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Ethical Issues in Colorectal Surgery

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The ASCRS Textbook of Colon and Rectal Surgery

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Abstract

Ethics, at its most fundamental level, is a way to answer the question, “what should we do?” In this chapter, I define what “ethical dilemmas” are and discuss one approach for resolving them. I discuss informed consent, surrogate decision-making, futility, and refusal of care. I analyze the current state of disparities in surgical outcomes by race and socioeconomic status. Finally, I consider the problem of financial conflicts of interest, and the recent “Sunshine law.”

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Surgery and Health Care Ethics, Department of Surgery, 3FDT, St. Louis University School of Medicine, 3635 Vista Avenue @ Grand Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA

    Jason D. Keune MD, MBA

Authors
  1. Jason D. Keune MD, MBA
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jason D. Keune MD, MBA .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Colorectal Surgery, University Hospitals Case Medical Center Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Scott R. Steele

  2. Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Tracy L. Hull

  3. Tufts University School of Medicine, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Burlington, MA, USA

    Thomas E. Read

  4. Ambrose and Gladys Bowyer, Loyola University, Chicago, IL, USA

    Theodore J. Saclarides

  5. University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA

    Anthony J. Senagore

  6. Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Charles B. Whitlow

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© 2016 ASCRS (American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons)

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Keune, J.D. (2016). Ethical Issues in Colorectal Surgery. In: Steele, S.R., Hull, T.L., Read, T.E., Saclarides, T.J., Senagore, A.J., Whitlow, C.B. (eds) The ASCRS Textbook of Colon and Rectal Surgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25970-3_67

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25970-3_67

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-25968-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-25970-3

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