PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

J A Erlen

Publications and source records attributed to J A Erlen.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Ethical principles contained in currently professed medical oaths.

This study analyzed the pledges received from all U.S. medical schools accredited in 1989 by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education of both the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Medical Association to determine what pledges were affirmed and what ethical principles they contained. The Oath of Hippocrates was the most frequently affirmed pledge (the wording of which was used by 60 schools). Few oaths clearly demonstrated respect for patients' autonomy. The principle of veracity was not evident in any oath. However, nonmaleficence, beneficence, and justice were evident in half of the pledges, and confidentiality was included in three-fourths of them. The authors conclude that the medical oaths failed to address the changing doctor-patient relationship emerging in the 1990s, whereas they continued to affirm traditional principles of nonmaleficence and beneficence.

Beneficence

Stigma, AIDS and quality of nursing care: state of the science.

Reports of fear and psychological distress on the part of nurses when caring for AIDS patients have drawn attention to the real possibility that care for this very sick group of patients may be less than adequate. This paper reviews what is currently known about the attitudes of nurses and the care provided to HIV-infected individuals. The authors reveal the paucity of empirical data concerning quality of care and how the concept of stigma might serve to aid our understanding. The need for more research documenting the quality of care provided to HIV-infected patients is discussed.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Evolving issues in surrogate motherhood.

Surrogate mothering is an arrangement whereby a woman who gives birth to an infant intends--through a contractual agreement--to give that baby to another couple. The recent Baby M case in the United States has raised numerous legal concerns causing many legislative bodies to consider possible statutes to regulate or prohibit surrogacy. The competing interests among and between the individuals involved in this relationship (i.e., the surrogate mother, the couple, the baby, and society) suggest various ethical issues related to benefits, risks, and autonomy. Legal and ethical concerns surrounding the technologically possible procedure of surrogate motherhood are discussed.

Adoption

Making an ethical decision in the home setting: the case of Stan.

Home health nurses are not immune to ethical dilemmas in their practices. In fact, the ethical dilemmas that are encountered in home health present a unique challenge to these nurses because of the relationship of the home care agency to the patient.

Aged

Factors influencing ethical decision making in the home setting.

The process of ethical decision making does not differ according to the patient care setting. However, various factors in home care affect the way in which decisions are made. The factors to consider are the amount of time needed to make a decision, the involvement of the patient and family, the need for support systems, the difficulties with interdisciplinary communication, and the lack of an ethics committee. Recognizing the ways in which these variables affect the decision making can help home healthcare nurses resolve the ethical dilemmas they face. In addition, staff education programs, the use of consultants, and the development of ethics committees are possible strategies to facilitate ethical decision making.

Aged

Anencephalic infants as sources of organs. Issues and implications for nurses.

This article discusses anencephalic infants as potential sources of organs for infants and young children. Ethical issues relating to screening pregnant women, parental consent for organ donation, and the postnatal care of anencephalic infants are addressed. Professional responsibilities are identified to enable nurses to act ethically when confronted by these issues in caring for mothers and their infants.

Anencephaly

Vaginal birth after cesarean: issues and implications.

Vaginal birth after cesarean is still an uncommon practice in the United States despite fewer contraindications to it. This article examines issues related to cesarean section practice patterns, malpractice, rising health care costs, changing childbearing patterns, and risks and benefits to mother and baby. Implications for nurses are discussed as they relate to nursing education, practice, and research.

Attitude of Health Personnel

Demystifying ethical decision making.

Ethical dilemmas frequently occur in the practice of orthopaedic nursing. Nurses, however, are often unsure about how to resolve these dilemmas. The language of ethics remains elusive. Yet, because nurses have a central role in patient care, they need to become more comfortable making ethical decisions related to their practice. This article briefly describes the dialectical process of ethical decision making and demonstrates this process by using a case presentation. Readers are encouraged to put themselves into the role of the bedside nurse in the case, determine what they believe to be the right action, and provide a well-grounded rationale for that decision.

Adult