Welcome to the website of the Pediatric Ethics Consortium (PEC).
The PEC is dedicated to helping develop a better understanding of the ethical issues in the care of children. Along with producing the website, the PEC is comprised of participants from around the United States (and abroad) in the disciplines of philosophical ethics, religious ethics, clinical medicine, nursing, social work, research, law, and more. There are no dues required to participate in the PEC (just fill out your directory information). Your participation helps to widen our network of support, information, and education.
For more information, please take a moment to look through the site or send a message to any of the PEC editors.
Latest Information from the PEC:
Parental Authority and Child Welfare
News
NYT, Nov 27th, 2011
Review the online debate on the topic of refusal to care for children whose parents don't want to vaccinate.
NPR, November 2nd, 2011
Public outcry against government intrusion has pushed back a US Department of Labor deadline for public comment on a safety proposal that would limit the work children can perform on farms.
The Virginian-Pilot, September 25th, 2011
In 2006, the then 16 year old Abraham Cherrix (and his parents) won in court the right to refuse traditional medical therapy for cancer. A law was even passed in Virginia called 'Abraham's Law' that gives teens 14 years of age and older the legal right to decline traditional medical care for potentially life-threatening diseases. Now, five years later, he is still managing his cancer, and questions remain about what lessons ought to come from this case.
Florida Federal Court Grants Injunction Against Enforcement of a State Gun Gag Rule
Contemporary Pediatrics, September 15th, 2011
A US District court has granted preliminary injunction against enforcement of a law that would bar pediatricians from asking patients/parents whether they have guns in their homes and how they safely store them.
New York City will Mandate Sex Education
NYT, August 9, 2011
For the first time in two decades, public middle and and high school students will be required to take sex education classes.
Changes in Oregon Law Put Oregon Faith-Healing Parents on Trial
NYT, May 29th, 2011
Parents are prosecuted because they did not seek medical treatment for their infant's facial hemangioma. The baby was also physically removed from the parents' care for two months to receive treatment.
Mother battles Michigan over daughter's medication
MSNBC, May 22nd, 2011
Daughter with psychiatric illness forcibly removed from mother's care because mother wanted to use holistic approach versus medication called Risperdal.
Jury convicts mother who withheld cancer medications
MSNBC, April 12th, 2011
Mother of autistic school-age boy convicted of attempted murder because she did not give her son chemotherapy medications for his lymphoma, allegedly resulting in the cancer's recurrence and her son's death. Other stories here and here.
Public Health - Legal and Ethical Issues
Census report finds that more than 1 in 5 children is living in poverty
Government document, November 25th, 2011
The number of children living in poverty grew by more than 1 million in 2010, with the proportion and rate of rise amongst blacks and hispanics greatly outstripping the numbers reported for whites and asians. The implications for behavioral and physicial health, and educational opportunity are noted to be sobering.
The Medical Benefits of Male Circumcision
JAMA, October 14th, 2011
In response to growing number of efforts to ban circumcision or prevent reimbursement through public funds, JAMA publishes commentary. See entry in Religion and Society.
Hospitals to Require Worker Flu Shots
Boston Globe, September 14th, 2011
Because of persistently suboptimal hospital worker flu vaccination rates, some Boston-area hospitals hope to boost rates using ultimate negative incentive: get vaccinated or else risk loosing your job.
In Republican Race, a Heated Battle Over HPV Vaccine
NYT, September 13th, 2011
Texas Govenor Rick Perry, republican presidential candidate, is criticized for his 2007 decision to require Gardasil vaccine for 11-12 year old school entry. At issue is misinformation about the vaccine, approved for periadolescent girls to prevent cervical cancer caused by certain strains of human papilloma virus (HPV), while perenial ethical question remains- in what manner ought governments encourage uptake of public health measures so that we achieve optimal balance between personal liberty and protection of children from harm. The AAP responds.
CDC Forum on the Ethics of Confronting Childhood Obesity
Preventing Chronic Disease, September 2011
Publication of perspectives on ethical dimensions of childhood obesity-directed public policy. Also see this entry on recent controversy.
Ingredients of Shady Origin, Posing as Supplements
NYT, August 27th, 2011
Report on the difficulty with nutritional supplements, the debate being whether they should be more strictly regulated. Patients want to have access, companies want to sell products, but patients are possibly being harmed.
Vaccines Cleared Again as Autism Culprit
NYT, August 25th, 2011
Institute of Medicine Issues another report on the relationship between vaccination and autism. Again, evidence suggests there is no relationship.
US Scrambles to Ease Shortage of Vital Medications
NYT, August 19th, 2011
More on the crisis in medication supply, and discussion about the tension between regulation and the free market.
Crucial Cancer Drugs in Short Supply
CBS, August 3, 2011
Personal stories of cancer patients having to alter chemotherapy protocols because of medication shortages. Hording likely has complicated the problem. E Emanuel comments on the resulting rationing in a NYT article. Two senators respond to his opinion piece.
New Tests for Newborns, and Dilemmas for Parents
Wall Street Journal, July 26th, 2011
Article on controversy using newborn screening to identify diseases with unpredictable prognoses, and whose treatments might be risky. Example is made of mandatory screening for Krabbe disease in New York State.
Drug Shortages Threaten Patient Care
The Detroit News, June 1st, 2011
Some drugs are in short supply, including chemotherapeutics, hospitals are scrambling, patient care could be influenced in ways not trivial, and government may be compelled to prevent future shortages with laws.
Buzz Kill: Federal Warnings Hit Medical Pot Boom
NPR, May 28th, 2011
Federal regulation may hamper States' ability to license medical marijuana dispensaries.
Liquid Gold: The Booming Market for Human Breast Milk
Wired Magazine, May 17th, 2011
Report on the emerging 'market' of human breast milk.
Fast-food lobbies U.S. states on "Happy Meal" laws
Chicago Tribune, May 9, 2011
Fast-food companies ask state legislators to prevent local governments from regulating menus, aka 'Happy Meal' laws. see Obesity.
Professional Practice
A new MCAT
NEJM, November 24th, 2011
Dean of Harvard Medical School comments on the new Medical College Admission Test which will include testing of ethical reasoning and understanding of the social and cultural determinants of health.
Blame-free system yields more error reports
Reuters, November 24th, 2011
Large pediatric practice in North Carolina institutes blame-free medical error reporting system and vastly increases the numbers as compared to before the system was implemented.
Self-referral: A significant Factor in Imaging Growth
Science Daily, July 1, 2011 (reported October 26th 2011)
Study in the Journal of Americal College of Radiology suggests that self-referral may be a significant factor in the growth of medical imaging.
Survey Unveils Scope of Unreported Radation Errors
Medscape, October 7th, 2011
Study at the Annual American Society for Radiation Oncology finds that a substantial minority of near misses and minor errors are reported. Fear of censure was noted to be the major barrier to reporting.
Work -hour Numbers Linked to Job Satisfaction
American Medical Association News, July 29, 2011
A report that appears in July 11 Archives of Internal Medicine suggests that physicians that work fewer hours tend to have highr job satisfaction, a finding based on 2005 survey data of thousands of physicians in multiple specialties. The average physician works 48 hours per week.
Wining Their Trust
NEJM, June 1st, 2011
Dr A. Parekh talks about the important connection between adherence and the process of gaining a patient's trust.
'Dollars for Docs'
Propublica, accessed May 29th, 2011
Investigative journal website maintains searchable database of doctors and how much they receive from select drug companies.
The Doctor Will See You at Home for a Price
NPR May 10th, 2011
NPR report on pediatricians making house calls in NYC for families with a lot of money.
Mental Health and Neuroethics
New Bedside Test Can Challenge Vegetative State Diagnosis
Medpage Today, November 9th, 2011
A simple EEG that evaluates electrical responses to commands may be able to detect awareness in adults thought previously to be permanently unconscious. Original research in The Lancet.
New Coma Scale Detects More Wakefulness in Some Patients
Medscape, May 31st, 2011
Discussion of a new coma scale ('FOUR' Full Outline of Unresponsiveness) that includes an eye tracking test. FOUR may detect detect more consciousness compared to available methods, such as GCS and GLS.
Rising Numbers of Children with Development Issues
Pediatrics, ePublished, 2011
In the Unites States, the occurrence of developmental disabilities has increased 17% between 1997 and 2008, on account of increasing diagnoses of ADHD and Autism.
Vaccine Critics Claim Court Paid for Autism Cases
Medscape Pediatrics, May 10th, 2011
Law journal contends that State compensated families for vaccine injury, suggesting there is a link to Autism, while officials wonder why controversy can't be put to rest.
Are The Kids Alright: A Look At Children's Mental Health in Massachusetts
WBUR, Boston Public Radio, January 31, 2011
Healthcare Inequities- A Selection
Sick in US More Likely to Skip Care Than in Other Developed Countries
Reuters, November 9th, 2011
Commonwealth Fund survey finds that in the US, as compared to 10 other developed countries, more people with chronic illness have difficutly getting care because of cost or medical dept, despite the fact that spending on healthcare in the US outstrips others.
10-year old Boy with Psychiatric Problems in Stranded in a Children's Hospital
Washington Post, October 31st, 2011
A testament to the difficulty facing children with psychiatric illness, a child remains hospitalized while hospital, court, and family 'battle' over where and how the boy should be cared for.
Health Insurance Denial Rates Routinely 20%, Study Shows
USA Today, Sept 14th, 2011
Impressive denial rates (up to 70% in some regions) because of previous conditions thought to underline relevance of the Affordable Care Act of 2009.
Dialysis, Immigration, and U.S. Law
NEJM, June 8th, 2011
Perspective from two Texas physicians on inequities hoisted on poor foreign citizens in this country who have end-stage renal disease.
Dentists Hesitate to Treat Kids on Medicaid: Study
Reuters Health, May 23rd, 2011
Study suggests that dental practices in Illinois favor those with private insurance.
