Whenever I say that Canada doesn’t have any overarching principle behind its various healthcare systems, someone invariably – often indignantly – says “Well, we have the Canada Health Act”. So I thought this would be a good place to talk (very briefly, I promise!) about Read More …
When prescribing or renewing medications, should clinicians systematically counsel patients on the potential dangers of driving under their influence; of drugged driving? While considering your response to this question, bear in mind that the “prevalence of prescribed controlled substances among drivers has been well-documented among Read More …
Nowhere is basic human kindness more underrated than in healthcare. I don’t mean that only in terms of kindness towards patients and caregivers, but also towards those for whom healthcare is their calling, their career, their job, or their volunteer work. I’m certain that others Read More …
It’s been an underlying principle of bioethics – since the Nuremberg Trials – that the informed consent of an individual (or of their community, within certain cultural norms) must usually be secured prior to their participation in clinical or medical research. In some form or Read More …
We’re closing in on the end of another year, so two bioethics colleagues and I ended a recent teleconference with a quick conversation on the general topic of: What do you view as the most neglected issue in bioethics and healthcare, for the near future?” Read More …
What’s a post on privacy doing in a bioethics blog? You might be surprised to find out how much – or how little – privacy protection is granted to patients’ health and medical information. In the US, for example: for almost 10 years, your video-rental Read More …
