ASSISTED suicide laws, COURTS, MENTAL depression, MEDICAL ethics, MENTAL health, PATIENT safety, PRACTICAL politics, PROFESSIONS, OCCUPATIONAL roles, FAMILY roles, PATIENT decision making
Abstract
During recent years, arguments supporting and opposing the legalisation of assisted dying have greatly intensified. The issue is a matter for society to decide, but physicians and psychiatrists have an essential role in informing public and parliamentary opinion on the contributions and limitations of medical knowledge related to the assessment of patients who request assisted dying and the necessity for strict safeguards should it be legalised. Some of the more important aspects of assessment and safeguards are discussed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
FRAUD in science, MEDICAL research, PHYSICIAN-patient relations, MEDICAL practice, MEDICAL ethics
Abstract
The article focuses on the prevalence of medical research fraud and its effect on mutual trust between doctors and patients in Great Britain. New cases of medical research fraud are being reported despite the awareness of the professional standards. The public will move away from research once the fraud was proven and when grant reviewers and journal editors failed to disclose the error. The profession should acknowledge that research fraud is a reality and should find solutions to prevent them.
DIAGNOSIS of HIV infections, CAPACITY (Law), INFECTIOUS disease transmission, INFORMED consent (Medical law), HEALTH insurance, INTENSIVE care units, MEDICAL ethics, NEEDLESTICK injuries, SOCIAL stigma, HIGHLY active antiretroviral therapy, LAW, LEGISLATION
Abstract
Incapacitated patients must be treated in their best interests according to the Mental Capacity Act 2005. As a result of this statute, the General Medical Council has advised that the testing of incapacitated source patients for HIV following occupational needlestick injury is unlawful. In this article, the reasons for the introduction of the Act are outlined and the impact of the legislation on the profession discussed. It is argued that it is in the patient's medical best interests to know if they are HIV positive so that they can be treated appropriately whilst they are incapacitated on ICU and begin timely medical therapy. It is in their social, emotional, cultural and religious best interests to be tested so that they can alleviate the anxiety of the injured healthcare worker, change their behaviour to avoid further spread and contribute to wider society as a 'good egg'. It is concluded that the GMC has misunderstood the meaning of best interests and that their advice should be revised to allow testing to occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
NEGLIGENCE, AESTHETICS, DAMAGES (Law), LEGAL liability, MEDICAL ethics, NEUROLOGICAL disorders, SURGICAL complications, PLASTIC surgery, TRAVEL, WORLD health, ACCREDITATION
Abstract
The article discusses a case involving negligent aesthetic surgery. The surgery took place in a Belgian clinic and was performed by an Italian surgeon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
HEALTH care reform, HEALTH policy, HEALTH services accessibility, CONFLICT of interests, HEALTH status indicators, MEDICAL care use, MEDICAL care costs, MEDICAL ethics, ORGANIZATIONAL change, PRIMARY health care, PUBLIC health, RESPONSIBILITY, ORGANIZATIONAL structure, OCCUPATIONAL roles, ECONOMIC competition, MEDICAL care, MEDICAL care laws
Abstract
The Health and Social Care Bill proposes clinically led commissioning. The new Clinical Commissioning Groups will become statutory bodies and replace the old primary care trusts. This primary legislation will transfer accountability for health care spending to clinicians who will have a duty to meet the health needs of a population as well as balance a budget. This change gives rise to a number of ethical issues which are explored in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
INFORMED consent (Medical law), MEDICAL ethics, MEDICAL laws, PATIENT education, MEDICAL care
Abstract
The article considers the amount of information that should be given to patients for informed consent to be valid. It is imperative in good medical practice that a patient must give a valid consent to medical treatment and be given the prerogative to refuse treatment. Physicians must give sufficient information about the treatment before treating that person. The evolution of the doctrine of informed consent in the U.S. and Great Britain, and the amount of information that should be given to patients are explored.