Ethics in Pathology

Pathologists face interesting, important, and underexplored ethical complexities. This issue of the AMA Journal of Ethics considers a few of these neglected issues and questions, including shifts in social and cultural attitudes toward autopsy, cautions about the use of social media for sharing images, and what the death of Prince tells us about the public and professional obligations of physicians who interact with the media.

Volume 18, Number 8: 759-858 Full Issue PDF
  • From the Editor
    Aug 2016

    Ethical Considerations in Pathology

    Margaret Cocks, MD, PhD
    Introduction to the August 2016 issue on ethics in pathology.
    AMA J Ethics. 2016;18(8):761-763. doi: journalofethics.2016.18.8.fred1-1608.
  • Case and Commentary
    Aug 2016

    Ethical Questions about Platelet Transfusions at the End of Life

    John P. Sherbeck, MD and Renee D. Boss, MD
    The allocation of scarce resources, such as HLA platelets, involves a conflict between the medical ethics principles of beneficence and social justice.
    AMA J Ethics. 2016;18(8):764-770. doi: 10.1001/journalofethics.2016.18.8.ecas1-1608.
  • Case and Commentary
    Aug 2016

    I Might Have Some Bad News: Disclosing Preliminary Pathology Results

    Michael H. Roh, MD, PhD and Andrew G. Shuman, MD

    Cytopathologists frequently interact directly with patients at their bedsides to perform fine needle aspiration procedures. When, if ever, should cytopathologists share preliminary diagnostic impressions directly with patients?

    AMA J Ethics. 2016;18(8):779-785. doi: 10.1001/journalofethics.2016.18.8.ecas3-1608.
  • Case and Commentary
    Aug 2016

    Ordering Stains That Aren’t Indicated

    Martin J. Magers, MD and Sandro K. Cinti, MD
    Pathologists should work cooperatively with clinicians and provide guidance about appropriate testing to uphold the medical ethics principle of justice.
    AMA J Ethics. 2016;18(8):793-799. doi: 10.1001/journalofethics.2016.18.8.ecas5-1608.
  • Medical Education
    Aug 2016

    Improving Pathologists’ Communication Skills

    Suzanne Dintzis, MD, PhD
    The communication training program at University of Washington Medical Center aims to develop best practices for effective pathology communication.
    AMA J Ethics. 2016;18(8):802-808. doi: 10.1001/journalofethics.2016.18.8.medu1-1608.
  • Medicine and Society
    Aug 2016

    The Penetrating Gaze and the Decline of the Autopsy

    William E. Stempsey, MD, PhD
    Because physicians view autopsies differently than families of the deceased, informed consent rather than permission should be obtained for autopsies.
    AMA J Ethics. 2016;18(8):833-838. doi: 10.1001/journalofethics.2016.18.8.msoc1-1608.
  • Medicine and Society
    Aug 2016

    Public Figures, Professional Ethics, and the Media

    David R. Fowler, MBChB, MMed
    If health information is private, why do we know so much about Prince’s death? Critical legal and ethical questions remain unsettled about whether and when it is appropriate for medical examiners or coroners to release information from autopsy reports to the public.
    AMA J Ethics. 2016;18(8):839-842. doi: 10.1001/journalofethics.2016.18.8.msoc2-1608.
  • Art of Medicine
    Aug 2016

    The Use of Visual Arts as a Window to Diagnosing Medical Pathologies

    Katrina A. Bramstedt, PhD, MA
    Visual literacy modules can help trainees learn to integrate narrative and visual information in clinical encounters. The medical humanities curriculum at Australia’s Bond University uses art to build students’ diagnostic skills.
    AMA J Ethics. 2016;18(8):843-854. doi: 10.1001/journalofethics.2016.18.8.imhl1-1608.