Semin intervent Radiol 2021; 38(02): 239-242
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1729154
Ethics Corner

The Ethics of Trauma Care: What Interventional Radiologists Should Know

Lee J. Hsieh
1   School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
,
Eric J. Keller
2   Division of Interventional Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, California
,
Michelle M. Shnayder-Adams
3   Division of Interventional Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
,
Russell M. Salamo
4   Division of Interventional Radiology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
,
Jenanan P. Vairavamurthy
4   Division of Interventional Radiology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
› Author Affiliations
Funding None.

The last issue of Seminars in Interventional Radiology highlighted multiple ways interventional radiologists (IRs) can play a vital role in trauma care. However, this care can also raise multiple ethical challenges that differ from other areas of practice. One main difference is the urgency at which decision-making occurs, prohibiting extensive deliberation and discussion. In this article, we use a case to discuss three salient ethical issues that may arise when answering an IR trauma consult: allocation of limited resources, emergent consent, and requests for potentially inappropriate interventions. We conclude with a stepwise framework for navigating an ethically challenging trauma case.



Publication History

Article published online:
03 June 2021

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