30 research outputs found
Moral Responsibility in the Context of Prenatal Testing: What can be Expected?
Commentaire / CommentaryDes auteurs ont suggĂ©rĂ©s que lâexamen des aspects Ă©thiques et sociaux du test prĂ©natal pouvait ĂȘtre vu comme une responsabilitĂ© individuelle des patients, cependant aucun fondement conceptuel nâa Ă©tĂ© proposĂ© pour appuyer cette thĂšse. Jâavance que la vision de âresponsabilitĂ© morale comme une vertuâ de Candace Cummins Gauthier, dĂ©veloppĂ©e comme une volontĂ© de concilier les notions dâautonomie et de communautĂ©, fournit ce cadre conceptuel.Authors have suggested that considering the ethical and social aspects of prenatal testing could be seen as an individual responsibility for patients, but no conceptual grounds have been provided for this thesis. I argue that Candace Cummins Gauthierâs account of âmoral responsibility as a virtueâ, developed as an attempt to reconcile notions of autonomy and community, provides such basis
La pertinence et les enjeux eÌthiques d'interventions de santeÌ publique envers l'infertiliteÌ et l'Ăąge maternel avancĂ©
Des eÌtudes reÌcentes ont deÌmontreÌ une augmentation de la preÌvalence de lâinfertiliteÌ au Canada ainsi quâune augmentation fulgurante de lâutilisation de la procreÌation assisteÌe. Le QueÌbec sâest doteÌ en 2010 dâun programme de financement de la procreÌation assisteÌe visant un acceÌs universel ainsi que la protection de la santeÌ des meÌres et des enfants. Les diverses parties prenantes attribuent un certain nombre de lacunes aÌ ce programme, incluant lâabsence de mesures de preÌvention et de promotion de la santeÌ visant aÌ reÌduire la preÌvalence de lâinfertiliteÌ. En effet, une proportion significative de cas dâinfertiliteÌ deÌcoule de facteurs modifiables et relatifs aux modes de vie tels que le tabagisme, les infections transmises sexuellement et par le sang, les probleÌmes de poids, les toxines environnementales et lâaÌge. De plus, lâaÌge maternel avanceÌ ainsi que lâusage de la procreÌation assisteÌe comportent des risques pour la santeÌ des meÌres et des enfants au sujet desquels la population ne posseÌde pas une connaissance suffisante. Des approches en amont ont eÌteÌ proposeÌes par diverses organisations et dans divers pays, toutefois, peu ont eÌteÌ adopteÌes. Force est de constater que ces initiatives repreÌsentent de grands deÌfis au point de vue de lâacceptabiliteÌ sociale, en raison de la nature sensible du sujet et dâune grande valorisation sociale de lâautonomie reproductive. LâeÌthique des communications en santeÌ permet dâidentifier ces deÌfis qui touchent lâusage de tactiques persuasives, le risque de stigmatisation et lâattribution indue dâune responsabiliteÌ. Si leur eÌlaboration tient compte de ces enjeux, les campagnes de communications en santeÌ ont le potentiel dâinformer adeÌquatement la population afin de favoriser lâautonomie et la santeÌ reproductive des individus, sans causer de dommage iatrogeÌnique. LâeÌthique de lâ « empowerment », qui requiert lâattribution dâune responsabiliteÌ individuelle de nature prospective, lâapport de ressources concreÌtes et lâimplication des communauteÌs, permet dâidentifier les besoins en termes de solutions leÌgislatives favorisant des contextes socioeÌconomiques qui soutiennent la santeÌ reproductive et lâautonomie reproductive.Recent studies have demonstrated an increased prevalence of infertility in Canada and a tremendous growth in assisted reproductive technologies use. In 2010, the Quebec government launched a public funding program for assisted reproductive technologies, which aims to provide equitable access and to protect the health of mothers and children. Various stakeholders have identified a number of shortcomings to this program, including the absence of prevention and health promotion measures aimed towards reducing the prevalence of infertility. Indeed, a significant proportion of infertility cases is attributable to modifiable and lifestyle related factors such as smoking, sexually transmitted infections, weight problems, environmental toxins and age. In addition, both advanced maternal age and assisted reproductive technologies utilization pose risks to the health of mothers and children, about which the population is not adequately informed. Preventative approaches have been proposed by many organizations in various countries but few have been implemented. A reason for this might be that these initiatives represent major challenges in terms of social acceptability, due to the sensitive nature of the subject and the strong social respect for reproductive autonomy. Health communication ethics highlights these issues such as the use of persuasive tactics, the risk of stigmatization, and undue attribution of responsibility. If designed effectively with these challenges in mind, health communication campaigns for infertility prevention have the potential to adequately inform the public, thus fostering reproductive autonomy and health, without causing iatrogenic damage. The âethics of empowermentâ, with its requirements for assigning only prospective individual responsibility, providing concrete resources and involving communities in social change, helps in identifying the needs for policy solutions that address the social context in order to enhance reproductive health and reproductive autonomy
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome associated with COVID-19: An Emulated Target Trial Analysis.
RATIONALE: Whether COVID patients may benefit from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) compared with conventional invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) remains unknown. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the effect of ECMO on 90-Day mortality vs IMV only Methods: Among 4,244 critically ill adult patients with COVID-19 included in a multicenter cohort study, we emulated a target trial comparing the treatment strategies of initiating ECMO vs. no ECMO within 7 days of IMV in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (PaO2/FiO2 <80 or PaCO2 â„60 mmHg). We controlled for confounding using a multivariable Cox model based on predefined variables. MAIN RESULTS: 1,235 patients met the full eligibility criteria for the emulated trial, among whom 164 patients initiated ECMO. The ECMO strategy had a higher survival probability at Day-7 from the onset of eligibility criteria (87% vs 83%, risk difference: 4%, 95% CI 0;9%) which decreased during follow-up (survival at Day-90: 63% vs 65%, risk difference: -2%, 95% CI -10;5%). However, ECMO was associated with higher survival when performed in high-volume ECMO centers or in regions where a specific ECMO network organization was set up to handle high demand, and when initiated within the first 4 days of MV and in profoundly hypoxemic patients. CONCLUSIONS: In an emulated trial based on a nationwide COVID-19 cohort, we found differential survival over time of an ECMO compared with a no-ECMO strategy. However, ECMO was consistently associated with better outcomes when performed in high-volume centers and in regions with ECMO capacities specifically organized to handle high demand. This article is open access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives License 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
From âObstetrical Violenceâ Complaints to âRespectful Maternity Careâ: The Complaints Commissioner as Facilitator of Organizational Change
In this case study, we describe an approach to dealing with a complicated, systemic, and multi-faceted organizational issue: the continuum of maternal care from antepartum care, birthing, to post-natal care.Dans cette Ă©tude de cas, nous dĂ©crit une approche visant Ă traiter un problĂšme organisationnel compliquĂ©, systĂ©mique et Ă multiples facettes : le continuum des soins maternels, depuis les soins antepartum, lâaccouchement et les soins postnatals
La place de la bioĂ©thique au sein du rĂ©gime dâexamen des plaintes dans le rĂ©seau de santĂ© et de services sociaux quĂ©bĂ©cois
In Quebec, the complaints examination process in the health and social services network contributes to the continuous improvement of care by allowing users to voice their dissatisfaction to an independent body with the authority to make recommendations to institutions. This process fosters the active participation of users and therefore contributes to democratizing care and services. In addition to its obvious connection with this empowerment objective, bioethics is ubiquitous in the work of the bodies responsible for applying the process, namely the complaints commissionersâ offices. This article highlights the implicit use of concepts from bioethics in the day-to-day work of complaints commissionersâ offices. We discuss autonomy from the perspective of self-determination and confidentiality in analyzing the complaintsâ admissibility. We discuss justice in terms of fairness in resource allocation and epistemic justice in complaintsâ examination. Next, we discuss the similarities in methodologies between bioethics and the complaints examination process, namely clinical ethics grids and narrativity. Finally, we discuss the importance of impartiality, independence, and transparency in the work of complaints commissioners. We conclude by offering some reflections on ways to update the empirical knowledge regarding the objectives of fostering usersâ participation in their care and democratizing care.Au QuĂ©bec, le rĂ©gime dâexamen des plaintes dans le rĂ©seau de la santĂ© et des services sociaux contribue Ă lâamĂ©lioration continue des soins en permettant aux usagers de partager leur insatisfaction auprĂšs dâune instance indĂ©pendante pouvant Ă©mettre des recommandations aux Ă©tablissements. Le rĂ©gime permet ainsi de renforcer la participation active de lâusager et donc de dĂ©mocratiser les soins et services. En plus de sa parentĂ© Ă©vidente avec cet objectif dâautonomisation, la bioĂ©thique est omniprĂ©sente dans le travail des instances responsables de lâapplication du rĂ©gime, soit les commissariats aux plaintes. Cet article met en lumiĂšre lâusage implicite de concepts issus de la bioĂ©thique dans le travail quotidien des commissariats aux plaintes. Nous y abordons lâautonomie, sous lâangle de lâautodĂ©termination et de la confidentialitĂ© dans lâanalyse de la recevabilitĂ© des plaintes. Nous y abordons Ă©galement la justice, sous lâangle de lâĂ©quitĂ© dans lâallocation des ressources et de la justice Ă©pistĂ©mique dans le traitement des plaintes. Ensuite, nous abordons les similitudes entre les mĂ©thodologies de la bioĂ©thique et du rĂ©gime dâexamen des plaintes, nommĂ©ment les grilles dâanalyse en Ă©thique clinique et la narrativitĂ©. Finalement, nous abordons lâimportance de lâimpartialitĂ©, de lâindĂ©pendance et de la transparence dans le travail des commissariats aux plaintes. Nous concluons en offrant des pistes de rĂ©flexion en vue dâune mise Ă jour des connaissances empiriques concernant la concrĂ©tisation des objectifs de renforcement de la participation de lâusager dans ses soins et de dĂ©mocratisation des soins et services
Complaints Commissionersâ Assistance Function: System Navigator or Queue Jumper?
This commentary invites reflection on the positive and negative outcomes of âassistancesâ provided by a Complaints Commissioner. While the goal of an assistance is to help the user navigate the health system, a lack of clarity and understanding of the process can lead to the user obtaining undue privileges. We suggest three key values to guide the equitable conduct of assistances and we suggest a mixed method research methodology to document the positive and negative impacts of assistances.Ce commentaire invite Ă rĂ©flĂ©chir sur les rĂ©sultats positifs et nĂ©gatifs des « assistances » fournies par un commissaire aux plaintes. Bien que l'objectif d'une assistance soit d'aider l'usager Ă s'orienter dans le systĂšme de santĂ©, un manque de clartĂ© et de comprĂ©hension du processus peut faire en sorte que l'usager obtienne des privilĂšges indus. Nous suggĂ©rons trois valeurs clĂ©s pour guider la conduite Ă©quitable des assistances et nous suggĂ©rons une mĂ©thodologie de recherche mixte pour documenter les impacts positifs et nĂ©gatifs des assistances
VariabilitĂ© et origine des apports dĂ©tritiques dans le secteur indien de l'ocĂ©an Austral au cours des derniers 30â000 ans
The surface water circulation variability in the southeastern Indian Sector has been investigated using micropalaeontological and isotopic analysis in a deep-sea core located near the Subantarctic Front. The frequency and intensity of iceberg and meltwater discharges have been studied by counting detrital grains >45 mu m, by determining their mineralogical composition, and by measuring delta(18)O in the planktonic foraminifera Neogloboquadrina pachyderma sinistral. The variability of hydrologic fronts was determined by estimating the sea surface temperatures (SST) using the Imbrie and Kipp foraminifera transfer function. Four iceberg discharge events were determined between 24 and 12 ka C-14 BP during the last glacial stage. Distinct but low magnitude increases in lithic grain concentrations probably indicate little-modified surface hydrology. There is no evidence of significant variation in delta(18)O isotopic anomalies. A comparison of southern iceberg discharges with North Atlantic Heinrich events shows that these events occur more or less synchronously but depict differences in the dynamics of deposition.La variabilitĂ© des caractĂ©ristiques des eaux de surface du secteur est-indien de l'ocĂ©an Austral a Ă©tĂ© examinĂ©e Ă partir de marqueurs micropalĂ©ontologiques et isotopiques dans une carotte de sĂ©diments marins profonds, situĂ©e actuellement dans la zone du front subantarctique. La frĂ©quence et l'intensitĂ© des dĂ©charges d'icebergs et d'eau de fonte ont Ă©tĂ© Ă©tudiĂ©s Ă partir des comptages et de la minĂ©ralogie des particules dĂ©tritiques dans les fractions 45â150 ÎŒm et >150 ÎŒm et Ă l'aide du ÎŽ18O mesurĂ© sur les tests du foraminifĂšre planctonique Neogloboquadrina pachyderma forme senestre. Les variations de la position des fronts hydrologiques ont Ă©tĂ© Ă©tablies par la reconstitution des palĂ©otempĂ©ratures de surface, basĂ©e sur des techniques de fonctions de transfert qui utilisent la distribution des assemblages de foraminifĂšres planctoniques. Quatre Ă©vĂ©nements de dĂ©charges d'icebergs sont mis en Ă©vidence au cours du dernier stade glaciaire, entre 24 et 12 ka 14C BP. Ces Ă©vĂ©nements sont bien individualisĂ©s mais ne crĂ©ent pas d'importants flux de dĂ©tritiques ou d'anomalie isotopique significative. Ils sont associĂ©s Ă des tempĂ©ratures de surface qui soulignent la proximitĂ© du front polaire. La comparaison des Ă©vĂ©nements de dĂ©charges d'icebergs enregistrĂ©s dans l'ocĂ©an Austral avec ceux de l'Atlantique Nord (Ă©vĂ©nements dits d'Heinrich) montre que les dĂ©charges d'icebergs se dĂ©roulent dans les deux hĂ©misphĂšres au cours de pĂ©riodes de temps trĂšs voisines, mais qu'ils prĂ©sentent des caractĂ©ristiques de dĂ©pĂŽt diffĂ©rentes
Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in small mammals from the Ardennes region, France.
International audienceSerum samples from 218 small mammals trapped in forest and grassland in the Ardennes region (North-eastern France) were tested for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii. Using the modified agglutination test, positive results were found in 4/92 Apodemus sp., 3/64 Clethrionomys glareolus, 0/26 Microtus agrestis, 0/4 Micromys minutus, 3/5 Sorex sp., 2/9 Arvicola terrestris, and 7/18 Talpa europaea. Toxoplasma gondii was not isolated from the heart of seropositive individuals after bioassay in mice. Seroprevalence was significantly higher in large fossorial mammals living in grassland than in small forest mammals, probably related to ecological factors
The value of non-invasive prenatal testing: preferences of Canadian pregnant women, their partners, and health professionals regarding NIPT use and access
Abstract Background Canadian policies regarding the implementation and public coverage of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) are heterogeneous and shifting, with NIPT being publicly covered for high-risk pregnancies in some provinces, but not others. Such a diverse and evolving policy landscape provides fertile ground for examining the preferences of pregnant women, their partners, and health professionals regarding the implementation and coverage of NIPT by the public healthcare system, as well as the factors influencing their preferences, which is what the present study does. Methods In this paper, we report the results of three-large scale Canadian surveys, in which 882 pregnant women, 395 partners of pregnant women, and 184 healthcare professionals participated. Results The paper focuses on preferences regarding how and when NIPT should be used, as well as the factors influencing these preferences, and how coverage for NIPT should be provided. These are correlated with respondentsâ levels of knowledge about Down syndrome and testing technologies and with their stated intended use of NIPT results. Conclusion Salient is the marked difference between the preferences of prospective parents and those of healthcare professionals, which has potential implications for Canadian policy regarding NIPT implementation and insurance coverage