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Ethics and pain: why and for whom?
1Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Management Center, NYU Medical Center, New York, New York 10016, USA. alebovits@anes.med.nyu.edu
Pain Medicine (Malden, Mass.)
|April 23, 2004
Summary
This special issue of Pain Medicine explores ethical dilemmas in pain management, including chronic pain challenges, patient psychopathology, and system-based pressures. It reviews key issues impacting the patient-physician relationship and clinical practice.
Area of Science:
- Pain Medicine
- Medical Ethics
Background:
- The field of pain medicine faces complex ethical challenges.
- Understanding these challenges is crucial for effective patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a historical overview of the development of this special issue of Pain Medicine.
- To review characteristics of pain, pain patients, and the healthcare system that contribute to ethical dilemmas.
- To offer a synopsis of the articles within this special issue.
Main Methods:
- Historical overview and synopsis of included articles.
- Review of characteristics related to pain, patients, and the clinical system.
- Identification and discussion of common ethical dilemmas.
Main Results:
- Chronic pain "cure" is inherently difficult.
- Patient psychopathology, end-of-life care, and the patient-physician relationship present ethical issues.
- Unproven methods, patient vulnerability, economic pressures, litigation, and workers' compensation systems create further dilemmas.
Conclusions:
- Multiple factors within pain medicine contribute to significant ethical challenges.
- Addressing these multifaceted issues requires a comprehensive understanding of the pain experience and healthcare system.
- This special issue aims to illuminate and discuss these critical ethical considerations.