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Medical Ethics

New biomedical technologies offer hope and exciting possibilities for many patients. They also raise important questions about equitable use and integration into clinical practice. EDC works to design methods, materials, and guidelines to help health care professionals, patients, and families explore moral uncertainty and better handle conflicting values.

The Initiative for Pediatric Palliative Care (IPPC): Creating Lasting Institutional Infrastructure

The Initiative for Pediatric Palliative Care (IPPC) is an educational and a quality improvement effort, aimed at enhancing family-centered care for children living with life-threatening conditions. IPPC’s comprehensive, interdisciplinary curriculum addresses knowledge, attitudes and skills that health care professionals need in order to better serve children and families.

Ethics in Biology

High school tackle ethical issues related to vaccination, genetic testing, and clinical trials.

In a new EDC curriculum, high school students tackle ethical issues related to vaccination, genetic testing, and clinical trials.

Beyond Bedside Manner

During times of illness, patients and families count on open and caring communication with their doctors. Two EDC programs explore ways to open those lines of communication.

Decisions Near the End of Life

Decisions Near the End of Life was a national initiative to improve terminal and palliative care in the United States by equipping health care institutions to address ethical and legal misconceptions that stand in the way of better care for patients and families. At the time the program ended, there were 225 hospitals and nursing homes in 32 states participating in it. EDC staff directly trained more than 1000 physicians, nurses, social workers, and pastoral counselors who, in turn, trained approximately 40,000 colleagues.

Mayday PainLink: A Virtual Community of Institutions Committed to Relieving Pain

PainLink was a virtual community of health professionals working in institutions committed to alleviating pain. An initiative of Education Development Center, Inc., PainLink was established in 1995 with funding from The Mayday Fund of New York City, which funded PainLink through 1999. From 1995 through 2001, EDC’s PainLink staff worked with staff in over 60 hospitals and nursing homes.

Improving the Bedside Manner

Deborah L. Dokken of EDC’s Initiative for Pediatric Palliative Care discusses end-of-life care for seriously ill children.

Integrating Ethics Throughout the Veterans Health Administration

In health care institutions throughout the United States, ethical dilemmas have historically been dealt with on a case-by-case basis, often leaving health care workers overwhelmed and confused about what care protocol they should follow. To infuse a clear and consistent process for ethical decision-making, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) will soon incorporate an “integrated ethics program” throughout its system, which is the largest health care system in the United States.

Preparing Medical Students for End-of-Life Care

Every medical student receives training in the scientific causes of death, but few are prepared for the emotional challenge of caring for dying patients. Ready or Not, a new video and EDC Study Guide, gives medical schools a powerful tool to introduce students to high-quality end-of-life care.

Doctors, Teachers, and Professional Communities

It is fitting that Mildred Solomon named the book she edited The Diagnostic Teacher. In her two decades of work at EDC, she has researched and designed numerous professional education programs for teachers and health care professionals.

Partnership to Increase Organ Donation

About 65,000 U.S. patients are waiting for transplants—kidneys, hearts, livers, and lungs—to save or improve their lives. More than 4,000 patients—or 12-13 each day—waiting last year died because of the critical shortage of transplantable organs.