ACR on Air cover image

ACR on Air

How Should We Navigate Moral Dilemmas in Rheumatology?

Aug 27, 2024
Dr. Kelly Weselman, Chair of the ACR Ethics Committee, delves into the murky waters of ethical dilemmas in rheumatology. She discusses the balancing act between patient autonomy and medical recommendations, highlighting how tech advancements complicate these issues. The conversation navigates the tough terrain of access to care, treatment costs, and conflicts of interest with pharmaceutical companies. Weselman emphasizes maintaining ethical standards and transparency while addressing the challenges posed by defensive medicine and evolving patient demographics.
42:32

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Navigating ethical dilemmas in rheumatology requires balancing patient autonomy with medical expertise, ensuring patients make informed decisions about their care.
  • Physicians must advocate for patients facing high treatment costs while managing ethical complexities posed by insurance policies and access to care.

Deep dives

Balancing Patient Autonomy and Medical Recommendations

Patient autonomy is a crucial ethical principle, allowing individuals to make decisions about their healthcare based on self-determination and personal preferences. However, healthcare providers often face challenges when patients advocate for treatments influenced by external sources, such as advertisements or peer recommendations, which may not align with professional medical advice. This dynamic can create ethical dilemmas when reconciling a patient’s autonomy with the physician's medical expertise and recommendations for treatment. Ultimately, the responsibility lies with physicians to educate patients on their options while ensuring they understand the implications of their choices.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode