This bibliography contains references to ethics-related books, articles, and websites deemed particularly important and useful to students and faculty of C-L psychiatry training programs. It supplements the first edition (published in 1999) of ACLP’s ethics bibliography with additional specialty areas and items published since that first edition. For a background, the need for, and use of this update, please see the Introduction.
The bibliography is organized into four categories, each with subcategories.
This bibliography update is made possible by the ACLP Bioethics SIG Bibliography Task Force, which recognizes the contributions of Bioethics SIG members as well as consultation from Marguerite Lederberg, MD, FAPM, and Cavin Leeman, MD, FAPM. Task Force members are:
We will endeavor to regularly update this online bibliography that clinicians can continually contribute to, and access, as their clinical and academic pursuits lead them. To recommend an addition to, or exclusion from, the bibliography, please send details to BioethicsBiblio@clpsychiatry.org.
The first bibliography:
Preisman RC, Steinberg MD, Rummans TA, Youngner SJ, Leeman CP, Lederberg MS, Cohen MA, Surman OS, Blum JA: An Annotated Bibliography for Ethics Training in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry. Psychosomatics 1999; 40(5):369-379.
In the 16 years since the publication of the first bibliography for C-L ethics training by Preisman et al (1999), much has changed, including the name of our subspecialty to “psychosomatic medicine” (PM). In 1999 it was possible to review the core publications in the field in a single article. It is a testimony to the exponential growth of the field of clinical ethics in general, and to papers related to the training of PM physicians in particular, that we can now benefit from an online, updatable bibliography. Similarly, the growth of specialty areas of bioethics, some of which were virtually unexplored a decade and a half ago, calls for a bibliography expanded to encompass these areas
What has also dramatically accelerated in the time since the first bibliography is the scholarly impact of the Internet and the unprecedented pace of academic publications, reflected in the inclusion of electronic resources in this supplement.
What has not changed is the significance of ethical issues and questions for the practice of PM. If anything, the need for psychosomatic physicians to be able to identify, analyze and, if possible, resolve ethical dilemmas in clinical care, education and research has become even more critical. The ability to quickly and efficiently find high-quality ethics resources is essential to this task.
In order to do justice to a very different literary landscape of contemporary clinical ethics as it interfaces with PM, we have collected references deemed particularly important and useful for learners and faculty involved in PM training programs.
We offer our best recommendations in the most salient categories in psychosomatic medicine as a starting point for teachers and students to begin their study of clinical ethics, with practical guidance for the trainee or practicing PM physician.
Our search includes articles published between 1999 and the present. We have organized the bibliography into four ethics categories—core ethics, clinical ethics, psychiatric ethics, and medical specialty ethics. The limited scope of this update is a testimony to the dynamism and diversity of psychosomatic medicine’s scholarly contributions to bioethics. We will endeavor to regularly update this online bibliography that clinicians can continually contribute to, and access, as their clinical and academic pursuits lead them. To recommend an addition to, or exclusion from, the bibliography, please send details to BioethicsBiblio@clpsychiatry.org.
AMA Journal of Ethics (formerly Virtual Mentor)
http://journalofethics.ama-assn.org
This MEDLINE-indexed electronic journal is dedicated to providing practical, clinically oriented ethics education for physicians and physicians in training. Each issue has a theme that is discussed in original articles and commentaries.
Bioethics.net
http://www.bioethics.net
A website maintained by the editors of the American Journal of Bioethics that hosts bioethics blogs, journal articles, and news from the world’s top bioethics scholars. Also includes extensive resources grouped in hot topics.
Beauchamp TL, Childress JF: Principles of Biomedical Ethics (7th ed). New York: Oxford University Press 2012; 459 pp
A widely used and quoted textbook in academic ethics for its explanation of the principlism method of ethical analysis.
Jonsen AR, Siegler M, Winslade WJ: Clinical Ethics: A Practical Approach to Ethical Decisions in Clinical Medicine (7th ed). New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010; 228 pp
A clinical ethics classic for its casuistic approach and analysis based on the four-box method this book made famous.
Bloch S, Green SA (Eds): Psychiatric Ethics (4th ed). Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press; 2009; 552 pp
Chapters from many of the most renowned scholars in psychiatric ethics that span the broad spectrum of psychiatric ethics from philosophy to practice.
Roberts LW, Dyer AR: Concise Guide to Ethics in Mental Health Care. Washington, DC: APA Press, 2004; 354 pp
An outstanding overview of the core mental health ethics topics combining empirical and conceptual orientations that is ideal for teaching.
Geppert CM, Cohen MA: Consultation-liaison psychiatrists on bioethics committees: opportunities for academic leadership. Acad Psychiatry 2006; 30(5):416-421.
Review of the significant part psychiatrists have played in ethics committees, consultations and professional organizations, and recommendations for promoting this leadership role through education.
Bourgeois JA, Cohen MA, Geppert CM: The role of psychosomatic-medicine psychiatrists in bioethics: a survey study of members of the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine. Psychosomatics 2006; 47(6):520-526.
A survey of the wide and salient involvement of APM members in bioethics activities
McCormack R, Fléchais R: The role of psychiatrists and mental disorder in assisted dying practices around the world: a review of the legislation and official reports. Psychosomatics 2012; 53(4):319-326
Assisted dying practices, and the role of psychiatry. Useful for discussion of potential conflicts.
Cohen LM, Steinberg MD, Hails KC, Dobscha SK, Fischel SV: Psychiatric evaluation of death-hastening requests. Lessons from dialysis discontinuation. Psychosomatics 2000; 41(3):195-203.
Complexities in assessments of death hastening requests, including diagnosing depression, evaluating adequacy of palliative care, and other factors.
Bernacki RE, Block SD, American College of Physicians High Value Care Task Force: Communication about serious illness care goals: a review and synthesis of best practices. JAMA Intern Med 2014; 174(12):1994-2003
Reviews best practices with practical advice, including a systematic approach and conversation guide. Useful for teaching communication strategies.
Martin RD, Cohen MA, Weiss Roberts L, Batista SM, Hicks D, Bourgeois J: DNR versus DNT: clinical implications of a conceptual ambiguity: a case analysis. Psychosomatics 2007; 48(1):10-5
Case-based discussion of end-of-life issues. Useful in case-based ethics teaching.
Cook R, Pan P, Silverman R, Soltys SM: Do-not-resuscitate orders in suicidal patients: clinical, ethical, and legal dilemmas.
Psychosomatics 2010; 51(4):277-282
Case-based review of ethical, clinical and legal issues with DNR orders and suicidal patients.
Appelbaum PS: Privacy in psychiatric treatment: threats and responses. Am J Psychiatry 2002; 159(11):1809-1818
Review of ethical and legal basis for medical privacy, including technologic changes. Excellent resource.
Baer W, Schwartz AC: Teaching professionalism in the digital age on the psychiatric consultation-liaison service. Psychosomatics 2011; 52(4):303-309
Review of professionalism, with case examples of blunders. Good teaching points for issues with social media.
Brendel RW, Schouten R: Legal concerns in psychosomatic medicine. Psychiatr Clin North Am 2007; 30(4):663-676
Overview of relevant legal issues including treatment consent and refusal, malpractice, HIPAA, abuse and neglect. Excellent resource.
Meisel A, Snyder L, Quill T, American College of Physicians–American Society of Internal Medicine End-of-Life Care Consensus Panel: Seven legal barriers to end-of-life care: myths, realities, and grains of truth. JAMA 2000; 284(19):2495-2501
Seven legal myths. Useful for teaching, and a lead in to discuss state laws.
Moye J, Sabatino CP, Weintraub Brendel R: Evaluation of the capacity to appoint a healthcare proxy. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2013; 21(4):326-336
Discussion of legal basis and a framework to approach the assessment (including suggested questions for clinical assessment). Useful resource.
Walaszek A: Clinical ethics issues in geriatric psychiatry. Psychiatr Clin North Am 2009; 32(2):343-359
Assessment of multiple capacities and issues specific to dementia. Excellent overview and resource.
Ganzini L, Volicer L, Nelson WA, Fox E, Derse AR: Ten myths about decision-making capacity. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2004; 5(4):263-267
Review of 10 common myths. Excellent article to lead a case-based discussion.
Applebaum PS: Clinical Practice. Assessment of patient’s competence to consent to treatment. N Engl J Med 2007; 357(18):1834-1840
Approaches to assessment, including relevant criteria and questions for clinical assessment. Excellent resource article for trainees.
Alfandre DJ: “I’m going home”: discharges against medical advice.
Mayo Clin Proc 2009; 84(3):255-260
Review of contributors to the phenomena. Useful in expanding the trainee understanding of AMA discharges.
Clark MA, Abbott JT, Adyanthaya T: Ethics seminars: a best-practice approach to navigating the against-medical-advice discharge.
Acad Emerg Med 2014; 21(9):1050-1057
Case based discussion of ethical and legal issues and a best practices approach. Particularly useful in emergency departments.
Geppert CM, Rabjohn P, Vlaskovits J: To treat or not to treat: psychosis, palliative care, and ethics at the end-of-life: a case analysis. Psychosomatics 2011; 52(2):178-184
Case-based discussion of the end-of-life care (from multiple perspectives). Useful for teaching about ethics at end-of-life.
Olsen ML, Swetz KM, Mueller PS: Ethical decision making with end-of-life care: palliative sedation and withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatments. Mayo Clin Proc 2010; 85(10):949-954
Review of palliative sedation, ethical basis, and comparison with withdrawing or withholding care. Good overview.
Jain S, Roberts LW: Ethics in psychotherapy: a focus on professional boundaries and confidentiality practices. Psychiatr Clin North Am 2009; 32(2):299-314
Review of ethical principles, boundary issues with examples, and confidentiality/privacy
Roberts LW, Hoop JG, Dunn LB, Geppert CMA: Essential ethical skills of mental health professionals. Focus 2009; 7(3):401-405
Discussion of six essential ethical skills and tensions/challenges that arise.
Note: For Pacemakers/ICD/LVAD and dialysis, please see Cardiology and Nephrology sections, respectively, under “D. Medical Specialty Ethics.”
Geppert CM, Andrews MR, Druyan ME: Ethical issues in artificial nutrition and hydration: a review. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 2010; 34(1):79-88
Framework of clinical practices, ethical principles, legal precedents and professional guidelines, with the contexts of terminal illness, advanced dementia and persistent vegetative state. Useful for teaching and ethics consultations.
Schwartz DB, Barrocas A, Wesley JR, et al: Gastrostomy tube placement in patients with advanced dementia or near end of life. Nutr Clin Pract 2014; 29(6):829-840
Recommendations for changes to clinical practice and care strategy, including algorithm for decision-making and a checklist to use prior to placement of G-tubes. Useful for teaching on end-of-life issues.
Wright DK, Brajtman S, Macdonald ME. A relational ethical approach to end-of-life delirium. J Pain Symptom Manage 2014; 48(2):191-198
A discussion on how delirium is lived by patients, families, and health care providers and how it affects the relationships and values at stake.
Adamis D, Treloar A, Martin FC, Macdonald AJ. Ethical research in delirium: arguments for including decisionally incapacitated subjects. Sci Eng Ethics 2010; 16(1):169-174
A good discussion on ethical research in delirium.
Dunn LB, Alici Y: Ethical waves of the silver tsunami: consent, capacity and surrogate decision-making. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2013; 21(4):309-313
Editorial on topic of ethical, clinical, and legal issues with dementia research
Säfken C, Frewer A. The duty to warn and clinical ethics: legal and ethical aspects of confidentiality and HIV/AIDS. HEC Forum. 2007; 19(4):313-326
A good debate about duty to warn in HIV patients.
Shah SK, Hull SC, Spinner MA, et al: What does the duty to warn require? Am J Bioeth 2013; 13(10):62-63
What does the duty to warn require in regard to genetics?
McCullumsmith CB, Ford CV. Simulated illness: the factitious disorders and malingering. Psychiatr Clin North Am 2011; 34(3):621-641
This review discusses current controversies in diagnosis and recent research providing further insights into the detection of simulated illnesses, and ends with a discussion of ethical and legal issues associated with factitious disorder diagnoses
Lytle S, Stagno SJ, Daly B. Repetitive foreign body ingestion: ethical considerations. J Clin Ethics 2013; 24(2):91-97
A good discussion on the fundamental ethical questions regarding the duty to treat, patient autonomy, justice, and futility of patients with repetitive foreign body ingestion.
Kohn NA, Blumenthal JA. A critical assessment of supported decision-making for persons aging with intellectual disabilities. Disabil Health J 2014; 7(1 Suppl):S40-S43
The article reviews the evidence base for supported decision-making.
Moye J, Marson DC, Edelstein B: Assessment of capacity in an aging society. Am Psychol 2013; 68(3):158-171
This article focuses on the evolution of theory, law, science, and practice in the evaluation of capacity in older adults.
Geppert CM, Bogenschutz MP: Ethics in substance use disorder treatment. Psychiatr Clin North Am 2009; 32(2):283-297
A good discussion on informed consent, parity, and social justice in the treatment of patients with substance use disorders.
Sullivan M, Ferrell B: Ethical challenges in the management of chronic nonmalignant pain: negotiating through the cloud of doubt. J Pain 2005; 6(1):2-9
Providers need an ethical framework within which to adopt the principles of palliative care to a population of patients with chronic non-malignant pain.
Schuklenk U, van de Vathorst S: Treatment-resistant major depressive disorder and assisted dying. J Med Ethics 2015; 41(8):577-583
Competent patients suffering from treatment-resistant depressive disorder should be treated no different in the context of assisted dying to other patients suffering from chronic conditions that render their lives permanently not worth living to them.
Ho AO: Suicide: rationality and responsibility for life. Can J Psychiatry 2014; 59(3):141-147
Can suicide be rational?
Petrucci RJ, Benish LA, Carrow BL, et al: Ethical considerations for ventricular assist device support: a 10-point model. ASAIO J 2011; 57(4):268-273.
Ten ethical points to consider in the use of VAD support, spelled out visually.
Chasmi-Pasha H, Chasmi-Pasha MA, Albar MA: Ethical challenges of deactivation of cardiac devices in advanced heart failure. Curr Heart Fail Rep 2014; 11(2):119-125
Updated review looking at patient perspectives, field consensus, position statements, and relevant aspects to deactivation of cardiac devices.
Curtis JR, Vincent JL: Ethics and end-of-life care for adults in the intensive care unit. Lancet 2010; 376(9749):1347-1353
EOL ICU decision-making algorithm and review, including shared-decision-making plans.
Eisendrath SJ, Shim JJ. Management of psychiatric problems in critically ill patients. Am J Med 2006; 119(1):22-29
Covers biopsychosocial aspects in care of psychiatric patients in critical care setting, with section devoted to “ICU caregiver stress.”
Johansson KA, Pedersen KB, Andersson AK: HIV testing of pregnant women: an ethical analysis. Dev World Bioeth 2011; 11(3):109-119
Ethical analysis justifying opt-out HIV testing in pregnant women.
Lo B, Katz MH. Clinical decision making during public health emergencies: ethical considerations. Ann Intern Med 2005; 143(7):493-498
Excellent review of physician duties during public health/epidemic emergencies along with visual algorithm/careplan when patients refuse public health mandates.
Cohen LM, Moss AH, Weisbord SD, Germain MJ: Renal palliative care. J Palliat Med 2006; 9(4);977-992
Review of medical and ethical/legal considerations in end-stage renal disease, with guidelines on dialysis discontinuation and other end-of-life care considerations.
Bostwick JM, Cohen LM: Differentiating suicide from life-ending acts and end-of-life decisions: a model based on chronic kidney disease and dialysis. Psychosomatics 2009; 50(1):1-7
Discussion of the conceptualizations of suicide, and proposal of a grid to categorize different types of CKD deaths.
Schermer M: Ethical issues in deep brain stimulation. Front Integr Neurosci 2011; 5:17
Succinct, helpful summary of relevant ethical issues (consent, autonomy, risk/benefit analysis) inherent to deep-brain stimulation research and care, with accepted guidelines.
Babbitt KE, Bailey KJ, Coverdale JH, Chervenak FA, McCullough LB: Professionally responsible intrapartum management of patients with major mental disorders. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2014; 210(1):27-31
Excellent, succinct approach (and algorithm) for consideration of mental health and ethical concerns in pregnant women.
Howard LM, Barley EA, Davies E, et al: Cancer diagnosis in people with severe mental illness: practical and ethical issues. Lancet Oncol 2010; 11(8):797-804
Pools all studies examining cancer diagnoses, incidence, and outcomes in patients with mental illness, and explores ethical considerations (particularly decision-making).
Lolkema MP, Gadellaa-van Hooijdonk CG, Bredenoord AL, et al: Ethical, legal, and counseling challenges surrounding the return of genetic results in oncology. J Clin Oncol 2013; 31(15):1842-1848
Ethical and legal analysis of clinician obligations and patient rights regarding cancer genetic information, with proposed algorithm for disclosure of genetic testing results.
Jowsey SG, Schneekloth TD: Psychosocial factors in living organ donation: clinical and ethical challenges. Transplant Rev (Orlando) 2008; 22(3):192-195
Ethical considerations (coercion, psychosocial dysfunction, consent) in evaluation of living organ donor candidates.
Dew MA, Jacobs CL, Jowsey SG, et al: Guidelines for the psychosocial evaluation of living unrelated kidney donors in the United States. Am J Transplant 2007; 7(5):1047-1054
Consensus guidelines on approaching ethical issues specific to altruistic/anonymous organ donors (coercion, psychosocial risk factors, expectations, informed consent).
Note: For end-of-life pain care, please see Palliative Care (terminal sedation) under “B. Clinical Ethics Topics.”
Sullivan M, Ferrell B: Ethical challenges in the management of chronic nonmalignant pain: negotiating through the cloud of doubt. J Pain 2005; 6(1):2-9
Anchored around a case, a succinct and practical guide to balancing addition and chronic pain needs, considering psychiatric/behavioral issues as well as offering steps and contracts for negotiation of pain care goals.
Orioles A, Morrison WE: Medical ethics in pediatric critical care. Crit Care Clin 2013; 29(2):359-375
Great review of decision-making in pediatrics, end-of-life care, futility, organ donation/transplantation, and death determination.
Bruce CR, Berg SL, McGuire AL: Please don’t call my mom: pediatric consent and confidentiality. Clin Pediatr (Phila) 2009; 48(3):243-246
Practical, brief discussion of complexities surrounding pediatric consent and confidentiality, and ethical considerations of relevance.
Monteiro F: Family reliance on physicians’ decisions in life-sustaining treatments in acute-on-chronic respiratory diseases in a respiratory ICU: a single-center study. Respir Care 2014; 59(3):411-419
Examination of family patterns in autonomous use of physician input in EOL care decisions in patients with specifically acute-on-chronic respiratory conditions.
Rouleau CR, Rash JA, Mothersill KJ: Ethical issues in the psychosocial assessment of bariatric surgery candidates. J Health Psychol 2014 Nov 18 [Epub ahead of print]
Review of particular ethical issues in psychosocial evaluation of candidacy for bariatric surgery, including informed consent, potential for bias/discrimination, limitations to tests, and other issues.
Grant I: Ethical issues in burn care. Burns 1999; 25(4):307-315
Provides some guidance in ethical issues (assisted suicide, futility, adults/children, patient-physician relationship) specific to burns.
Sterodimas A, Radwanski HN, Pitanguy I: Ethical issues in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Aesthetic Plast Surg 2011; 35(2):262-267
Ethical concerns (from a principlism standpoint) in plastic and reconstructive surgery, as written by plastic surgeons.
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The Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry is a professional organization of physicians who provide psychiatric care to people with coexisting psychiatric and medical illnesses, both in hospitals and in primary care. Our specialty is called consultation-liaison psychiatry because we consult with patients and liaise with their other clinicians about their care.
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Michael Sharpe, MA, MD, FACLP
ACLP President