As a matter of medical ethics, physicians must advocate for their vulnerable patients and medical schools should offer training in advocacy and activism.
AMA J Ethics. 2017; 19(1):8-15. doi:
10.1001/journalofethics.2017.19.1.ecas1-1701.
Trauma surgeons’ role in gun violence prevention is hampered by restrictions on funding for research with implications for public health interventions.
AMA J Ethics. 2018; 20(5):475-482. doi:
10.1001/journalofethics.2018.20.5.msoc1-1805.
Although identical twin-to-twin skin grafting has resulted in excellent survival rates in burn patients, the nature and scope of ethical decision making in monozygotic sibling skin grafting needs further examination.
AMA J Ethics. 2018; 20(6):537-545. doi:
10.1001/journalofethics.2018.20.6.cscm2-1806.
Public health surveillance for infectious disease provides a model for a mandatory reporting policy for human trafficking, which poses risks for survivors.
AMA J Ethics. 2017; 19(1):45-53. doi:
10.1001/journalofethics.2017.19.1.stas1-1701.
William J. Rifkin, Rami S. Kantar, MD, Safi Ali-Khan, Natalie M. Plana, J. Rodrigo Diaz-Siso, MD, Manos Tsakiris, PhD, MSc, and Eduardo D. Rodriguez, MD, DDS
Facial transplantation provides a viable option for those patients with severe facial defects who are more likely to adapt to their new facial appearance.
AMA J Ethics. 2018; 20(4):309-323. doi:
10.1001/journalofethics.2018.20.4.peer1-1804.
Implementation of child abuse reporting laws may help policymakers assess the potential risks and benefits of mandatory reporting of human trafficking.
AMA J Ethics. 2017; 19(1):54-62. doi:
10.1001/journalofethics.2017.19.1.pfor1-1701.
Although sharing health records with psychiatric patients may cause harm, clinicians also must consider beneficence and autonomy in making this decision.
AMA J Ethics. 2017; 19(3):253-259. doi:
10.1001/journalofethics.2017.19.3.ecas3-1703.
After the infant’s birth, the neonatologist’s first duty is to his or her patient—the newly born infant. If clinical circumstances are different than anticipated, the physician must first consider the best interests of the baby.