Gaps in Clinical Ethics Knowledge Prevalent among Emergency Medicine Physicians

A new survey finds inadequate educational preparedness of trainees in emergency medicine to address ethics challenges common to their field. 

The survey assessed five ethics areas: 
(1) Informed consent & capacity assessment
(2) Surrogate decision making
(3) Interpretation of advanced directives
(4) Withdrawing and/or withholding life support
(5) Presumed consent for emergency treatment. 

The authors conclude: "Gaps in clinical ethics knowledge appear prevalent among emergency medicine trainees, and few programs have dedicated ethics modules. Greater study is needed to understand and remedy clinical ethics knowledge shortfalls."