A blog of the Emory University Center for Ethics and the Healthcare Ethics Consortium

Walk into almost any public space and take a survey of the wrists. Chances are you will meet at least one Fitbit, Jawbone, Apple Watch, or any number of other brands of wearable technology. Such devices have been adopted as a part of daily life in American society because they are associated with health and wellness, accessible in stores and online without a prescription, and are worn as accessories that have a fashion currency. Wearable technology, also known as wearable sen

Among the most complex ethical decisions that clinical teams face are treatment decisions for “unrepresented patients.” These patients have lost the capacity to make their own decisions and no longer have anyone who is authorized by law to make decisions for them. No family members or “next of kin” exist and no one else is recognized by state law as having the right to represent the patient’s preferences. Generally, these individuals do not have advance directives, and if an

In our rapidly changing healthcare environment, there are significant ethical questions that address innovations in technology, the nature of the patient-healthcare provider relationship, the context of healthcare systems and reimbursement, professionalism, and ethical systems of thought that are relevant and vital to decision making. The Healthcare Ethics Blog serves as a space for interdisciplinary thought about contemporary and longstanding questions in healthcare ethics.