New Paradigms in Medical Ethics

J Clin Ethics. 2016 Winter;27(4):267-280.

Abstract

As new technologies develop, new ethical paradigms may be needed. This article considers several examples, such as stopping venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO), treating patients who are in a locked-in-like state who have awareness, purposefully deceiving patients who have dementia, meeting the needs of transgender persons, showing loved ones patients' wounds, and doing research on controlled substances. I suggest that clinicians should identify the practices underlying their value assumptions so they can alter their assumptions when this might improve the care they offer to their patients.

MeSH terms

  • Antipsychotic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Dementia / drug therapy
  • Dementia / psychology
  • Ethics, Clinical*
  • Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / ethics
  • Health Equity
  • Humans
  • Pain Management
  • Personal Autonomy
  • Proxy
  • Sexual Behavior
  • Transgender Persons
  • Withholding Treatment / ethics

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents