Although recent studies have shown a correlation between clinical depression and heart disease in males, proper management with antidepressants can help prevent cardiovascular diseases.

Physicians who encounter a patient who is suffering from depression may find it necessary to breach confidentiality and patient autonomy in order to act in the best interest of the patient.

Physicians must maintain strong communication lines and document discussions with patient surrogates to avoid confusion regarding end-of-life care and decisions for patients with irreversible brain damage.

Poor sleep affects nearly every organ system and influences many morbidity and mortality causes, so screening for sleep sufficiency and quality should be prioritized.

Dr Maeve Pascoe joins Ethics Talk to discuss her article, coauthored with Dr Nancy Foldvary-Schaefer: “Who Should Talk to Patients and How About Whether They Have Access to Sufficient, Quality Sleep?”

A paradigm shift in circadian science is underway, exposing ethical tensions from a legacy of pervasive neglect of circadian disorders.