Being marked as an “other” outside of the circle of human concern expresses tension between principles of liberty and equality and exacerbates health inequity.
AMA J Ethics. 2021;23(2):E166-174. doi:
10.1001/amajethics.2021.166.
Where people live and work influences how long and how well they live. Supporting community investments can diminish risk, improve outcomes, and reduce costs.
AMA J Ethics. 2019;21(3):E262-268. doi:
10.1001/amajethics.2019.262.
What are key factors for successful partnerships between health care organizations and communities? We discuss strategies for building trust and engaging effectively.
Chaplains can mediate between physicians and families by clarifying religious issues for physicians, who can then present treatment options informed by a patient’s priorities. Ideally, family and religious values and a physician’s judgment should work together to inform decision making.
AMA J Ethics. 2018;20(7):E670-674. doi:
10.1001/amajethics.2018.670.
This month, AMA Journal of Ethics theme editor Colleen Farrell, a fourth-year medical student at Harvard Medical School, interviewed Lachlan Forrow, MD, about the benefits of interprofessional collaboration and the importance of biopsychosocial approaches to patient care.
Physicians new to a case might object to an established care plan. Practice variation, clinical momentum, and how value is assigned by different parties to acute care and comfort measures can each contribute to conflict in these cases.
AMA J Ethics. 2018;20(8):E699-707. doi:
10.1001/amajethics.2018.699.
Thoughtful design can welcome patients’ families’ roles in promoting healing. At the same time, clinicians’ need for functionality and privacy is critical. How ought these considerations be balanced in designing the spaces where patient care takes place?
AMA J Ethics. 2016;18(1):73-76. doi:
10.1001/journalofethics.2017.18.1.sect1-1601.