When patients are unable to express their wishes and do not have surrogates or advance directives, which and whose values should inform decision making for them? We discuss ethical complexities of caring for unrepresented patients.

Dr Laura Guidry-Grimes helps us consider whether and which decisions can be shared with people experiencing mental illnesses.

Dr Jake Young joins Ethics Talk to discuss his article: “AMA Code of Medical Ethics’ Opinions Related to Clinical Use of BMI.”

AMA Journal of Ethics theme editor Emily Johnson, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, interviewed Susan Mizner, JD, about some merits, drawbacks, and alternatives to guardianship.

Dr Dinushika Mohottige and Karina Albistegui Adler join Ethics Talk to discuss their article, coauthored with Allison Charney and Dr Lilia Cervantes: “What Should Clinicians in Organizations Without Established MLP Programs Do When Their Patients Need Lawyers to Meet Their Health Needs?”

Scott J. Schweikart joins Ethics Talk to discuss his article, coauthored with Annika J. Penzer: “Using Policy and Law to Help Reduce Endometriosis Diagnostic Delay.”

Lawyer Cynthia Chandler joins Ethics Talk to discuss the practice of sterilization in California state prisons, and Dr Anthony Loria shares new research on surgical outcomes for incarcerated patients.

Jorie Braunold joins Ethics Talk to discuss her article: “How Foundations of Carceral Health Care Came From a Right to Sue.”

Dr Kristen N. Pallok joins Ethics Talk to discuss her article, coauthored with Dr David A. Ansell: “Should Clinicians Be Activists?”

Dr Ariane Lewis discusses how we can navigate uncertainty and ambiguity about brain death by understanding clinical criteria for brain death determination and how our approaches to death are culturally and socially situated.