Annette Hanson, MD, Ron Pies, MD, and Mark Komrad, MD
Authors respond to “How Should Physicians Care for Dying Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis?” by arguing that patients’ motives for accessing death with dignity laws should be thoroughly explored and that temporarily limiting patient autonomy can promote well-being at the end of life.
AMA J Ethics. 2018;20(11):E1107-1109. doi:
10.1001/amajethics.2018.1107.
Alexander Craig, MPhil and Elizabeth Dzeng, MD, PhD, MPH
Responding to “Added Points of Concern about Caring for Dying Patients,” authors argue that physicians’ refusal to prescribe lethal drugs in accordance with states’ death with dignity laws could damage patient-physician relationships and harm patients.
AMA J Ethics. 2018;20(11):E1110-1112. doi:
10.1001/amajethics.2018.1110.
Maxwell F. Lydiatt and William M. Lydiatt, MD, MBA
Portraiture facilitates learners’ explorations of their own and others’ biases, limitations, and approaches to gathering information from and about a source.
AMA J Ethics. 2020;22(6):E499-504. doi:
10.1001/amajethics.2020.499.
Humor and laughter researchers at the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor (yep, that’s a thing) not only study why humor helps, but also how it can be skillfully applied.
AMA J Ethics. 2020;22(7):E588-595. doi:
10.1001/amajethics.2020.588.
Family-centered care is recommended for patients of all ages now, based on evidence that it can lead to compliance, improved communication, and better care planning. Hospitals where PFCC has been integrated report greater satisfaction among patients and staff.
AMA J Ethics. 2016;18(1):40-44. doi:
10.1001/journalofethics.2016.18.1.medu3-1601.
Awareness of transference reactions, practicing active listening and reflection, pausing, and articulating one’s understanding of another’s emotional motivations can help cultivate deeper patient-clinician relationships at the end of life.
AMA J Ethics. 2018;20(8):E717-723. doi:
10.1001/amajethics.2018.717.
Furthering clinicians’ understandings of how daily practice can respond to Black patients' experiences can help restore trust and mitigate racial and ethnic health inequity.
AMA J Ethics. 2021;23(6):E480-486. doi:
10.1001/amajethics.2021.480.
Chris Feudtner, MD, PhD, MPH, David Munson, MD, and Wynne Morrison, MD
The way that we choose how to frame the conversation with parents about halting or continuing such therapy for their children who will not recover has special importance in medicine and in society.