How should the physician respond to the patient?
Give your answer and find responses to this question in the October issue of the AMA Journal of Ethics.
All IRBs reviewing protocols that include risk to communities and not merely individual participants should consider how community members are engaged in the proposed research and identify and respond to questions and domains of concern from community members.
“Water Safety and Lead Regulation: Physicians’ Community Health Responsibilities.” This article reviews the regulation of lead in drinking water, highlighting its epidemiological, engineering, and ethical aspects with a focus on the Flint water crisis.
The authors then discuss physicians’ roles and ethical responsibilities regarding safe drinking water using a human rights framework. They argue that physicians can play an important role in safeguarding drinking water in their communities by being vigilant, honoring the community’s trust in them, and warning, educating and empowering patients and broader communities so as to protect tap water safety and public health.
In December, the journal’s theme is health care ethics and professionalism in the era of climate change.