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Osteopathic Family Physician News
Ask The Ethicist Columns
Ask the Ethicist answers questions, cases or comments submitted by the readership as well as timely ethical issues pertinent to family physicians. The ACOFP Ethics Committee is offering this column to provide a forum for medical ethical discussion
| Ask the Ethicist Columns |
Ethical Considerations in the Termination of Patient Care
November 2004
One must keep in mind that laws only tell us what should not be done while a code of ethics guides us in what should be done. So the question should be is it ethically responsible to terminate care of a patient?. 
Investigating a Family Physician's Ethical Role in Pediatric Care
October 2004
A family physician's pediatric ethical challenges are examined.
Assessing the Risks and Benefits of Thimerosal in Vaccines
October 2004
Communities, health professionals, policy-makers, and public health officials share concern about a possible link between thimerosal containing vaccines with autism, attention deficit hypersensitivity disorder, and speech or language delay.
Ignorance Is Not Bliss In Ethical Decision-Making
January 2004
Ethical virtues in medical professionals are an ever-increasing expectation of the public.
The Ethics Behind Advanced Directives
April 2004
Review of the four basic ethical principles involved in advanced directives.
| Financial |
Opting to Opt In or Out?
Reimbursement and Cash Flow Options
October 2003
Medicine is a business and as with any business, money matters. As reimbursement diminishes and more onerous documentation requirements evolve, one wonders when or if a more fair and expeditious system will come to fruition.
Coding Question & Answer
March 2004
Q: Dear Dr. Jorgensen, I am wondering what if anything can be done to bill for after hours calls. As you know, most insurance companies require 24-hour coverage but do not reimburse for this service. My only guess to bill for this service is 99050-99054. Please comment on the billing of after hour calls.
| General Articles |
For Deadly Purposes
May 2002
Reflections on a ballot initiative to legalize physician-assisted suicide.
| Point/Counterpoint Articles |
You Need A Kidney And I Need The Money & Buyer Beware When It Comes to Organs
March 2004
Point: If organ sales were legal, licensed brokers could find organs and match recipients willing to pay for it.
Counterpoint: The need for a greater supply of anatomical parts would again lead to exploitation of the less fortunate. People could donate their body parts for money, and bidding would become commonplace.
Should Human Cloning Be Banned?
September 2002
Point: Whether you agree with the trend or not, it is hard to argue against the ability to grow customized body parts, or just to rebuild defective ones. It is equally obvious the great potential this science has for humankind.
Counterpoint: Recently, it has become a hot political question, as legislators consider whether to place bans on human cloning. Issues of concern are the selection process for candidates for cloned organ transplantation, regulation of laboratories where cloning is done, and insurance coverage for cloned organ replacement.
