La calidad en medicina como obligación deontológica / Quality in medicine as a deontological requirement

La práctica médica tiene dos dimensiones fundamentales una la científica, y otra la humana, y en ambas es esencial el compromiso del médico. La deontología médica, como rama de la ética que se ocupa de los deberes y obligaciones de los médicos, plasma en los códigos de deontología los principios y están dares éticos de obligado cumplimiento, a fin de que la práctica médica pueda garantizar que los pacientes reciban una atención médica de calidad, y que se les trate con dignidad y respeto. En diciembre del año 2022 el Consejo General de Colegios Oficiales de Médicos de España publicó una nueva versión del Código de Deontología Médica español que pretende, entre otros fines, normativizar una asistencia médica de calidad científica y humana. Práctica médica sustentada en medicina con base científica, lex artis médica, seguridad del paciente, responsabilidad profesional, honestidad e integridad son algunos de los aspectos que en este documento actualizado de deontología médica enmarcan y define el quehacer del médico para un desempeño de medicina con calidad (AU)

Medical practice has two main dimensions, one scientific and the other human, and in both, the com mitment of the doctor is essential. Medical deontology, as a branch of ethics that deals with the duties and obligations of doctors, embodies in the codes of deontology the ethical principles and standards of mandatory compliance. From this point, medical practice should guarantee that patients receive an quality medical care, and to be treated with dignity and respect. In December 2022, the General Council of Official Medical Associations of Spain published a new version of the Spanish Code of Medical Ethics that aims, among other purposes, to standardize medical care of scientific and human quality. Medical practice sup ported by scientifically-based medicine, lex artis médica, patient safety, professional responsibility, honesty and integrity are some of the aspects that in this updated document of medical ethics frame and define the work of the doctor for a performance of medicine with quality (AU)

When Medical Ethics and Military Ethics Collide.

In 12 narratives, medical workers from Afghanistan, Darfur, Gaza, Iraq, Israel, Myanmar, and Ukraine describe the day-to-day challenges of providing quality medical care in austere conflict zones. Faced with severe shortages of supplies, overwhelmed by sick and injured civilians and soldiers, and subject to constant attacks on medical personnel and facilities, the contributors to this collection confront difficult dilemmas of justice, medical impartiality, neutrality, burnout, and moral injury as they struggle to fulfill their duties as medical professionals, military officers, and conscientious citizens.

Manifestations, responses, and consequences of mistreatment of sick newborns and young infants and their parents in health facilities in Kenya.

BACKGROUND: Despite efforts to incorporate experience of care for women and newborns in global quality standards, there are limited efforts to understand experience of care for sick newborns and young infants. This paper describes the manifestations, responses, and consequences of mistreatment of sick young infants (SYIs), drivers, and parental responses in hospital settings in Kenya. METHODS: A qualitative formative study to inform the development of strategies for promoting family engagement and respectful care of SYI was conducted in five facilities in Kenya. Data were collected from in-depth interviews with providers and policy makers (n = 35) and parents (n = 25), focus group discussions with women and men (n = 12 groups), and ethnographic observations in each hospital (n = 64 observation sessions). Transcribed data were organized using Nvivo 12 software and analyzed thematically. RESULTS: We identified 5 categories of mistreatment: 1) health system conditions and constraints, including a) failure to meet professional standards, b) delayed provision of care; and c) limited provider skills; 2) stigma and discrimination, due to provider perception of personal hygiene or medical condition, and patient feelings of abandonment; 3) physically inappropriate care, including providers taking blood samples and inserting intravenous lines and nasogastric tubes in a rough manner; or parents being pressured to forcefully feed infants or share unsterile feeding cups to avoid providers' anger; 4) poor parental-provider rapport, expressed as ineffective communication, verbal abuse, perceived disinterest, and non-consented care; and 5) no organized form of bereavement and posthumous care in the case of infant's death. Parental responses to mistreatment were acquiescent or non-confrontational and included feeling humiliated or accepting the situation. Assertive responses were rare but included articulating disappointment by expressing anger, and/or deciding to seek care elsewhere. CONCLUSION: Mistreatment for SYIs is linked to poor quality of care. To address mistreatment in SYI, interventions that focus on building better communication, responding to the developmental needs of infants and emotional needs for parents, strengthen providers competencies in newborn care, as well as a supportive, enabling environments, will lead to more respectful quality care for newborns and young infants.

Estrategia de conciliación vida laboral-familiar como factor de calidad en los servicios estomatológicos / Work-life reconciliation strategy as a quality factor in dental services

Introducción: La conciliación vida laboral-familiar impacta positivamente en el ámbito laboral, familiar y en la calidad de los servicios. Objetivo: Establecer una estrategia de conciliación vida laboral-familiar como factor de calidad de los servicios estomatológicos en la clínica Julio Antonio Mella de Guantánamo. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio de intervención, el muestreo fue no probabilístico según los criterios de selección establecidos. El universo lo constituyeron 10 estomatólogas y cinco directivas, con sus respectivas parejas. Para la recolección de la información se aplicó un cuestionario diseñado por los autores, validado mediante el criterio de expertos, y se realizaron entrevistas en profundidad. Resultados: La dimensión estructura alcanzó el valor de -1,08 antes de la intervención y 0,73 después, la dimensión proceso -0,39 antes y después 0,15; la dimensión resultado -0,71 antes y 0,43 después, por lo que las tres dimensiones de calidad del servicio se evaluaron como adecuadas desde la perspectiva de la conciliación vida laboral-familiar por alcanzar valores inferiores a 1 antes de la intervención, y por encima de ese valor después de su realización. El índice del estado actual de la organización antes de la intervención fue de -0,48 en la categoría de retroceso moderado, después de la intervención fue de 0,54, ubicado en la categoría de avance moderado. Conclusiones: La evaluación de la estrategia demostró su efectividad en la Clínica Julio Antonio Mella de Guantánamo al modificar hacia resultados positivos el valor del estado actual de la organización con su implementación(AU)

Introduction: The reconciliation of work-family life has a positive impact on the work, family environment and the quality of services. Objective: Establish a work-life reconciliation strategy as a factor in the quality of stomatological services at ´´Julio Antonio Mella´´ Clinic in Guantánamo. Methods: An intervention study was conducted; the sampling was non-probabilistic according to the established selection criteria. The universe consisted of 10 stomatologists and five female managers, with their respective partners. For the collection of information, a questionnaire designed by the authors was applied, it was validated using expert criteria, and in-depth interviews were conducted. Results: The structure dimension reached the value of -1.08 before the intervention and 0.73 after, the process dimension -0.39 before and 0.15 after; the result dimension had -0.71 before and 0.43 after, so that the three dimensions of quality of service were evaluated as adequate from the perspective of work-family life reconciliation for reaching values below 1 before the intervention and above that value after its completion ; the index of the current state of the organization before the intervention was -0.48 in the category of moderate regression, and after the intervention it was 0.54, placed in the category of moderate progress. Conclusions: The evaluation of the strategy demonstrated its effectiveness at ´´Julio Antonio Mella Clinic in Guantánamo province by modifying the value of the current state of the organization with its implementation towards positive results(AU)

Ethical and Professional Considerations in Integrated Behavioral Health.

Integrated behavioral health models of care offer many benefits for patient experience and outcomes. However, multidisciplinary teams are comprised of professionals who each may have different professional norms and ethical obligations, which may at times be in conflict. This article offers a framework for negotiating potential conflicts between professional norms and expectations across disciplines involved in integrated behavioral health teams.

Cultivating quality awareness in corona times.

The Covid-19 pandemic is a tragedy for those who have been hard hit worldwide. At the same time, it is also a test of concepts and practices of what good care is and requires, and how quality of care can be accounted for. In this paper, we present our Care-Ethical Model of Quality Enquiry (CEMQUE) and apply it to the case of residential care for older people in the Netherlands during the Covid-19 pandemic. Instead of thinking about care in healthcare and social welfare as a set of separate care acts, we think about care as a complex practice of relational caring, crossed by other practices. Instead of thinking about professional caregivers as functionaries obeying external rules, we think about them as practically wise professionals. Instead of thinking about developing external quality criteria and systems, we think about cultivating (self-)reflective quality awareness. Instead of abstracting from societal forces that make care possible but also limit it, we acknowledge them and find ways to deal with them. Based on these critical insights, the CEMQUE model can be helpful to describe, interrogate, evaluate, and improve existing care practices. It has four entries: (i) the care receiver considered from their humanness, (ii) the caregiver considered from their solicitude, (iii) the care facility considered from its habitability and (iv) the societal, institutional and scholarly context considered from the perspective of the good life, justice and decency. The crux is enabling all these different entries with all their different aspects to be taken into account. In Corona times this turns out to be more crucial than ever.

[Ethical issues in primary care during the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic]. / Problemas éticos en atención primaria durante la pandemia del coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).

Public health emergencies, such as the current SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic, have led to tragic resource constraints that prevent lives from being saved. This has led to tensions in patient-centered care as the backbone of the system in normal conditions and the same care in emergencies originating in the COVID-19. In this review we address some of the healthcare, organizational and ethical problems that this scenario has caused in primary care such as: cancellation of programmed activities; scarce home care and follow-up of elderly, chronically ill and immobilized patients; shortage of PPE and the exposure to risk of healthcare professionals, and finally the problems associated with telemedicine and telephone attention to patients.

Amamentação cruzada no cenário da precarização do trabalho em saúde: atuação do enfermeiro / Cross-breastfeeding in the scenario of precarization of health work: nurse's role / Lactancia cruzada en el escenario de precarización del trabajo de salud: papel de la enfermera

Objetivo: investigar a atuação dos enfermeiros frente à amamentação cruzada e correlacionar com a atual questão da precarização do trabalho. Método: estudo qualitativo do tipo descritivo com base metodológica de análise do discurso, realizado com seis enfermeiras da Estratégia de Saúde da Família (ESF) por meio de um grupo focal. Resultados: o tema amamentação cruzada é apresentado como um indicador de conflitos ético-profissionais no processo de trabalho, expressando-se nos seguintes aspectos: conhecimento das prescrições de contraindicação, sensação de dificuldade em intervir e transferência à nutriz por qualquer dano à saúde da criança. Considerações finais: no cotejo entre esses resultados e uma organização de trabalho com normas e rotinas institucionalizadas, discutem-se como efeitos da não utilização de técnicas de aconselhamento, a fragilização da autonomia da nutriz, de forma imperceptível, reproduzidas por enfermeiros na assistência.

Objective: to investigate nurses' role related to cross-breastfeeding and to correlate with the current issue of precarious work.Method: descriptive andqualitative study based on methodological discourse analysis, carried out with six nurses from Estratégia de Saúde da Família (ESF) Program through a focus group. Results: cross-breastfeeding topic is presented as an indicator of ethical-professional conflicts in the work process, expressing itself in the following aspects: knowledge of prescriptions of contraindication, feeling of difficulty in intervening and transference to the nursing mother for any harm to the child's health. Final considerations: in the comparison between these results and a work organization with institutionalized norms and routines, we discuss the effects of not using counseling techniques, the fragility of nurses' autonomy, imperceptibly reproduced by nurses in care.

Objetivo: investigar el papel de las enfermeras relacionadas con la lactancia cruzada y su correlación con el tema actual del trabajo precario. Método: estudio descriptivo y cualitativo basado en el análisis metodológico del discurso, realizado con seis enfermeras del Programa Estratégia de Saúse da Familia (ESF) através de un grupo focal. Resultados: el tema de la lactancia cruzada se presenta como un indicador de conflictos ético-profesionales en el proceso de trabajo, expresándose en los siguientes aspectos: conocimiento de prescripciones de contraindicación, sensación de dificultad para intervenir y transferencia a la madre lactante por cualquier daño a la salud del niño Consideraciones finales: en la comparación entre estos resultados y una organización de trabajo con normas y rutinas institucionalizadas, discutimos los efectos de no utilizar técnicas de asesoramiento, la fragilidad de la autonomía de las enfermeras, reproducida imperceptiblemente por las enfermeras bajo cuidado.

Nurses confronting the coronavirus: Challenges met and lessons learned to date.

Registered nurses are an essential workforce group across the globe. They use their expertise and skill sets every day in clinical practice to protect, promote, and advocate on behalf of patients and families under their care. In this article we discuss the physical, emotional, and moral stresses that nurses are experiencing in their day-to-day practice settings created by the novel coronavirus. We consider the demands placed on nurses by unexpected patient surges within hospital environments and inadequate personal protective equipment and other critical resources, challenging nurses' ability to meet their professional and ethical obligations. We also share our thoughts on supporting nurses and others now, and ideas for needed healing for both individuals and organizations as we move forward. Finally, we argue for the need for substantive reform of institutional processes and systems that can deliver quality care in the future when faced with another devastating humanitarian and public health crises.

Problemas bioéticos en la prestación de los cuidados enfermeros durante la pandemia del COVID-19 / Bioethical problems in the provision of nursing care during the COVID-19 pandemic

OBJETIVO PRINCIPAL: Identificar los principales problemas bioéticos suscitados al proporcionar cuidados de enfermería durante la pandemia de Covid-19. METODOLOGÍA: Revisión de la literatura sobre bioética de las pandemias y de las respuestas propuestas por organismos nacionales e internacionales con competencia sobre cuestiones bioéticas. RESULTADOS PRINCIPALES: Se identificaron problemas bioéticos en las siguientes áreas: el autocuidado de la enfermera en un contexto de alta contagiosidad; la priorización en la distribución de recursos insuficientes; y la defensa de los derechos del paciente. CONCLUSIÓN PRINCIPAL: Si bien se pueden obtener algunas respuestas a los mencionados desafíos a partir de las fuentes empleadas en este trabajo, resulta necesario un mayor análisis de cada uno de los problemas bioéticos identificados para hallar las respuestas correctas para el momento actual y en futuros escenarios análogos que puedan presentarse

OBJECTIVE: To identify the main bioethical problems raised by providing nursing care during the Covid-19 pandemic. METHODS: Review of the literature on bioethics of pandemics and the responses offered by national and international organizations with competence on bioethical issues. RESULTS: Bioethical problems were identified in the following areas: nurse self-care in a highly contagious context; prioritization in the distribution of insufficient resources; and the defense of the patient's rights. CONCLUSION: Although some answers to the mentioned challenges have been offered from the sources used in the document, it is necessary to further analyze each of the bioethical problems identified, to find the correct answers for the present moment and in future similar scenarios that may occur

[Ethics of clinical trials]. / L'éthique des essais thérapeutiques.

TITLE: L'éthique des essais thérapeutiques. ABSTRACT: La pandémie de COVID-19 a conduit certains acteurs reconnus de la médecine à renoncer aux méthodes codifiées de la recherche médicale au profit d'affirmations établies dans l'urgence et sans réelle évaluation scientifique. Autant l'on peut comprendre que certains praticiens recourent à ce qui leur est ainsi proposé, autant cette confusion entre action dans l'urgence et recherche scientifique serait lourde de conséquences si elle venait à se généraliser, et cela à de multiples points de vue : image et rôle de la science, qualité et éthique de la recherche médicale et en fin de compte sort des malades soumis à des traitements mal évalués. Ce sont ces questions qui motivent la mise au point qui suit sur les questions d'éthique associées de longue date aux « essais thérapeutiques ¼, cette procédure rationnelle d'acquisition dans les meilleurs délais d'informations fiables sur les avantages et les risques des traitements dont on envisage l'éventuelle utilisation.

Patient and Family Descriptions of Ethical Concerns.

Ethically challenging situations routinely arise in the course of illness and healthcare. However, very few studies have surveyed patients and family members about their experiences with ethically challenging situations. To address this gap in the literature, we surveyed patients and family members at three hospitals. We conducted a content analysis of their responses to open-ended questions about their most memorable experience with an ethical concern for them or their family member. Participants (N = 196) described 219 unique ethical experiences that spanned many of the prevailing themes of bioethics, including the patient-physician relationship, end-of-life care, decision-making capacity, healthcare costs, and genetic testing. Participants focused on relational issues in the course of experiencing illness and receiving medical care and concerns regarding the patient-physician encounters. Many concerns arose outside of a healthcare setting. These data indicate areas for improvement for healthcare providers but some concerns may be better addressed outside of the traditional healthcare setting.

Treating the SARS-CoV-2-positive patient with cancer: A proposal for a pragmatic and transparent ethical process.

The treatment of patients with cancer who test positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) poses unique challenges. In this commentary, the authors describe the ethical rationale and implementation details for the creation of a novel, multidisciplinary treatment prioritization committee, including physicians, frontline staff, an ethicist, and an infectious disease expert. Organizational obligations to health care workers also are discussed. The treatment prioritization committee sets a threshold of acceptable harm to patients from decreased cancer control that is justified to reduce risk to staff. The creation of an ethical, consistent, and transparent decision-making process involving such frontline stakeholders is essential as departments across the country are faced with decisions regarding the treatment of SARS-CoV-2-positive patients with cancer.

Errores en la atención de los pacientes con enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal: estudio «ERRATA» / Errors in the care of inflammatory bowel disease patients: "Errata" Study

INTRODUCCIÓN: Los errores son muy comunes en la práctica clínica diaria; no obstante, pueden prevenirse. Nuestro objetivo fue identificar los errores más frecuentes en el manejo ambulatorio de los pacientes con enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal (EII). MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se incluyeron pacientes consecutivos diagnosticados de EII atendidos en segunda opinión en nuestra Unidad de EII. Se obtuvieron datos sobre las estrategias que habían realizado los médicos que les atendieron previamente, y se compararon con los procedimientos diagnósticos y terapéuticos actualmente recomendados. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 74 pacientes. Previamente a la atención en nuestra Unidad, se había interrogado sobre el tabaquismo en el 50% de los pacientes con enfermedad de Crohn, y en el 29% se promocionó el abandono de este. Al diagnóstico de la EII, en el 16% se había evaluado la infección por el virus de la hepatitis B, en el 15% por el virus de la hepatitis C, y en el 7% por la varicela. El 7% de los pacientes había sido vacunado frente a la hepatitis B, mientras que el 3% frente a la gripe, tétanos y neumococo. El 67% y el 37% de los pacientes con indicación de 5-aminosalicitalos e inmunosupresores, respectivamente, los había recibido. DISCUSIÓN: Los errores en el manejo de los pacientes ambulatorios diagnosticados de EII son muy frecuentes y relevantes

INTRODUCTION: Errors are very common in daily clinical practice; however, they can be prevented. Our aim was to identify the most common errors in the outpatient management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed with IBD, being treated at our IBD Unit and who were referred for a second opinion were consecutively enrolled. Data on the strategies implemented by their previous physicians were obtained. These strategies were compared with the currently recommended diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. RESULTS: Seventy-four IBD patients were enrolled. Prior to care in our Unit, screening for tobacco use had been performed in 50% of Crohn's disease patients, while smoking cessation counselling had been provided in 29%. At the time of IBD diagnosis, the hepatitis B virus immunization status had been investigated in 16% of the patients, the hepatitis C virus status in 15%, and the varicella status in 7%. Seven percent of the patients had been vaccinated against hepatitis B virus, and 3% against influenza, tetanus and pneumococcus. Sixty-seven percent of the patients with an indication for use of 5-aminosalicylic acid and 37% of those with an indication for immunosuppressants had received the indicated drug. DISCUSSION: Errors in the outpatient management of IBD patients are very common and relevant

The UK haemophilia specialist nurse: Competencies fit for practice in the 21st century.

INTRODUCTION: Nurses play a central co-ordinating role in delivering comprehensive care for people with haemophilia and allied bleeding disorders, for which they need a broad range of competencies. The UK Haemophilia Nurses Association (HNA) published a role description in 1994 which was developed into a competency framework in 2014. This has now been updated to reflect current educational and clinical practice. AIM: To summarize the evidence supporting the nurse's advanced role within haemophilia care and develop new competencies to deliver comprehensive care within a multidisciplinary team. METHODS: Systematic reviews were identified by PubMed literature search. The HNA conducted workshops to consult its membership, and the authors incorporated this input to update its competency framework within the structure outlined by Health Education England in multiprofessional framework for advanced clinical practice in England (2017). RESULTS: The proposed framework includes five domains (Clinical knowledge, Clinical/direct care, Communication and support, Collaborative practice and Research) supported by indicators for four levels of practice (beginner, competent, proficient and expert). The framework is a tool which nurses and their managers can use to assess skills and knowledge, and identify learning needs appropriate to personal development and improve patient care and outcomes. CONCLUSION: The HNA has developed a new competency framework to provide a strong foundation for haemophilia specialist nurses to continue improving services for people living with bleeding disorders and their families, as well as supporting personal development alongside new therapeutic options, models of care and follow-up.