ABSTRACT
Recognizing the role of technology in the development of medicine and the impact of telecommunication advances, we reflect on the meaning and ethics of the use of Telemedicine, both in its general dimension for the use and distribution of knowledge, as well as in the delivery of health actions, scientific research, and data management. Teleconsultation is discussed in greater detail, analyzing its process and application, reviewing its possible advantages and disadvantages, from the point of view of providers and patients. We highlight the need to carry out an appropriate evaluation of each instance, from the point of view of both the patient and the professional who uses it. The importance of maintaining a doctor-patient relationship in agreement with the nature and practice of Medicine, respecting people's dignity, is emphasized. We mention the ethical conditions that must be bore in mind for the proper use of telemedicine. We discuss the eventual influence that this practice will have on the concept and practice of medical care, while suggesting the need to legislate on the matter.
Subject(s)
Humans , Physician-Patient Relations , Telemedicine , MoralsABSTRACT
Conscientious Objection arises as a response to a regulation that is judged as immoral. Faced with a law that is considered unfair, the citizen can respond accepting it against his will, exercising conscientious objection on a personal level or, collectively reaching civil disobedience or revolutionary violence. This is an old discussion known since ancient Greece. The current enactment of laws that allow actions previously judged as crime, and that contravene medical tradition, reactivated the discussion about such objection. Some people, such as Savolescu, who denies the legitimacy of conscientious objection invoked by doctors, arguing that it is inefficient, leads to inequality and is inconsistent. He proposes that the values of these professionals can be tolerated privately but should not be determinant in the public sphere. These arguments are critically examined, mentioning pertinent answers from theoretical and practical points of view. We highlight that ethics should not differ in public and private spheres and the principles should be the same, but exercised in different fields. It is concluded that conscientious objection is acquiring legitimacy and that it is necessary to reflect on the underlying reasons that lead to invoke it. It should be considered a civilized resource against determinations of power that are considered to be an attempt against personal values and moral integrity.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Physicians , Conscience , Refusal to Treat , Dissent and DisputesABSTRACT
Social, technical and legal conditions of the current practice of medicine make it necessary to insist on certain actions and circumstances that may jeopardize the confidentiality of information, offered by patients to their health providers. Therefore, some effects of the current Chilean law are analyzed in this respect, regarding access to data from the clinical record of a patient. Also, the risks of putting certain data on social networking sites are analyzed, as well as some of its effects on clinical practice. The reasons because of mandatory reporting of diseases, meaning danger to public health, is allowed, are mentioned. We also discuss the difficulties involved in managing the results of preventative health screenings and its knowledge by third parties, as well as some possible violations of personal privacy, regarding dissemination of some people health information and its further mention or figuration in mass media. We conclude that it is a must for both physicians and other health team members, to safeguard confidentiality of data to which they have had access, as well as the need to know the relevant law, in order to respect human dignity of patients, each one as a person. We address the attention to the possibility that, practicing in a different way, it could endanger the reliability of clinical records, also impairing the quality of people’s health care.
Subject(s)
Humans , Confidentiality/legislation & jurisprudence , Medical Records , Access to Information , Access to Information/legislation & jurisprudence , Chile , Confidentiality , Disease Notification , Information Dissemination , Insurance, Health , Medical Records/legislation & jurisprudence , Medical Records/standards , Patient Access to Records/legislation & jurisprudence , Patient Rights/legislation & jurisprudence , Personhood , Social NetworkingABSTRACT
One ofthe most common and troublesome complications ofmodern intensive anticancer treatments is oral mucositis. The purpose ofthis review is to summarize current evidente and clinical guidelines regarding its prevention and therapy. The use of keratinocyte growth factor-1, supplementary glutamine and other recently developed treatment modalities are discussed. The injury ofthe oral mucosa caused by antineoplastic agents promotes the local expression of múltiple pro-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic molecules and eventually leads to the development of ulcers. Such lesions predispose patients to several infectious and nutritional complications. Also, they lead to modification of treatment schedules, potentially affecting overall prognosis. Local cryotherapy with ice chips and phototherapy with low energy láser may be useful as preventive measures. Mouthwashes with allopurinol and phototherapy with low energy láser can be used as treatment. In radiotherapy, special radiation administration techniques should be used to minimize mucosal injury. Pain control should always be optimized, with the use ofpatient controlled analgesia and topical use of morphine. Supplemental glutamine should not be used outside of research protocols. Lastly, thorough attention should bepaid to general care and hygiene measures.