[Role of medical students in the accompaniment of patients. Reflections about a true case]. / Rol del estudiante de medicina en el acompañamiento de los pacientes: reflexiones desde una vivencia.

We share the experience of a clinical relationship that arose between a medical student and a patient hospitalized due to a SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. The analysis of this experience and the discussion of medical students' possible role in patient care suggest that they should be included as members of the health care team during their clinical practice. This would mean a positive contribution for both the patients' care and the students' learning experience.

[A proposal of the Chilean Academy of Medicine to improve organ procurement and transplantation in Chile]. / Donación y trasplante de órganos: propuesta desde la Academia Chilena de Medicina.

The Chilean Academy of Medicine designated a group of specialists to evaluate the practice and to propose reforms for organ donation and transplantation, due to the general insufficiencies at the national level with these procedures. In the last six years the mean number of organ transplants in Chile was 340 cases per year while effective cadaveric donors ranged between 6 and 10 per million inhabitants. These averages remained stable during this period and are among the lowest in the region. Our analysis attributed these deficient results mainly to low organ donation and inefficient procurement due to lack of compliance with protocols and little accountability. The committee proposes several measures for improvement. These are a systematic and obligatory report of potential organ donors by all emergency and critical care centers, frequent evaluation of results, empowering of health authorities to correct insufficiencies in organ procurement, education programs for primary, secondary, technical and university students to improve their knowledge about the social significance and solidarity required for transplantation policies and specialized updated training of all health professionals involved. Organ donation and transplantation must be based on clear and fair ethical considerations in order to be accepted by the general public.

[Partial disclosure of information in the presence of presumable nocebo effects: an ethical analysis]. / Análisis ético de la entrega parcial de información al paciente para prevenir efectos nocebo.

When prescribing a treatment, the physician should give truthful information about the likely benefits and the potential adverse effects, allowing the patient to make an autonomous decision about whether to take the treatment. However, the mere expectation of adverse effects may precipitate the corresponding symptoms. This is called "nocebo effect", which in contrast to the placebo effect, can lead to harm to the patient due to psychological factors. Nocebo effects are common and clinically significant, although often unnoticed. This situation generates conflicts in medical ethics guiding principles, namely the moral obligation to disclose all possible effects of the prescribed drug as opposed to the duty of avoiding the harm of side effects that are likely to occur in a case. In other words, the physician faces a dilemma between the due respect for autonomy and the duty of non-maleficence. This article reflects about this conflict, by exploring the limits of the principle of autonomy and how to balance it with the principle of non-maleficence. We suggest an interpretation of the principle of autonomy from a patient-centered perspective, suggesting that it is ethically sound to give a prudential, partial disclosure of information to the patient, for the sake of avoiding potential nocebo effects. The article concludes with some cautionary considerations to be considered about this decision.

[Differentiated review of biomedical research projects by ethics committees]. / Formas de Revisión Ética de Proyectos de Investigación Biomédica.

Ten years after the approval of the Chilean bill that regulates scientific research in humans (Law Nº 20.120), and considering the current status of accreditation and training of many Research Ethics Committee (REC), it is necessary to analyze their performance. We analyzed the Chilean experience with REC aiming to propose a differential type of review, considering the risks to research participants. To improve the quality of the review and the efficiency of these committees, we propose to differentiate the revisions depending on the type of project, its methods and its risks. Initially, the types of review should be classified as exempt from review, expedited review and full review by the committee. In this proposal the type of review is confirmed or can be modified by a designated member of the committee after an initial review of the project. Thus, the deliberation and review times of the committee could be optimized avoiding delays in their revision.

[Conscientious objection in medical practice]. / Objeción de conciencia en la práctica médica.

Medical practice implies the controversial encounter of diverse circumstances in which eventual conflicts between physicians and patients values as well as between physicians values and legal or institutional rules arise. When dealing with these situations, physicians have the right to refuse acting against their moral conscience. This conscientious objection, accepted as a personal right and recognized by several legislations and medical ethics codes, is valid only if it has been reasonably justified and declared in advance. Conversely, it would be invalid if it is based upon convenience or understood as a collective refusal, which may be a form of civil disobedience. Conscientious objection in medicine is considered a limited right even though patients ought to be respected in their demands for legally accepted treatments or interventions. On the other hand, personal conscientious objection is different from the prerogative of institutions to establish their own regulations according to their institutional ideology or ethics codes. However, public hospitals have to offer all treatments or interventions legally allowed, since the state has the obligation to guarantee all citizens an appropriate access to them.

[Medical, ethical and legal issues in cryopreservation of human embryos]. / Aspectos médicos, éticos y legales de la criopreservación de embriones humanos.

Embryo cryopreservation improves efficiency and security of assisted reproduction techniques. Nonetheless, it can be questionable, so it must be justified from technical, legal and ethical points of view. This article analyses these perspectives. Embryo cryopreservation maximizes the probability of pregnancy, avoids new ovary stimulations and reduces the occurrence of multiple gestations. There is consensus that the in vitro embryo deserves legal protection by its own, although not as a newborn. Very few countries prohibit embryo cryopreservation based on the legal duty to protect human life since fecundation. Those countries that allow it, privilege women's reproductive rights. In Chile and in Latin America, no laws have been promulgated to regulate human assisted reproduction. The moral status of the embryo depends on how it is considered. Some believe it is a potential person while others think it is just a group of cells, but all recognize that it requires some kind of respect and protection. There is lack of information about the number of frozen embryos and their final destination. As a conclusion the authors propose that women or couples should have the right to decide autonomously, while institutions ought to be clear in their regulations. And the legislation must establish the legal status of the embryo before its implantation, the couples' rights and the regulation of the embryo cryopreservation. Personal, institutional or legal decisions must assume a concept about the moral status of the human embryo and try to avoid their destruction or indefinite storage.

[Towards ethical care in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study with international migrants in Chile]. / Hacia un cuidado ético en residencias sanitarias durante la pandemia de COVID-19: estudio cualitativo con migrantes internacionales en Chile.

International migrants have been recognized as a population at risk in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Worldwide, various strategies have been deployed for the protection of this population, such as the establishment of reception and quarantine or isolation centers. This article reports the results of a study that explored the experiences of international migrants in nursing homes in Chile created to ensure a safe quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic, from an approach of ethical conditions for care. A qualitative study was carried out in 2020-2021. Thirty individual semi-structured online interviews were conducted in the cities of Arica, Iquique, Antofagasta and Santiago with international migrants with experience of using nursing homes; health teams of nursing homes; managers of nursing homes; local authorities; and national experts. Thematic analysis of the information was carried out. The study concludes that for international migrants, although the experience in nursing homes has meant significant health support, it is essential that the care provided, in addition to the requirement that it be framed in an approach of rights and respect for the dignity of each person, incorporate the perspective of interculturality in its work, that is, ensuring the right to culturally relevant health services, respectful of the culture of individuals, minorities, peoples and communities.

Migrantes internacionales han sido reconocidos como población de riesgo en el contexto de la pandemia de COVID-19. A nivel mundial se han desplegado diversas estrategias para la protección de esta población, como la habilitación de centros de recepción y cuarentena o aislamiento. El artículo da cuenta de los resultados de un estudio que exploró las experiencias de migrantes internacionales en residencias sanitarias dispuestas en Chile para la realización de cuarentenas seguras en el marco de la pandemia COVID-19, desde un enfoque de condiciones éticas para el cuidado. Se realizó un estudio cualitativo entre los años 2020-2021. Se efectuaron 30 entrevistas individuales semi-estructuradas en línea en las ciudades de Arica, Iquique, Antofagasta y Santiago a migrantes internacionales con experiencia de uso de residencias sanitarias; equipos de salud de residencias sanitarias; mánagers de dichos recintos; autoridades locales; y expertos nacionales. Se realizó análisis temático de la información. El estudio concluye que para migrantes internacionales, si bien la experiencia en residencias sanitarias ha significado un apoyo sanitario significativo, es imprescindible que el cuidado proporcionado, además de la exigencia que se enmarque en un enfoque de derechos y de respeto a la dignidad de cada persona, incorpore la perspectiva de la interculturalidad en su quehacer, es decir, asegurando el derecho a servicios de salud culturalmente pertinentes, respetuosos de la cultura de las personas, las minorías, los pueblos y las comunidades.

Migrantes internacionais foram reconhecidos como uma população de risco no contexto da pandemia de COVID-19. Em todo o mundo, várias estratégias têm sido implantadas para a proteção dessa população, como o estabelecimento de centros de acolhimento e quarentena ou isolamento. Este artigo relata os resultados de um estudo que explorou as experiências de migrantes internacionais em residências de saúde organizadas no Chile para quarentena segura no âmbito da pandemia de COVID-19, a partir de uma abordagem de condições éticas para o atendimento. Foi realizado um estudo qualitativo entre os anos de 2020-2021. Foram realizadas 30 entrevistas individuais semiestruturadas online nas cidades de Arica, Iquique, Antofagasta e Santiago com migrantes internacionais com experiência de uso de residências de saúde; equipes de saúde das residências de saúde; gestores dos referidos locais; autoridades locais; e especialistas nacionais. Foi realizada análise temática das informações. O estudo conclui que para os migrantes internacionais, embora a experiência em residências de saúde tenha significado significativo apoio à saúde, é imprescindível que os cuidados prestados, além da exigência de que sejam enquadrados em uma abordagem de direitos e respeito à dignidade de cada pessoa, incorporar a perspectiva da interculturalidade em seu trabalho, ou seja, garantir o direito a serviços de saúde culturalmente relevantes, que respeitem a cultura dos indivíduos, minorias, povos e comunidades.

Hacia un cuidado ético en residencias sanitarias durante la pandemia de COVID-19: estudio cualitativo con migrantes internacionales en Chile / Towards ethical care in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study with international migrants in Chile / Rumo ao cuidado ético em residências de saúde durante a pandemia de COVID-19: um estudo qualitativo com migrantes internacionais no Chile

Migrantes internacionales han sido reconocidos como población de riesgo en el contexto de la pandemia de COVID-19. A nivel mundial se han desplegado diversas estrategias para la protección de esta población, como la habilitación de centros de recepción y cuarentena o aislamiento. El artículo da cuenta de los resultados de un estudio que exploró las experiencias de migrantes internacionales en residencias sanitarias dispuestas en Chile para la realización de cuarentenas seguras en el marco de la pandemia COVID-19, desde un enfoque de condiciones éticas para el cuidado. Se realizó un estudio cualitativo entre los años 2020-2021. Se efectuaron 30 entrevistas individuales semi-estructuradas en línea en las ciudades de Arica, Iquique, Antofagasta y Santiago a migrantes internacionales con experiencia de uso de residencias sanitarias; equipos de salud de residencias sanitarias; mánagers de dichos recintos; autoridades locales; y expertos nacionales. Se realizó análisis temático de la información. El estudio concluye que para migrantes internacionales, si bien la experiencia en residencias sanitarias ha significado un apoyo sanitario significativo, es imprescindible que el cuidado proporcionado, además de la exigencia que se enmarque en un enfoque de derechos y de respeto a la dignidad de cada persona, incorpore la perspectiva de la interculturalidad en su quehacer, es decir, asegurando el derecho a servicios de salud culturalmente pertinentes, respetuosos de la cultura de las personas, las minorías, los pueblos y las comunidades.

International migrants have been recognized as a population at risk in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Worldwide, various strategies have been deployed for the protection of this population, such as the establishment of reception and quarantine or isolation centers. This article reports the results of a study that explored the experiences of international migrants in nursing homes in Chile created to ensure a safe quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic, from an approach of ethical conditions for care. A qualitative study was carried out in 2020-2021. Thirty individual semi-structured online interviews were conducted in the cities of Arica, Iquique, Antofagasta and Santiago with international migrants with experience of using nursing homes; health teams of nursing homes; managers of nursing homes; local authorities; and national experts. Thematic analysis of the information was carried out. The study concludes that for international migrants, although the experience in nursing homes has meant significant health support, it is essential that the care provided, in addition to the requirement that it be framed in an approach of rights and respect for the dignity of each person, incorporate the perspective of interculturality in its work, that is, ensuring the right to culturally relevant health services, respectful of the culture of individuals, minorities, peoples and communities.

Migrantes internacionais foram reconhecidos como uma população de risco no contexto da pandemia de COVID-19. Em todo o mundo, várias estratégias têm sido implantadas para a proteção dessa população, como o estabelecimento de centros de acolhimento e quarentena ou isolamento. Este artigo relata os resultados de um estudo que explorou as experiências de migrantes internacionais em residências de saúde organizadas no Chile para quarentena segura no âmbito da pandemia de COVID-19, a partir de uma abordagem de condições éticas para o atendimento. Foi realizado um estudo qualitativo entre os anos de 2020-2021. Foram realizadas 30 entrevistas individuais semiestruturadas online nas cidades de Arica, Iquique, Antofagasta e Santiago com migrantes internacionais com experiência de uso de residências de saúde; equipes de saúde das residências de saúde; gestores dos referidos locais; autoridades locais; e especialistas nacionais. Foi realizada análise temática das informações. O estudo conclui que para os migrantes internacionais, embora a experiência em residências de saúde tenha significado significativo apoio à saúde, é imprescindível que os cuidados prestados, além da exigência de que sejam enquadrados em uma abordagem de direitos e respeito à dignidade de cada pessoa, incorporar a perspectiva da interculturalidade em seu trabalho, ou seja, garantir o direito a serviços de saúde culturalmente relevantes, que respeitem a cultura dos indivíduos, minorias, povos e comunidades.

Rol del estudiante de medicina en el acompañamiento de los pacientes: reflexiones desde una vivencia

We share the experience of a clinical relationship that arose between a medical student and a patient hospitalized due to a SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. The analysis of this experience and the discussion of medical students' possible role in patient care suggest that they should be included as members of the health care team during their clinical practice. This would mean a positive contribution for both the patients' care and the students' learning experience.

Donación y trasplante de órganos: propuesta desde la Academia Chilena de Medicina / A proposal of the Chilean Academy of Medicine to improve organ procurement and transplantation in Chile

The Chilean Academy of Medicine designated a group of specialists to evaluate the practice and to propose reforms for organ donation and transplantation, due to the general insufficiencies at the national level with these procedures. In the last six years the mean number of organ transplants in Chile was 340 cases per year while effective cadaveric donors ranged between 6 and 10 per million inhabitants. These averages remained stable during this period and are among the lowest in the region. Our analysis attributed these deficient results mainly to low organ donation and inefficient procurement due to lack of compliance with protocols and little accountability. The committee proposes several measures for improvement. These are a systematic and obligatory report of potential organ donors by all emergency and critical care centers, frequent evaluation of results, empowering of health authorities to correct insufficiencies in organ procurement, education programs for primary, secondary, technical and university students to improve their knowledge about the social significance and solidarity required for transplantation policies and specialized updated training of all health professionals involved. Organ donation and transplantation must be based on clear and fair ethical considerations in order to be accepted by the general public.

Análisis ético de la entrega parcial de información al paciente para prevenir efectos nocebo / Partial disclosure of information in the presence of presumable nocebo effects: an ethical analysis

When prescribing a treatment, the physician should give truthful information about the likely benefits and the potential adverse effects, allowing the patient to make an autonomous decision about whether to take the treatment. However, the mere expectation of adverse effects may precipitate the corresponding symptoms. This is called "nocebo effect", which in contrast to the placebo effect, can lead to harm to the patient due to psychological factors. Nocebo effects are common and clinically significant, although often unnoticed. This situation generates conflicts in medical ethics guiding principles, namely the moral obligation to disclose all possible effects of the prescribed drug as opposed to the duty of avoiding the harm of side effects that are likely to occur in a case. In other words, the physician faces a dilemma between the due respect for autonomy and the duty of non-maleficence. This article reflects about this conflict, by exploring the limits of the principle of autonomy and how to balance it with the principle of non-maleficence. We suggest an interpretation of the principle of autonomy from a patient-centered perspective, suggesting that it is ethically sound to give a prudential, partial disclosure of information to the patient, for the sake of avoiding potential nocebo effects. The article concludes with some cautionary considerations to be considered about this decision.

Formas de Revisión Ética de Proyectos de Investigación Biomédica / Differentiated review of biomedical research projects by ethics committees

Ten years after the approval of the Chilean bill that regulates scientific research in humans (Law Nº 20.120), and considering the current status of accreditation and training of many Research Ethics Committee (REC), it is necessary to analyze their performance. We analyzed the Chilean experience with REC aiming to propose a differential type of review, considering the risks to research participants. To improve the quality of the review and the efficiency of these committees, we propose to differentiate the revisions depending on the type of project, its methods and its risks. Initially, the types of review should be classified as exempt from review, expedited review and full review by the committee. In this proposal the type of review is confirmed or can be modified by a designated member of the committee after an initial review of the project. Thus, the deliberation and review times of the committee could be optimized avoiding delays in their revision.

Un llamado ético a la inclusión de mujeres embarazadas en investigación: Reflexiones del Foro Global de Bioética en Investigación

El Foro Global de Bioética en Investigación (GFBR por sus siglas en inglés) se reunió el 3 y 4 de noviembre en Buenos Aires, Argentina, con el objetivo de discutir la ética de la investigación con mujeres embarazadas. El GFBR es una plataforma mundial que congrega a actores clave con el objetivo de promover la investigación realizada de manera ética, fortalecer la ética de la investigación en salud, particularmente en países de ingresos bajos y medios, y promover colaboración entre países del norte y del sur.a Los participantes en el GFBR provenientes de Latinoamérica incluyeron a eticistas, investigadores, miembros de comités de ética y representantes de autoridades sanitarias provenientes de Argentina, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panamá, Perú, Nicaragua y la República Dominicana. Una legítima preocupación por la protección de las mujeres embarazadas y sus embriones o fetos ha llevado a la mayoría de los países de la Región de las Américas a limitar la realización de estudios con mujeres embarazadas exclusivamente a aquellos estudios específicos sobre el embarazo, y a requerir la exclusión sistemática de las mujeres embarazadas o de las mujeres que quedan embarazadas en el curso del estudio. Ciertamente, a lo largo de la historia de la ética de la investigación, se ha creído erróneamente que proteger a una población es sinónimo de excluirla de los estudios. Se sabe ahora que proceder así implica exponer a riesgos mucho mayores a la población que se busca proteger. El embarazo implica cambios fisiológicos sustantivos e impacta profundamente la manera como el cuerpo metaboliza los medicamentos. Sin embargo, por evitar hacer investigación con mujeres embarazadas, no se ha producido la evidencia científica necesaria para tomar decisiones sobre tratamientos e intervenciones preventivas con dosis eficaces y seguras para ellas y sus embriones o fetos. A manera de ilustración, en el 2001 había en los Estados Unidos apenas más de una docena de medicamentos aprobados para uso en el embarazo (1) y en el 2011 la Food and Drug Administration (FDA) aprobó por primera vez en 15 años un medicamento para su uso en el embarazo (2). Como consecuencia de no haber producido la evidencia necesaria, se pone en riesgo la salud de las mujeres embarazadas cada vez que se les da atención médica. Las mujeres embarazadas se enferman y las mujeres enfermas se embarazan, y no se sabe si los medicamentos que se les da son eficaces o siquiera seguros para ellas y sus embriones o fetos...

[Ten myths about withdrawal of mechanical ventilation in terminal patients]. / Diez mitos sobre el retiro de la ventilación mecánica en enfermos terminales.

The most difficult of treatment limitation decisions, both for physicians and families, is the withdrawal of mechanical ventilation (MV). Many fears and uncertainties appear in this decision. They are described as ten myths whose falseness is argued in this article. The myths are: 1) Withdrawing MV causes the patients death; 2) Withdrawing MV is euthanasia; 3) Withholding and withdrawing MV are morally different; 4) MV can be withdrawn only when the patient has asked for it; 5) Chilean law only authorizes to withdraw VM when brain death has occurred; 6) Withdrawing MV cannot be done if the patient is not an organ donor; 7) Physicians who withdraw MV are in high risk of legal claims; 8) To withdraw MV the physician needs an authorization from the hospital ethics committee, lawyer or institutional authority; 9) There is only one way to withdraw MV; 10) Withdrawing MV produces great suffering to the patients family. Making clear that these myths are false facilitates appropriate decisions, therefore preventing therapeutic obstinacy and more suffering of terminally ill patients, which favors their peaceful death. For the physician this goal should be as rewarding as preventing the death of a curable patient.

[Analysis of a clinical ethics consultation experience in intensive care]. / Análisis de una experiencia de consultoría ético clínica en cuidado intensive.

BACKGROUND: Very few patients are presented to ethics committees, and individual ethics consultations are a response to this situation. At the intensive care unit (ICU) in Clínica Alemana, Santiago Chile, an ethics consultation system was organized coordinated with the ethics committee. AIM: To report an evaluation of this ethics consultation system. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Analysis of the first 50 cases analyzed in the consultation system. Analysis of the responses of intensive care physicians to a questionnaire about the main ethical problems that they face in their work. RESULTS: The consultation system is mainly required by the ICU staff and reports to the ethics committee. Fifty four percent of patients subjected to consultation were aged over 80 years. The main diagnoses were neurological, oncological or cardiopulmonary problems. The ethical problems identified were treatment limitation (62%), proportionality or futility (42%), need of a peaceful death (36%), lack of anticipated decisions (28%), disagreement between physicians and patient's family (24%), undefined subrogation (14%), and abuse of public resources (14%). Twenty six of 31 ICU physicians answered the questionnaire, using a 1 (min) to 7 (max.) scale. They found that consultation is helpful for decision making (6.3), useful for improving ethical perception (6.0), supportive for staff (6.5), good for patients (6.3), supportive for families (6.7), and timely performed (5.2). CONCLUSIONS: As a complement for the ethics committee's work, consultation is a valid alternative for ethics counselling and a support for physicians and patient's families. Its implementation depends on the particularities of each health institution.

[Student patient relationship from the patient's point of view]. / Relación estudiante-enfermo: visión del paciente.

BACKGROUND: Patients are becoming increasingly active in their relationship with medical professionals. Their relationship with medical students needing to learn clinical skills, may be specially problematic if patients are not willing to accept their involvement in the medical team. AIM: To examine patient's perceptions of their relation with medical students and their agreement to let students be part of the treating team. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Qualitative study using taped semi-structured interviews addressed to inpatients from one public and one private hospital in Chile. RESULTS: Both groups of patients acknowledged that students dedicated more time to them, but they expressed their preference to limit student's participation to clinical history taking and physical examination. They also expected them to be observers rather than actors. Patients from the private hospital emphasized that only one student per instructor should participate in their care. Patients from the public hospital were more compliant about student's participation. The right to refuse students' involvement in their care was clearly known by all patients from the private system and by most patients from the public hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Patients in Chilean public and private hospitals were in general positive regarding student's participation in their care. Students' clinical practice ought to strictly respect patients's rights, and patients should be considered volunteers who generously agree to cooperate with the education of medical students.