An ethical case explores a lawsuit against Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center of Seattle by patients who claimed they were not told of the full risks associated with a clinical trial they participated in.
Patients need to be aware that they are fully responsible for disclosing a complete medical history, and physicians may not be liable for damages if they do not comply.
Medical students should not fear retribution for speaking up when a senior staff member is behaving in a manner that threatens a professional workplace environment.
Clinical case conferences are an important component to the medical school curriculum due to the critical thinking skills that are encouraged to develop.