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.

Alice Wong and Dr Joseph Stramondo join us on this special episode of Ethics Talk to discuss how perspectives from the disability community can help us think more powerfully about quality of life, resource allocation, and other ethical challenges arising in pandemics. Transcript available.

Dr Madeline Ward joins Ethics Talk to discuss her article: “Why We Need to Stop Labeling Behaviors Influencing a Person’s Weight Ideal or Healthy."

Jorie Braunold joins Ethics Talk to discuss her article: “Fat Norms and the AMA.”

Dr Sara M. Bergstresser joins Ethics Talk to discuss her article: “Asylums and Harm Embodiment.”

Ari Ne’eman joins Ethics Talk to discuss his article, When Disability is Defined by Behavior, Outcome Measures Should Not promote “Passing”.

Dr Vaishali Phatak joins Ethics Talk to discuss her article, coauthored with Dr Mary Perkinson and Meghan K. Ramirez: “Leveraging Cross-Campus Expertise to Contribute to Dementia Care Through Music.”

Dr Chloë G. K. Atkins joins Ethics Talk to discuss her article, coauthored with Dr Sunit Das: “What Should Clinicians and Patients Know About the Clinical Gaze, Disability, and Iatrogenic Harm When Making Decisions?”

AMA Journal of Ethics theme editor Subha Perni, MD, a recent graduate of the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, interviewed Elizabeth Epstein, PhD, RN, about strategies for understanding and address moral distress in clinical settings.

Virtual Mentor issue editor Sophia Cedola, a medical student at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, interviewed Dr. Craig Blinderman about talking with patients who are terminally ill, asking him whether there are some key “do’s” and “don’ts” for having end-of-life conversations with patients and their families.