When Prince died in April, details of his death and autopsy slowly trickled into the public sphere, but isn’t patient health information private? Examine this and other complex ethical questions that pathologists face in practice and how media and publicity can complicate these matters even more.
The August issue of the AMA Journal of Ethics® considers neglected ethical issues in pathology practice, including shifts in social and cultural attitudes toward autopsy, cautions about the use of social media for sharing images, how to communicate about errors or pathology results and what the death of Prince tells us about the public and professional obligations of physicians who interact with the media. Articles featured in this issue include:
- “Pathology image-sharing on social media: Recommendations for protecting privacy while motivating education.” With a rising interest in social media use by pathologists, use of pathology images on these channels is being debated. Particularly photographs of dermatologic conditions and from gross examination or autopsy suggest a need for professionals to adopt practical social media guidelines that can help mitigate breach of privacy risk to patients.
- “Public figures, professional ethics, and the media.” If health information is private, why does the public know so much about Prince’s death? Death certificates and autopsy reports contain personal information protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Examine the critical ethical questions that have not yet been settled about whether and when this information should be made public.
- “I might have some bad news: Disclosing preliminary pathology results.” When, if ever, is it appropriate for cytopathologists to share preliminary diagnostic impressions with patients at the bedside? Investigate communication strategies for navigating uncertainty that apply not only to pathologists but to all clinicians.
- “The use of visual arts as a window to diagnosing medical pathologies.” In medical school, the art of observation and learning to look can be taught using the humanities—especially visual arts such as paintings and film. Learn how the curriculum at Australia’s Bond University uses art to build students’ diagnostic skills.
In the journal’s August podcast, Theonia Boyd, MD, associate professor of pathology at Harvard Medical School, discusses ethical issues pathologists face when conducting autopsies and obtaining specimens.
Take the ethics poll
Give your answer to this month’s poll: When communicating about errors—whether to clinicians or patients—what should pathologists say to help conversations about errors go smoothly?
Submit an article
The journal’s editorial focus is on commentaries and articles that offer practical advice and insights for medical students and physicians. Submit your work for publication.
