Barry DeCoster, PhD and Lisa Campo-Engelstein, PhD
Expedited partner therapy is an ethical and effective treatment for sexually transmitted infection, provided patients are reliable messengers to partners.
AMA J Ethics. 2016;18(3):215-228. doi:
10.1001/journalofethics.2016.18.3.ecas3-1603.
Given full information about the risks of long-term opioid therapy, patients often see the value of exploring other options rather than thinking their physicians are reluctant to prescribe narcotics for fear of litigation or regulatory action.
AMA J Ethics. 2015;17(3):202-208. doi:
10.1001/journalofethics.2015.17.3.ecas1-1503.
A clinical case shows how medical commercialism poses risks to patients without symptoms who get full body scans. Screening for pre-morbid disease detection is valuable if implemented correctly but calls for physician caution.
A hypothetical clinical case discusses patient demand for advanced diagnostics such as MRIs when physicians do not recommend such tests. Better patient education is the suggested approach.