Resolving Ethical Issues in the Field of Anaesthesia: A Mixed-Methods Study

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Anesthesiology
• Intensive Care Medicine

Background:

• Ethical challenges in anesthesiology are under-researched, often subsumed under broader intensive care ethics.
• Limited studies exist on the specific ethical dilemmas faced by anesthesiologists.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the gap in academic literature regarding ethical issues in anesthesiology.
• To explore and discuss ethical approaches to these problems.

Main Methods:

• A literature search identified key ethical themes.
• A 20-question online survey with Likert scales was administered to 226 participants.
• Data was collected over a two-month period.

Main Results:

• Most participants received ethics training only before graduation, yet 95% believe it's essential during residency.
• While 67% found informed consent forms adequate, 90% noted patients don't read them.
• Key ethical concerns include preoperative communication, team interaction, workload, patient information, malpractice support, and anesthesiologist rights.

Conclusions:

• Complex ethical issues in anesthesiology stem from training deficiencies, patient autonomy, informed consent, and professional satisfaction.
• Addressing these requires a focus on ethical reasoning and potential solutions to improve practice.