Ethics

Malnourishment by design

Colonial attitudes and policies, now recognized as powerful social determinants of health, have led to mass hunger and preventable diseases.

‘Liberty is at stake, but not just the liberty of the unvaccinated’: An interview with Arthur Schafer

Ethicist Arthur Schafer argues that vaccine certificates are a clearly ethical means of protecting the vulnerable, the unvaccinated, and our health-care system, thereby allowing us to return to something resembling our pre-pandemic way of life.

‘Is it a violation of people’s rights? I would say it is’: An interview with Kerry Bowman

Ethicist Kerry Bowman says that vaccine certificates give him pause because they restrict people's movement, are divisive, and likely further disadvantage the marginalized – all while providing a benefit whose overall impact is hard to gauge.

Our Surgeries, Ourselves

Columnist Anne Borden King combines meticulous research with moving reflections about living with breast cancer to expose an overlooked form of medical paternalism and explore the thought-provoking relationship between one’s body and most intimate self-image.

Vaccine passports: Moral baggage or all-inclusive destination?

When it comes to vaccine passports, perhaps the ends justify the means – they will increase vaccinations and benefit everyone. But perhaps we must also admit that they are, at best, only a small part of the solution to increasing vaccination.

My vaccine status? It’s private

Asking people about their vaccination status may be well-intentioned, but it can violate their privacy and lead to negative consequences for them. It's time to reconsider asking about it during our regular public interactions.

Delaying second doses helped avert ICU catastrophe

It’s clear that when Ontario's ICUs were on the brink of being overwhelmed at the beginning of May, delaying second doses of the vaccines to have more people get one dose almost certainly helped avert catastrophe.

Public conversation on the ethics of intensive care triage during pandemic is overdue

As bioethicists who have worked on a framework for ICU triage in Ontario, we are concerned by the lack of transparency.

Finding the balance between public health ethics and medical ethics

Restrictive pandemic control strategies can have significant adverse consequences. Governments must use established public health ethical frameworks to guide their imposition.

Informed Consent: Should geriatric populations be told about limited representation in vaccine clinical trials?

There are ethical questions over whether certain seniors in long-term care or their designated decision-makers have the information needed to give informed consent to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

‘It’s not too bad to miss Canadian winter:’ Voluntourism adapting to pandemic

The pandemic forced the shutdown of the $2.6-billion voluntourism industry, but some organizations later reopened with safety protocols that go beyond the bare minimum. However, that’s not always the case.

Ethics are critical in the move to digital health

Digital health is playing a pivotal role in transforming how care is delivered during this pandemic. While its benefits may be vast, we must pay attention to the unintended consequences.

Infectious Love: Coronary Angiography in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest and Risk of HIV Transmission in Serodifferent Gay Couples

Medical students, beware the pitfalls of becoming “influencers” on social media

The Clot Thickens: Outpatient Management of ED Patients with Pulmonary Embolism & NSAIDs and OACs in Atrial Fibrillation

Is it ethical for doctors to ask their own patients for research consent?

Gene editing technology: Where should we draw the line?

Stem cell miracles don’t live up to the hype

Why are so many members of the palliative care community opposed to physician assisted death?

Gupta in Nepal: a physician-reporter pushing past the ethical limits