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As part of our
ongoing responsibility to further the understanding of the social and
moral aspects of health care, the Division directs a vigorous scholarly
program of research in ethics, values, and the medical culture, providing
support and encouragement to researchers from throughout the Medical
School and the affiliate hospitals. Current research projects, applying
both empirical and theoretical research methods, include truth telling
in oncology; a national survey of medical ethics education; practicing
pelvic exams on anesthetized gynecological patients: attitudes of fourth
year medical students; a national review of informed consent for phase
1 clinical cancer trials; iatrogenic events requiring admission to an
intensive care unit; informed consent for genetic research in epidemiological
studies; the effect of disclosing financial incentives on patients'
trust; a program to enhance family-centered care for children with life-threatening
diseases; a project to improve the care of seriously ill ICU patients;
brain death; ethical issues in the management of children with spinal
muscular atrophy; a review project on DNR orders; the role of family
interests in medical decision-making.
The Division’s summer research program, led by Lisa
Lehmann, provides medical students from HMS and elsewhere the opportunity
to spend the summer pursuing supervised research projects and participating
in an advanced ethics seminar. Last summer students undertook research
into the ethics of medical education; why African Americans prefer more
aggressive care at the end of life; a theoretical paper entitled “Rethinking
Paternalism”; and a study of patient perceptions of medical student
involvement in patient care. Students also have the opportunity to work
on faculty-sponsored projects.
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