is full-term involves various risk factors and should not be done for convenience or emotional reasons.

A physician must honor a patient's request to keep the information about her desire to have a tubal ligation from her husband, but the physician and patient should discuss the possible ramifications of concealing the procedure.

A physician must honor a patient's request to keep the information about her desire to have a tubal ligation from her husband, but the physician and patient should discuss the possible ramifications of concealing the procedure.

A physician treating adolescents must look at non-physical causes of illness, and not let an opinionated parent make a diagnosis.

A physician treating adolescents must look at non-physical causes of illness, and not let an opinionated parent make a diagnosis.

Argues that non-adherence on a patient's part does not erase physician responsibility and examines how best to provide care for a non-adherent patient.

Although a patient who is an excessive activist can be difficult to treat, physicians should not let a patient's unfounded sense of doom allow unnecessary tests and medications.

A patient and physician must have a strong line of communication when dealing with pain that has no clear causes.

Two physicians offer commentary on the ethical issues that arise from medical students performing an invasive procedure on the newly dead as part of their medical training.