Has emergency medicine research benefited patients? An ethical question.

Science and Engineering Ethics
Kenneth V Iserson

Abstract

From an ethical standpoint, the goal of clinical research is to benefit patients. While individual investigations may not yield results that directly improve patients' evaluation or treatment, the corpus of the research should lead in that direction. Without the goal of ultimate benefit to patients, such research fails as a moral enterprise. While this may seem obvious, the need to protect and benefit patients can get lost in the milieu of clinical research. Many advances in emergency medicine have been based upon the results of research studies conducted both within the specialty and by others outside of the field. But has this research benefited patients? Has it followed the Hippocratic commitment "to do good or at least do no harm"? The answer is: yes, and no. This paper attempts to demonstrate this: first by citing advances from applied research that have benefited emergency department patients over the past three decades, and follows with some aspects of emergency medicine research that makes one question both its safety and its efficacy. While enormous gains have been made in patient care as a result of emergency medical research, ethical considerations complicate this rosy picture, and point to future areas of concern fo...Continue Reading

References

Jul 1, 1992·Critical Care Medicine·K V Iserson, M B Mahowald
Nov 1, 1991·Annals of Emergency Medicine·W H SpiveyM P Cohen
Jul 16, 1987·The New England Journal of Medicine·B Freedman
Oct 1, 1981·Annals of Emergency Medicine·V P GotzD D Mar
Feb 15, 1980·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·P F BrennerD R Mishell
Apr 1, 1980·Annals of Emergency Medicine·L R BarkerR J Stine
Jun 1, 1980·Annals of Emergency Medicine·R J Rothstein
Jul 1, 1980·Annals of Emergency Medicine·S B Seager
Dec 1, 1980·Annals of Emergency Medicine·D L Brown, J J Skiendzielewski
Mar 1, 1981·Annals of Emergency Medicine·G L MuellerJ R Mackenzie
Feb 13, 1981·Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift·V Berndt, van Laak
Jul 1, 1995·The Journal of Emergency Medicine·K V Iserson, D Lindsey
Jun 5, 2002·Academic Emergency Medicine : Official Journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine·B Zane HorowitzRaymond Moreno
Nov 3, 2005·Academic Emergency Medicine : Official Journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine·Marilyn C Morris

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Trustee : the Journal for Hospital Governing Boards
Bill Ide
Progress in Transplantation : Official Publication, North American Transplant Coordinators Organization ... [et Al.]
Sheldon ZinkLaura Kimberly
Academic Medicine : Journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges
William T Mallon
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved