Ethical Aspects of Using Virtual Reality in Psychiatry

"Virtual reality (VR), initially a form of entertainment has begun to find its way in healthcare practice. One of its main areas of interest is the treatment of psychiatric disorders. When using VR, the basic ethical principles underlying the physician-patient relationship should be respected, but they should be customized by the presence of an additional layer of complexity generated by the interposition of the virtual world. The physician-patient relationship is often multidirectional, often including a larger team of healthcare professionals, family members or acquaintances, working conjointly to optimize the medical care. Each time other participants are involved within this relationship, the complexity of the ethical issues tends to increase. For example, if the patient has decreased insight, it is possible that other persons must make some medical decisions – resulting a prioritization of beneficence compared to autonomy. Also, we must take into account the fact that many psychiatric symptoms can be seen as a form of “virtual reality” by the patient. The healthcare provider must take additional safety measures to minimize the harms made by VR techniques in psychiatric patients, by using methods that are individually tailored. The main aim of this paper is to debate the ethical aspects surrounding the applicability of virtual reality in treating psychiatric patients, with an emphasis on the elements that were mentioned earlier. "

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The Ethics of Medical AI and the Physician-Patient Relationship

Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics ◽

10.1017/s0963180119000847 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. 115-121 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

SALLY DALTON-BROWN

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Workers ◽

Data Privacy ◽

Medical Information ◽

Ethical Issues ◽

Patient Relationship ◽

Physician Patient Relationship ◽

Positive Shift ◽

Physician Relationship ◽

Physician Patient

Abstract:This article considers recent ethical topics relating to medical AI. After a general discussion of recent medical AI innovations, and a more analytic look at related ethical issues such as data privacy, physician dependency on poorly understood AI helpware, bias in data used to create algorithms post-GDPR, and changes to the patient–physician relationship, the article examines the issue of so-called robot doctors. Whereas the so-called democratization of healthcare due to health wearables and increased access to medical information might suggest a positive shift in the patient-physician relationship, the physician’s ‘need to care’ might be irreplaceable, and robot healthcare workers (‘robot carers’) might be seen as contributing to dehumanized healthcare practices.

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Medical Relief Trips...What’s Missing? Exploring Ethical Issues and the Physician-Patient Relationship

Einstein Journal of Biology and Medicine ◽

10.23861/ejbm20102539 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 38 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Stephanie Chow Garbern

Keyword(s):

Medical Care ◽

Ethical Issues ◽

Patient Relationship ◽

Physician Patient Relationship ◽

Medical Relief ◽

Physician Patient

"The welcome ceremony alone will leave you breathless as you become inspired by their overwhelming joy at you arrival. Here you will participate with the community and provide much needed medical care. The team will also provide care for the Talibe boys in Theis who go without medical care and are left to face disease on their own (Senegal, 2009)."

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6 Ethical aspects of an open safety culture: towards a new physician-patient relationship in 21st century medicine

Malpractice in Surgery ◽

10.1515/9783110271607.129 ◽

2013 ◽

Keyword(s):

21St Century ◽

Safety Culture ◽

Patient Relationship ◽

Ethical Aspects ◽

Physician Patient Relationship ◽

Physician Patient

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Perspectives and Values of Dental Medicine Students Regarding Domestic Violence

Medicina ◽

10.3390/medicina57080780 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 57 (8) ◽

pp. 780

Author(s):

Oana-Maria Isailă ◽

Sorin Hostiuc ◽

George-Cristian Curcă

Keyword(s):

Domestic Violence ◽

Medical Students ◽

Ethical Issues ◽

Physical Violence ◽

Fundamental Problem ◽

Patient Relationship ◽

Physician Patient Relationship ◽

Learning Platform ◽

E Learning ◽

Physician Patient

Background and Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate dental medical students’ opinions concerning domestic violence from a social and medical standpoint and from the perspective of the moral values of the physician–patient relationship. Materials and Methods: We performed an observational study with 4- and 5-year dental medical students at the UMF “Carol Davila” in Bucharest from October 2020–May 2021, using a questionnaire containing 20 items on domestic violence (DV). The questionnaire was uploaded online on the e-learning platform where the students have access. To collect the data, we used Microsoft Excel 365, and the statistical analysis was performed using Jamovi. Results: Of the 600 students enrolled, 415 answered the questionnaire, the answering rate being 69.16%. A total of 215 (53.1%) personally knew victims of DV, 4 (1.0%) considered that violence within a couple is necessary for certain situations, 401 (99.0%) considered that domestic violence is a fundamental problem in today’s society, and 170 (41.5%) felt that in domestic violence situations, the blame lies solely with the partner who resorts to physical violence. Regarding the role of the physician, 220 (56%) considered that the physician should breach confidentiality and report cases when patients state they are a victim of DV, 337 (88.2%) thought that free medical treatment should be provided for DV victims who have a dire financial situation, and 212 (56.7%) considered that victims of DV are non-compliant patients. Conclusions: Domestic violence is a phenomenon well-known to stomatology students, which creates the premise of an excellent physician–patient relationship with them, aiding in proper management of ethical issues such as a potential need to breach confidentiality or evaluate the potential conflicts between autonomy and beneficence.

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Basics of Ethical Issues in Obstetrics

Women Health Care and Issues ◽

10.31579/2642-9756/020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 01-02

Author(s):

Gopa Chowdhury

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

High Risk ◽

Medical Ethics ◽

Medical Practice ◽

Ethical Issues ◽

Positive Outcome ◽

Patient Relationship ◽

Physician Patient Relationship ◽

Health Organizations ◽

Physician Patient

Obstetrics is a high-risk specialty with the challenge of wellbeing of mother and baby. Medical ethics, a disciplined study of morality concern obligations of physicians and health organizations to patients as well as the obligations of the patients, is an integral part of medical practice which builds and sustains physician patient relationship and involves a systemic approach to decision making and actions while being secular. Primary strands of thoughts: Utilitarian, considers most positive outcome and Deontological, judges if action right or wrong, consequences of actions not considered.

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