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.

AMA Journal of Ethics theme editor Karel-Bart Celie, a second-year medical student at Columbia University School of Medicine, interviewed Joseph J. Fins, MD, about the work of ethics committees and consultants as they pursue professionalization and respond to changes in health care organization and practice.

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?”

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?”

Leaders from a coalition of environmental, human rights, and religious organizations talk about the need to enact a nationwide moratorium on utilities shutoffs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Arthur Caplan talks about hesitancy among US health care workers to take COVID-19 vaccines authorized by the FDA for emergency use.

Dr Donald Tomaskovic-Devey talks about the plight of those among us in low wage positions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prof Larry Gostin talks about balancing public health ethics and personal civil liberties during this COVID-19 pandemic.