AMA Journal of Ethics^®

Some individuals with severe and enduring anorexia nervosa experience dramatically degraded quality of life in the face of refractory illness and compulsory treatment. 

This commentary on a case considers the ethical feasibility of palliative psychiatry in the care of patients with severe and enduring anorexia nervosa.

Dr Jonathan Treem joins Ethics Talk to discuss his article, coauthored with Drs Joel Yager and Jennifer L. Gaudiani: “A Life-Affirming Palliative Care Model for Severe and Enduring Anorexia Nervosa.”

Treatment-resistant schizophrenia can create a high disease burden for some patients, making it hard to get good outcomes.

During immediate and long-term recovery periods, decisions must account for patients’ personal goals and possible clinical outcomes and should clarify what recovery means.

Clinician-researchers deeply invested in data gathering are still obliged to respect a patient-subject’s right to stop being in research.

Success depends on strong support, rehabilitation, adherence, and social integration.

Facial transplantation must establish approaches to assessing QoL in candidates and recipients that use meaningful outcomes.

Case analysis illuminates strategies clinicians can use to reconcile competing duties to patients on ECMO.

Health care organizations have obligations to support all patients mothering newborns in making informed choices about formula and breast feeding.