A Methodological Reflection on Converging Technologies and Their Relevance to Informa-tion Ethics

In light of converging technologies, there is a clear sense that ethicists of various technological domains are coming together. Or, that they should come together. Yet, despite increasing cooperation and boundary-crossing in various fields of the ethics of technology, these efforts remain mostly at topical level. Relatively little attention has been given to issues on methodologies. The current paper aims to contribute to the current research by raising the methodological issues. In this paper, my objective is to argue that ethics of Information Technology (or Information Ethics (IE)) can benefit from the insights in other fields of the ethics of technology. Drawing the insights from other fields of the ethics of technology, I shall propose a systematic account of an Empirical Information Ethics (EIE)

Training Spiritual Care in Palliative Care in Teaching Hospitals in the Netherlands (SPIRIT-NL):A Multicentre Trial

Background: In the Netherlands, the spiritual dimension in healthcare became marginal in the second part of the twentieth century. In the Dutch healthcare sys- tem, palliative care is not a medical specialization and teaching hospitals do not have specialist palliative care units with specialized palliative care teams. Palliative care in these hospitals is delivered by healthcare professionals in general depart- ments (mainly curative focused ones), and is based on multidisciplinary guide- lines supported by palliative care consultation teams. A national multidisciplinary guideline on spiritual care is included, but standardized training based on this guideline still lacks. Implementation of this guideline is expected to have a posi- tive effect on quality of care but is in an early state, the role of the specialists in this field—the healthcare chaplains—is developing. The objective of this article is to present the protocol of this study and stimulate discussion about methods of research on spirituality and spiritual care.Methods and Findings: This action research study is planned as an explorative mul- ticentre trial. Healthcare chaplains of ten teaching hospitals will offer training on spiritual care in palliative care for healthcare professionals. What is the effect of this intervention on the competences of clinical teams? What is the effect on the perceived care and treatment as experienced by patients?The effects of the intervention on the competences of the clinicians will be meas- ured once pre-study and twice post-study. Effects on patients’ physical symptoms and spiritual distress, and the perceived focus of caregivers on their spiritual needs or existential questions will also be measured pre- and post-study

The Classic, August 1959

President\u27s Message; Faculty Summer Graduate Study; New N Club Officers; Valedictory Messages of 1959: The Forward Look , Whither Thou Goest ; Full-Time Additions to Northwestern\u27s Teaching Staff: Stephen A. Ekdom, Dr. Thomas N. Risk, Dr. Sylvio Scorza; Part-Time Additions to Northwestern\u27s Teaching Staff: Mr. Max Leget, Dr. Robert A. Rohwer; Recent Gifts to Northwestern; 1959 College Graduates, and Their Plans; 1959 Academy Graduates, and Their Plans; Weddings; Future Northwesternites; Deaths; Enrollment Prospects 1959-60; Northwestern Evening School Courses, 1959-60; Out of the Mail Baghttps://nwcommons.nwciowa.edu/classic1950/1047/thumbnail.jp

Pressure during decision making of continuous sedation in end-of-life situations in Dutch general practice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Little is known about pressure from patients or relatives on physician’s decision making of continuous palliative sedation. We aim to describe experienced pressure by general practitioners (GPs) in cases of continuous sedation after the introduction of the Dutch practice guideline, using a questionnaire survey.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A sample of 918 Dutch GPs were invited to fill out a questionnaire about their last patient under continuous sedation. Cases in which GPs experienced pressure from the patient, relatives or other persons were compared to those without pressure.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>399 of 918 invite GPs (43%) returned the questionnaire and 250 provided detailed information about their most recent case of continuous sedation. Forty-one GPs (16%) indicated to have experienced pressure from the patient, relatives or colleagues. In GPs younger than 50, guideline knowledge was not related to experienced pressure, whereas in older GPs, 15% with and 36% without guideline knowledge reported pressure. GPs experienced pressure more often when patients had psychological symptoms (compared to physical symptoms only) and when patients had a longer estimated life expectancy. A euthanasia request of the patient coincided with a higher prevalence of pressure for GPs without, but not for GPs with previous experience with euthanasia. GPs who experienced pressure had consulted a palliative consultation team more often than GPs who did not experience pressure.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>One in six GPs felt pressure from patients or relatives to start sedation. This pressure was related to guideline knowledge, especially in older GPs, longer life expectancy and the presence of a euthanasia request, especially for GPs without previous experience of euthanasia.</p

\u201cI go into crisis when \u2026\u201d: ethics of care and moral dilemmas in palliative care

Background: Recognising and knowing how to manage ethical issues and moral dilemmas can be considered an ethical skill. In this study, ethics of care is used as a theoretical framework and as a regulatory criterion in the relationship among healthcare professionals, patients with palliative care needs and family members. This study is a part of a larger project aimed at developing and implementing a training programme on \u201cethical communication\u201d addressed to professionals caring for patients with palliative care needs. The aim of this study was comprehending whether and how the ethics of care informs the way healthcare professionals make sense of and handle ethical issues in palliative care. Methods: Qualitative study employing a theoretically driven thematic analysis performed on semi-structured interviews. The research was conducted in a clinical cancer centre in northern Italy. Eligible participants were physicians and nurses from eleven hospital wards who assisted patients with chronic advanced disease daily and had previously attended a 4-h training on palliative care held by the hospital Palliative Care Unit. Results: The researchers identified five themes: morality is providing global care; morality is knowing how to have a relationship with patients; morality is recognizing moral principles; moral dimension and communication; and moral dilemmas are individual conflicts. Conclusions: Ethics of care seems to emerge as a theoretical framework that includes the belief systems of healthcare professionals, especially those assisting patients with palliative care needs; moreover, it allows the values of both the patients and professionals to come to light through the relationship of care. Ethics of care is also appropriate as a framework for ethical training