1,407 research outputs found
Editors' Introduction
That swing of the pendulum, with which our time was represented, (Heller 1990), and which either moves forwards denying "what has been" or nostalgically back to the past and therefore eager to recover what has been broken, seems to perpetuate itself in the most sensitive beings. When exhausted by the endless and incessant struggle between what is fleeting and what remains, they take refuge in the kingdom of "high culture" (Heller 1999) in order to find a stable home in which to shelter themselves from the uncertainty of these continuous oscillations (Costanzo 2007)..
Three-Dimensional Bioprinting of Human Organs and Tissues: Bioethical and Medico-Legal Implications Examined through a Scoping Review
Three-dimensional bioprinting is a rapidly evolving technology that holds the promise of
addressing the increasing demand for organs, tissues, and personalized medicine. By employing
computer-aided design and manufacturing processes, 3D bioprinting allows for the precise deposition
of living cells, biomaterials, and biochemicals to create functional human tissues and organs. The
potential applications of this technology are vast, including drug testing and development, disease
modeling, regenerative medicine, and ultimately, organ transplantation. However, as with any
groundbreaking technology, 3D bioprinting presents several ethical, legal, and regulatory concerns
that warrant careful consideration. As the technology progresses towards clinical applications, it is
essential to address these challenges and establish appropriate frameworks to guide the responsible
development of 3D bioprinting. This article, utilizing the Arksey and OâMalley scoping review
model, is designed to scrutinize the bioethical implications, legal and regulatory challenges, and
medico-legal issues that are intertwined with this rapidly evolving technology
The National Ethics Committee: a truly valuable asset for clinical trials?
Advances in biomedicine, increased patient autonomy, and higher average life expectancy, have
contributed to raising a multitude of questions relating to Clinical Ethics. Though these aspects stand on
their own, national or community-level legislation that is unable to meet Ethical demands, or satisfies
them only partially, it will never be able to satisfy aims and interests of a rapidly changing society. The
Ethical protection of the individual in the context of life and health has been entrusted to independent,
impartial bodies: Territorial Ethics Committees. In 2015, Minacori et al1 posed the following question:
Research Ethics Committees and clinical research in Italy: where are we going? After analyzing the Italian
legislation regulating Ethics Committees and their practices, the authors noted that though the November
2012 Law had harmonized Territorial Ethical Committee activities at a national level, it neglected to address
certain critical points such as the differing deadlines by which the Committees were required to present
their opinions, and the drastic reduction of the Committees themselves which had, in fact, hampered
their activity. Whatâs more, problems arose from the need for Committee members to receive specific
training2 and delays in presenting opinions in research institutes extraneous to those in which the Ethical
issue had originally arisen
Telemedicine as a Strategic Tool to Enhance the Effectiveness of Care Processes: Technological and Regulatory Evolution over the Past Two Decades
Digital innovation represents one of the largest areas of investment in healthcare. The application of technologies pertaining to the ever-evolving infrastructure of information and communication technology (ICT) aims to making the many processes and services related to healthcare delivery more effective and efficient. In the complex and articulated panorama of e-health, telemedicine certainly represents one of the key strategic tools to support and improve numerous care processes. For many of these processes, distance is a critical factor for access to care. For this reason, e-health has become the subject of numerous interventions and initiatives by international policies for decades now
Pressure Ulcers from the MedicoâLegal Perspective: A Case Report and Literature Review
Abstract: Introduction: The identification of professional liability profiles related to the
development of pressure injuries is a very thorny issue from a medicoâlegal perspective. This is
because no matter how strict the applied prevention protocols applied may be, the development of
such injuries is largely dependent on endogenous factors. This paper aims to investigate the medicolegal
issues related to this topic through the exposition of one case of medicoâlegal litigation and a
traditional review of the literature. Methods: We performed a literature search using three databases
(Pubmed, Scopus, and Web Of Science), restricting the search to the period between 2001 and 2021.
We used âpressure ulcersâ and âjurisprudenceâ as the main keywords. From an initial library of 236
articles, our selection resulted in 12 articles, which were included in the review. Results: We
identified the everâincreasing expectations of patients and the concept of automatic attribution of
responsibility when a pressure ulcer develops as the primary reasons for the increase in litigation
over the past 20 years. The related corrective measures are numerous: a strict adherence to
guidelines, an adequate documentation of preventive measures, a risk assessment, family
involvement, and a successful collaboration between physicians and government institutions.
Conclusion: The biological complexity of the pathogenetic development of pressure ulcers makes
the subject very delicate from the medicoâlegal point of view. In principle, it is possible to state that
a very large proportion of such injuries are preventable, but that there remains a percentage of them
that cannot be prevented. In such cases, only a proper documentary demonstration of the adequacy
of preventive measures can exclude liability profile
Medical assistance at the sea: legal and medico-legal problems
Background: In case of pathologies or accidents on board which require medical intervention but lacking on-board medical or paramedical personnel, the shipâs captain, or his delegate can contact a Telemedical Maritime Assistance Service (TMAS). International Maritime Organisation considers telemedicine at sea as an integral part of rescue procedures. Five key elements contribute to the delivery of good medical assistance at sea: one or more coordination and rescue centres; the TMAS; the possibility of intervention at sea; an organisation of appropriate institutions on ground and common operating procedures. This paper analyses the responsibility of the shipâs captain and of the TMAS doctor in case of diseases or injuries on board in the frame of the main important international regulations. Responsibility of the ship captain: In case of a disease or injury on board a ship, the captain must contact the TMAS as soon as possible. A captain not acting promptly and not doing whatever it is possible for the ill/injured person by consulting the TMAS or a physician and/or not following prescriptions received, could be charged for omission of responsibility. A captain underestimating a medical problem and knowing that the patientâs condition could worsen, but still not consulting a medical centre for assistance, should be ready to accept the consequences of his choices. Responsibility of the physician: The doctor of TMAS has full responsibility for the diagnosis, prescription and treatment, while the shipâs captain is responsible for the final decision. Regarding the medical treatment and assistance on board a ship, the TMAS doctor should pay attention not only for the diagnosis, but also for the prognosis. Telemedicine implies that the doctor should make decisions without a clinical examination, often without some additional medical examinations and by maintaining a contact with other people who are in direct contact with the patient. The physician usually has to rely on the account of colleagues of the sick seafarer as far as medical history is concerned. This may make harder to take a decision. Conclusions: The shipâs captain is guilty if he fails to contact a TMAS in case of diseases or accidents on board. Similar to a traditional relationship between a patient and a physician, the doctor consulted via telecommunication systems is also responsible for his diagnosis and treatment. However, in telemedicine the contrasts with the most basic principles of the traditional medicine are obvious. This makes the delivery of medical care of seafarers on board ships quite complicated
Freedom from the stigma of oncologic disease: legislative and ethical aspects of the right to be forgotten in oncology
Cancer diagnosis, treatment, and prevention advances have significantly improved European outcomes, but the stigma
surrounding cancer survivorship remains challenging. Discrimination against cancer survivors has a negative impact
on their quality of life, autonomy, and financial stability. While some European countries have implemented legislation
recognizing the âright to be forgottenâ for cancer survivors, Italy has no such protective measures. This leaves cancer
survivors in Italy susceptible to discrimination based on their medical history. Both the European Union Cancer Plan and
the European Parliament resolution stress the importance of safeguarding the rights of cancer survivors and preventing
discrimination. Although implementation of legislation at the European level may take time, it is essential that national
legislatures, including Italyâs, act quickly. This article explores the issue of discrimination against cancer survivors in
Europe, focusing on the specific case of Italy. It examines existing legislative solutions and assesses their effectiveness in
addressing discrimination. It also discusses the ethical considerations associated with the âright to be forgottenâ in oncology,
emphasizing its role in promoting equality and safeguarding the privacy of cancer survivor
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