46 Moral Dilemmas: Where Medicine and Ethics Meet

https://302.buzz/PM-WhatAreYourThoughts

Welcome back to Pediatric Meltdown. Ethics is not just for philosophers! The field of bioethics infuses medicine with a thoughtful process for decision making when the choices are not clear. The choices between what we can do and what we should do is often a murky place.

Dr. Tyler Gibb has authored dozens of peer-reviewed publications on the intersection of health law and medicine and examines clinical ethics, medical narratology, the politics of medicine, medical education pedagogy, and professional misconduct and professionalism in healthcare. His work and expertise can ease our own distress when faced with moral and ethical dilemmas and can guide us as we seek clarity for our patients, families and for our teams.

[00:01] Dr. Tyler Gibb Shares His Story With Us

• Dr. Gibb shares his background in the medical bioethics space
• The question that clinical ethics answers

[06:20] Making the Tough Decisions

• Dealing with end-of-life situations the clinical ethicist way
• Here’s a story from Dr. Gibb about “moments of introspection”
• What does this mean?
• When team members don’t agree with one another…

[16:34] Divulging All Information to the Patient

• Telling everything to the patient, even the bad news
• How Dr. Gibb approaches this situation
• Ethical considerations during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Putting yourself first before anyone else

[26:28] Primary Care and Ethics

• The interaction of primary care and ethics
• We have an interesting exchange about handling transgender patients
• Addressing mental health issues among patients

[36:24] Takeaways for Clinicians

• Share your burden
• Find your moral voice
• Dr. Gibb’s message for his younger self

[46:44] Closing Segment

• Final takeaways:
• Bioethics is the meta ethics and focuses on the theoretical.
• Clinical medical ethics brings theory into practice.
• The question, “Why is this decision a concern versus another decision?”
• What we should do vs. What we can do
• Ethical considerations and issues rose to the top and became familiar due to COVID-19
• Ethical dilemmas often arise within medical teams when individuals don't agree
• Primary care specialists should also consult with ethicists
• You are not alone in your struggles
• The burden you feel can be shared
• Be vulnerable, ask for help
• Find your moral voice and train yourself to hear the moral voices of others.
• Preserve your humanity by drawing boundaries

Key Quotes:

“Mental health is not something that physicians can tackle alone. It's not something that social workers can tackle alone.” - Dr. Tyler Gibb

“You are not alone...the burden that you feel can be shared and ought to be shared.” - Dr. Tyler Gibb

Email tyler.gibb@med.wmich.edu to connect with Dr. Gibb or check out Western Michigan University Homer Stryker School of Medicine to know more about his work.

Resources Mentioned:

• Dr. Gibb’s podcast: Bioethics for the People Podcast
• Journal