Kelly Leonard, executive director of insights and applied improvisation at Second City Works, relates how improvisation can help clinicians build relationships with patients and improve their outcomes.

Dr Helen Stanton Chapple joins Ethics Talk to discuss her article: "Solidarity in Mortal Time.”

Scott Schweikart joins Ethics Talk to discuss his article: “AMA Code of Medical Ethics’ Opinions Related to Clinicians in Government.”

In the September 2014 issue on physicians as agents of social change, Dr. Audiey Kao, editor-in-chief of Virtual Mentor interviewed Dr. Rajiv Shah, administrator of the United States Agency for International Development or USAID.

Grayson Holt joins Ethics Talk to discuss his article, coauthored with Dr Johanna Glaser: “Why Is Hospice One of the Few Health Care Environments Structured for Peace?”

The adverse health effects of climate change should be the focus of physician advocacy efforts and of conversations between physicians and their patients.

Legal inconsistencies and variation in end-of-life options generate disparities in care for unrepresented patients.

Physicians should be aware of the level of emotional distress and suffering that a patient is experiencing as a result of his or her illness and incorporate that into the patient's treatment plan.

Physicians should go beyond basic medical diagnosis and treatment to offer support to families about the gamut of social and emotional issues that are involved with caring for a severely disabled child.

Physicians need to manage expectations and clearly explain the prognosis of ICU patients to their families, particularly when the outcome is a negative one.