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Ethical Challenges of Acute Pain Management: A Scoping Review.
Mehdi Azimian Zavareh1, Ahmad Mashkoori1, Mohadeseh Motamed-Jahromi2
1Department of Health Philosophy and Ethics School of Religion and Health Qom University of Medical Sciences Qom Iran.
Health Science Reports
|May 14, 2026
Summary
Healthcare professionals face ethical dilemmas managing acute pain, especially with diverse patients. This review highlights challenges in consent, expectations, and opioid risks, advocating for patient-centered care and ethical training to improve outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Pain Management
- Health Equity
Background:
- Acute pain significantly impacts patient quality of life and well-being.
- Managing acute pain involves complex ethical dilemmas for healthcare professionals, particularly across diverse patient populations.
- Equity in pain management practices raises critical questions for healthcare providers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the ethical challenges encountered by healthcare professionals in managing acute pain.
- To enhance understanding of the complexities in pain management across different patient demographics.
- To identify and synthesize themes related to ethical challenges in acute pain management.
Main Methods:
- A scoping review was conducted following PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
- A comprehensive literature search was performed across multiple databases up to April 2025.
- Thematic analysis was used to synthesize findings from 53 relevant studies.
Main Results:
- Key ethical challenges include informed consent, managing patient expectations, and balancing pain relief benefits against opioid risks (dependence, misuse).
- A patient-centered approach, clear communication, and interprofessional collaboration are crucial.
- Cultural sensitivity and adherence to medical ethics principles are paramount, especially for vulnerable populations.
Conclusions:
- Integrating ethical considerations into clinical decision-making frameworks is advocated.
- Promoting empathetic responses through training programs is recommended.
- Enhancing practitioner understanding and improving best practices in acute pain management can lead to better patient outcomes.
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