🛶 New blog post: "Up the creek without a paddle? We can help navigate the consent river in pragmatic cluster randomized trials" by Cory E. Goldstein, Stephanie N. Dixon, Monica Taljaard and Charles Weijer When designing pragmatic cluster randomized trials, the question of consent often arises. Should patient consent be sought if the clinic is randomized? This blog post addresses the complexities of consent in cluster randomized trials, providing guidance on when this design is justified and how to approach consent waivers responsibly. A flow chart from the authors offers practical support for researchers navigating these challenges #bioethics #clinicaltrials #researchethics #randomizedtrials 💻 Read the full blog post here:

🧬 New blog post: "Should liberal states permit the social use of mitochondrial replacement technique? The answer is yes" by Marco Tang Mitochondrial replacement technique (MRT) allows women with mitochondrial disease to have genetically related children, but also enables other couples - such as lesbians and certain trans partners - to share a biogenetic connection with their children. This blog post defends the liberal justification for the social use of MRT, particularly for these groups, focusing on equality of opportunity and autonomy as key principles #bioethics #liberalism #MRT #reproductiveethics #LGBTQ+ 💻 Read the full article here:

💭 "Seeking consensus on dilemmas related to euthanasia in dementia based on an advance directive: a Delphi study from a medical, ethical and legal perspective" by Marike E de Boer et al. Euthanasia in dementia based on an advance directive is legally possible in the Netherlands, but physicians face complex ethical and legal dilemmas in interpreting these requests. This Delphi study explores expert perspectives on key challenges, including how to balance a patient’s prior wishes with their current expressions, the role of family and advance directives in decision-making, and the feasibility of specific directive formulations. The findings offer insights to support physicians navigating these difficult cases #bioethics #euthanasia #dementia #endoflife #healthlaw 📄 Read the full article here:

💊 "The Ethics of Ozempic and Wegovy" by Nanette Ryan and Julian Savulescu Semaglutide has been hailed as a ‘miracle drug for weight loss,’ but its widespread use raises important ethical questions. Whilst concerns about fairness, access, and medicalisation are legitimate, do they justify restricting prescriptions for weight loss? This extended essay explores the ethical dimensions of Ozempic and Wegovy, arguing that these concerns - though significant - are not decisive reasons to withhold the drug #bioethics #Ozempic #Wegovy #weightloss 📄 Read the full article here:

🤔 "Using the Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment (ReSPECT) in a community setting: Does it facilitate best interests decision-making?" by Karin Eli et al. Does the ReSPECT process support best interests decision-making in community settings? This study — the first to explore its real-world impact — reveals challenges in how recommendations are recorded, interpreted, and enacted during emergencies. Inconsistent practices and contextual complexities may lead to decisions that do not fully align with patients’ best interests. Could more detailed recording of patient values help? #bioethics #ReSPECT #emergencycare #shareddecisionmaking 📄 Read the full article here:

🩺 "Assessing ethics and law in medical schools: there is no single best answer" by Greg Moorlock, Zuzana Deans and Michael Trimble How should medical ethics and law (MEL) be assessed in medical schools? Despite its well-established role in UK medical education, evaluating MEL presents unique challenges. This paper summarises the work of an Institute of Medical Ethics working group, which explored current assessment practices, their alignment with General Medical Council (GMC) requirements, and the strengths and limitations of different approaches. The findings suggest that existing methods may not sufficiently capture the GMC’s learning outcomes, raising important questions about how to assess MEL effectively #medicalethics #medicallaw #medicaleducation #bioethics 📄 Read the full article here:

🔍 "Am I Standing in the Way of My Own Philosophy?" by Peter Singer In this blog post, Peter Singer explores a fascinating question: can philosophers stand in the way of their own ideas? Reflecting on an AI trained on his work, Singer considers whether his past writings better represent his philosophy than his current views. Should evolving perspectives override earlier conclusions, or does accumulated evidence hold greater weight? #ai #petersinger #ethics #philosophy 💻 Read the full blog post here:

🧠 "Do Philosophers Stand in the Way of Their Own Philosophy?" by Matti Häyry In an intriguing interview with Peter Singer AI, Matti Häyry explores whether digital representations of philosophers might reflect their published ideas more faithfully than the philosophers themselves. When utilitarianism meets precaution, who has the final say - the thinker or the accumulated body of work? #ai #aiethics #philosophy #petersinger #utilitarianism Read more about this fascinating tension between man and machine:

🌍 New Blog Post: "The GMC Must Re-Evaluate Its Treatment of Climate Protesters" by Rammina Yassaie The suspension of doctors for participating in climate protests raises urgent ethical and professional questions for the GMC. Yassaie argues that nonviolent actions like those of Dr. Patrick Hart are grounded in a deep commitment to public health and should be recognised as such. Citing evidence from public opinion and the GMC's own standards, the post challenges the assumption that these acts undermine trust in the profession. Instead, Yassaie calls on the GMC to honor its duty to protect public health by addressing the climate emergency - not punishing those who speak out against it #climatechange #bioethics 💻 Read the full post here:

🤔 Blog Post: "The Assisted Dying Debate and the Questions We Aren’t Asking" by Christina Lamb and Daniel Wainstock As the Assisted Dying (AD) debate intensifies, Christina Lamb and Daniel Wainstock urge us to reconsider the ethical and societal implications beyond terminal illness. Drawing comparisons with Canada’s evolving MAiD program, the authors question whether AD addresses deeper issues, such as the meaning of death, the lack of palliative care, and the potential for exploitation of vulnerable populations. Instead of rushing to legalise AD, they suggest that we must first address the broader questions about suffering, dignity, and the value of life #bioethics #assisteddying #endoflife #healthcareethics 💻 Read the full blog post here:

👶 Blog Post: "Ethics is the key to demographic change" by J.Y. Lee With ageing populations and declining birth rates in the Global North, many nations - especially South Korea - face demographic challenges. However, J.Y. Lee critiques pronatalist policies that focus on increasing birth rates without addressing the broader social issues at play, such as economic insecurity, gender inequality, and work-life balance. A more holistic, ethical approach is needed to truly understand and support individuals’ reproductive decisions #bioethics #demographics #pronatalism 💻 Read the full blog post here:

🌍 Blog Post: "Do ecological preferences belong to patient autonomy? The answer is yes" by Sabine Salloch As healthcare becomes a significant emitter of greenhouse gases, the ethical dilemma of balancing ecological sustainability with patient care grows. Sabine Salloch explores how climate-sensitive healthcare and "Green Decision-Making" can coexist with patient autonomy, emphasising that patients may want ecological factors considered in their treatment decisions. In post-paternalistic medicine, patients are partners in decision-making, and their values—ecological preferences included—should be respected #bioethics #sustainability #patientautonomy #healthcareethics 💻 Read the full blog post here:

🧠 "Scaffolding informed consent" by Dominic Wilkinson and Neil Levy This essay explores how the principle of autonomy in informed consent is often epistemically dependent and how it can be better supported. Drawing on the concept of ‘scaffolding’ autonomy, the authors examine its implications for the doctor–patient relationship, decision-making processes, and high-stakes decisions like termination of pregnancy. They argue that while autonomy must be protected, it should not be free from all forms of influence #bioethics #informedconsent #autonomy 📄 Read the full essay here:

RT @MedHums_BMJ: We're delighted to welcome Dr. Dosani as our new EiC! Dr. Dosani is a consultant child & adolescent #psychiatrist, writer,…

🩺 "Professional obligations and the demandingness of acting against one’s conscience" by Alberto Giubilini Should healthcare professionals set aside their moral or religious views when they conflict with professional obligations? This essay reframes the debate on conscientious objection as a question of demandingness rather than freedom of conscience. It explores whether acting against one’s conscience is an acceptable burden for professionals, alongside the other risks and responsibilities inherent to healthcare roles #bioethics #conscientiousobjection #healthcareethics 📄 Read the full essay here:

💬 "Re-visiting professional ethics in psychotherapy: Reflections on the use of talking therapies as a supportive adjunct for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and ‘medically unexplained symptoms’" by Joanne Hunt and Charlotte Blease What does ethical psychotherapy look like for patients with ME/CFS and other medically unexplained symptoms? This essay explores the challenges of providing supportive - rather than therapeutic - care for this population, emphasising the principles of respect, competence, responsibility, and integrity. Recommendations include disability-affirming practices, reflexive education, patient inclusion in training and research, and transparent feedback systems to enhance ethical standards #bioethics #psychotherapy #chronicillness 📄 Read the full essay here:

📝 "Navigating the consent river: Questions to consider before waiving consent requirements in pragmatic cluster randomised trials" by Cory E. Goldstein, Monica Taljaard, Stephanie N. Dixon, and Charles Weijer When is it ethically permissible to waive informed consent in pragmatic cluster randomised trials? This article outlines four critical questions researchers and ethics committees should ask to navigate this complex issue, including the nature of the intervention, the justification for cluster randomisation, addressing recruitment bias, and properly justifying consent alterations #bioethics #clinicaltrials #researchethics #informedconsent 📄 Read the full article here:

🔬 "Polygenic risk scores and embryonic screening: Considerations for regulation" by Casey M. Haining, Julian Savulescu, Louise Keogh, and Owen Schaefer How should societies regulate the use of polygenic risk scores (PRSs) in embryonic screening? This article explores the ethical and practical challenges of applying PRSs in reproductive decision-making outlining regulatory considerations and the need for ongoing research and public consultation to ensure ethical use of this emerging technology #bioethics #genetics #regulation 📄 Read the full article here:

📢 The JME is pleased to announce a call for commentary proposals for a new Feature Article: "It’s not about autonomy: Realigning the ethical debate on substitute judgement and AI preference" by Marco Annoni 🗓️ Commentary abstracts due Monday 3rd February 2025 and full commentaries due Monday 10th March 2025 📌 Check out the feature article below and 'JME Commentaries' on the JME website for more info... #callforproposals #bioethics #AI

🧠 Blog Post: "Should Artificial Intelligence Guide Surrogate Decisions in Healthcare?" by Marco Annoni AI is on the verge of transforming healthcare, with one of its most promising applications being in surrogate decision-making. But can AI truly respect patient autonomy when it predicts the treatment preferences of those unable to make their own decisions? This blog post explores the ethical challenges of using AI tools like the "Personalized Patient Preference Predictor" (P4) in healthcare, and whether such tools can genuinely honor the individuality of patients #bioethics #ai #healthcareethics 💻 Read the full post here: