Articles related to MEDICAL ETHICS

The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled that a patient’s statements to a physician remained protected by physician-patient privilege despite police presence during a clinical conversation. The decision arose from a newborn death prosecution and highlights the fact-specific nature of confidentiality protections.

A Georgia woman alleges that a pathology specimen mix-up led to an erroneous cancer diagnosis and an unnecessary hysterectomy. The lawsuit highlights the potential consequences of laboratory identification failures and diagnostic verification breakdowns.

A fatal cosmetic implant-removal procedure allegedly performed by an unlicensed individual promoted through social media has renewed attention on credential verification, patient safety, and online medical marketing. The case highlights regulatory and public safety concerns rather than new clinical evidence.

An Arizona toddler was pronounced dead following resuscitation efforts and later discovered alive in a hospital morgue hours afterward. The unusual case has prompted investigation into death determination, communication, and post-resuscitation safety processes.

An Oregon gastroenterology group was hit with a $25M wrongful death verdict after a 43-year-old patient with obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension died during a routine outpatient colonoscopy, with liability centered on the decision to perform the procedure in a lower-acuity setting despite a risk profile that plaintiffs argued warranted a hospital environment.

Nurses frequently express ethical uncertainty and emotional burden when institutional constraints or unclear policies interfere with the delivery of person-centered care.