ETHICS IN HEALTHCARE 2
Do you think that alternative forms of community consent should be actively pursued?
Why or why not?
While the conventional approaches of obtaining informed consent are vital, I think
alternative forms of community are also helpful and should thus be actively pursued as well.
Although much is yet to be done regarding these other forms, alternative forms could be
pivotal especially in an environment such as Intensive Care Unit where the patients because
of their physical or cognitive impairments due to sedation, trauma or illness may be unable to
provide informed consent.
There exist some types of research such as in ICU patients where consent for
important genomic research may need no delay as it may lead to the missed opportunity of
collecting transient and perhaps important clinical data (Ann K. Shelton, 2015). When done
in time, this research is crucial as it helps in saving many lives. This is why alternative forms
such as computer-based educational intervention may be crucial. This alternative form may
be crucial and also effective in helping the surrogates who could be the family members or
friends who are to make vital decisions for their patients have an understanding of informed
consent. These are among many importance of why alternative forms of community consent
should be pursued.
How would you feel if your medical records were examined and included in research
without your consent based on illness in the past?
The Belmont report sets the basic ethical principles that are to be followed when
conducting any research that involves a human being. These basic ethical principles are
respect for persons (autonomy), beneficence and justice (James M. DuBois, 2008).
I would not be happy if I found my medical records were examined as well as
included in research without my consent. Firstly, this means that some of the basic ethical
principles are violated. The principle of respect for the person, in this case, has been
