Addressing ethical clinical dilemmas with quality improvement methodology

Martha-Conley E Ingram; Chethan Sathya; Loren Berman

doi:10.1016/j.sempedsurg.2021.151105

Addressing ethical clinical dilemmas with quality improvement methodology

Semin Pediatr Surg. 2021 Oct;30(5):151105. doi: 10.1016/j.sempedsurg.2021.151105. Epub 2021 Sep 5.

Authors

Martha-Conley E Ingram¹, Chethan Sathya², Loren Berman³

Affiliations

¹ Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, 633 N St. Clair 20th Floor, Chicago, IL 60611, United States. Electronic address: Martha.ingram1@northwestern.edu.
² Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery and Pediatrics, Cohen Children's Medical Center, Northwell Health, New Hyde Park, New York, United States.
³ Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital; Nemours Al duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, United States.

PMID: 34635285
DOI: 10.1016/j.sempedsurg.2021.151105

Abstract

Application of Quality Improvement methodology to nuanced clinical scenarios may be useful to ensure consistent delivery of equitable and comprehensive care. The purpose of this article is to inform the pediatric surgical readership of opportunities where quality improvement methodology may aid in navigating ethical nuances of complex surgical care. We present three case scenarios and discuss how quality improvement methodology could be utilized to address issues of provider autonomy, patient autonomy, and justice.

Keywords: Medical ethics; Pediatric surgery; Quality improvement.

MeSH terms

Child
Ethics, Medical*
Humans
Quality Improvement*