Joshua Nagler, MD, MHPEd and Rebekah Mannix, MD, MPH
Humor can help motivate positive interactions amidst fast-paced clinical encounters but can alienate colleagues when weaponized to promote assumed superiority of an individual or group.
AMA J Ethics. 2020; 22(7):E583-587. doi:
10.1001/amajethics.2020.583.
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.
Traditional causes of action involving the use of humor are breach of contract, defamation, trademark infringement, harassment or hostile work environment, and intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress.
AMA J Ethics. 2020; 22(7):E596-601. doi:
10.1001/amajethics.2020.596.
Humor studies have traditionally lived in the rather unfunny world of philosophy departments. Thankfully, psychologists and neuroscientists study mechanisms of humor and laughter, too.
AMA J Ethics. 2020; 22(7):E602-607. doi:
10.1001/amajethics.2020.602.
Legacy patients are so-called because their opioid use behaviors express past, aggressive opioid prescribing by a clinician. Managing their pain and dependence justly is ethically complex.
AMA J Ethics. 2020; 22(8):E651-657. doi:
10.1001/amajethics.2020.651.
Jennifer D. Byrne, LCSW, CADC, Katie S. Clancy, MSW, and Isabell Ciszewski, LCSW
Social work perspectives on whether prescribers should authorize opioid refills emphasize the importance of multidisciplinary approaches to patient self-determination.
AMA J Ethics. 2020; 22(8):E658-663. doi:
10.1001/amajethics.2020.658.
This commentary on a case considers a transgender patient’s mental health and risk for DVT in ethical decision making about feminizing gender-affirming hormone therapy.
AMA J Ethics. 2023; 25(6):E386-390. doi:
10.1001/amajethics.2023.386.