BIOETHICS

ORAL PRESENTATIONS
Delivering Bad News to Paediatric Oncology Patients

Author: Brîndușa-Casiana Bîzu

Scientific Coordinators: Lecturer Ingrith Miron, MD, PhD, Teaching Assistant
Ioana Crețu, PhD
“Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iași, Romania

Introduction: Delivering bad news is one of the most important aspects that
prevail in the medical profession, being more than transferring information.
There have been studies on delivering bad news in adult Oncology patients, that
lead to the idea of establishing directions for the physician, but dealing with
children and parents might be more difficult, therefore, it supposes a greater
effort, improvisation, empathising and exploring emotions. This is a source of
ethical issues, because children may be capable of making calls, although parents
or tutors are legally responsible for them.
Materials and Methods: A study was conducted in the Clinical Hospital for
Children "Sfânta Maria" in Iași, regarding the delivering of bad news to patients
and possible ethical issues related to this topic. The target group on which the
questionnaire was applied includes patients and their parents on one side and the
medical care team on the other side.
Results: The results from this study revealed both positive and negative aspects.
Patients and parents tend to report that the medical team acted professional, they
benefited of psychological support, but also reported a high level of distress
caused by the discomfort felt during the procedures, poor preparation for
treatment failure and other complaints. The medical team had a tendency to
report an impact on family life, difficulties in delivering bad news, as they tend to
attach to their patients during treatment.
Conclusion: Effective communication is the most appropriate way of preventing
negative aspects of the medical team-patient interaction. Cancer in paediatric
patients is a topic that concerns phychologists, physicians and other members of
the medical team, leading to the idea that medical students and young members
of the medical care team should benefit from guides that establish landmarks for
a better communication regarding bad news and they should be updated on the
rights of the patients, as well as the patients should be. Parents and their children
should be encouraged to attend support group meetings, as they tend to bear
suffering on their own.

Keywords: paediatric, oncology, bad news

Recreational Drug Use amongst Medical Professionals

Author: Shaheer Aslam Joya

Co-authors: Kaisser Gallaby, Mohammed Reza Parker, Elena-Ana Ramascanu
Scientific Coordinator: Marcus Jee Poh Hock MD, Siveetharan Sivanand, MD
“Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iași, Romania

Introduction: With the emergence of a rising recreational drug culture, we take a

look at one of the most strenuous and stressful professions, and how it interacts
with Drugs. Are doctors, as advocates for healthy living, contradicting their own
advice to drug use? Cigarettes, Caffeine, Alcohol and more, we take a look at
them all.
Materials and Methods: This paper aims to investigate what the public and the
medical professions perception and opinion over drug use is: where do we draw
the lines, if there are any lines to be drawn; how prevalent is it in the surveyed
countries, and why so; to understand why drug use is prevalent, and how it may
have an Impact on professional integrity and cognitive abilities. I want to
examine all sides of the debate and look at external and environmental factors
that affect drug use among medical professionals.
Results: A Comparative survey from 3 countries around Europe (Ireland, United
Kingdom, Romania). The results will be analyzed taking into account the main
ethical values and principles applied in medical care, and whether the drug use
amongst health professionals may be in conflict with these values. I will
reference, where applicable, all medical journals and relevant articles to further
bolster my study. Finally I would like to finish off by adding clips from
interviews made specifically for the study.
Conclusion: The use of recreational drugs amongst health professionals is an
individual as well as a socio-public matter which needs to be adequately
addressed for its ongoing effects.

Keywords: ethics, drugs, marijuana

 BIOETHICS

POSTER PRESENTATIONS
A Bioethical Perspective on Dementia in Norwegian Health Care Systems

Author: Alexandru Glodeanu

Co-authors: Ana-Maria Dumitrescu, Andreas Nilsen Myhre, Robert Rogalschi
Scientific Coordinators: Associate Professor Anca Sava, MD, PhD; Professor
Danisia Haba, MD, PhD; Professor Călin Scripcaru, MD, PhD; Lecturer Simona
Damian
“Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iași, Romania

Introduction: The paper focuses on giving details about how dementia is being
interacted with and treated in Norwegian Health Care Systems: hospitals, private
clinics, nursing homes, from an ethical point of view.
Materials and Methods: There are two important National projects on dementia
that have been taking place in Norway lately: North Ethics Project ”Ethics,
dementia and quality care” having as main purposes: creating a meeting place
between students, practice supervisors and teachers as to develop collaboration
between education and medical practice, reducing the distance between students
and patients, theory and practice, developing a participating educational
programme of teaching ethics regarding dementia care and life quality
improvement and the second one.
Conclusion: “Dementia Plan: making the most of good days”(“ Demens Plan
2015-den gode dagen”) which is part of the National Care Plan for the coming
years, focusing on day programmes for stimulating elderly patients with
enjoyable, meaningful activities, adapting to patient’s needs, increasing
knowledge and skills for patients.

Keywords: Norway, health care, dementia

Ethical Aspects Regarding Doctor -Patient Relationship in Norway

Author: Alexandru Glodeanu

Co-authors: Ana-Maria Dumitrescu, Andreas Nilsen Myhre, Charlotta Louise
Skorpen
Scientific Coordinators: Professor Rodica Ghiuru, MD, PhD; Professor Călin
Scripcaru, MD, PhD, Lecturer Irina Iuliana Costache, MD, PhD; Lecturer
Munteanu Dragoș, MD, PhD
“Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iași, Romania

Introduction: The study wants to highlight the important bioethical, moral

values that stand at the basics of the doctor-patient relationship in Norway,
revealing both common and particular aspects regarding Norwegian ethics and
laws on this topic, in an European context.
Materials and Methods: Illnesses affect hidden areas of the patient's life, and
guidance on the consequences also affect areas he/she may wish to keep hidden
in the future. This unusual necessary opening about matters of great personal
significance requires a corresponding discretion coming from the health
personnel and that is a very important ethical medical issue in Norway.
When it comes to doctor-patient relationship, it is obviously that health must
exercise a special ethical care. Issues like electronic prescription, electronic
journaling that sets confidentiality facing new challenges, professional secrecy,
euthanasia, organ transplantation and autopsy, use of force for medical treatment
purposes are discussed within the Norwegian Medical Background.
Another important consideration in Norwegian medical ethics is that every
patient should be able to get medical services when needed, regardless of the
situation they find themselves in-criminals, AIDS-infected etc.
The modern medical ethics have mentioned respect for self-determination as one
of the four bioethical principles. These ethical guidelines are now also marked by
laws regarding the patient’s and user’s rights. This provides to patients the right
to actively participate in the medical act and inform about their own health, the
right to assessment and reassessment, the choice of hospitals and individual plan.
Results: Therefore, since 2005, there have been created in Norway clinical ethics
committees being supported by Norwegian health care authorities. There are also
plans to start up attempts of clinical ethics committees in municipal health
services, especially in those related to nursing homes.
Conclusion: Cases may also be discussed in the aftermath of a difficult situation
that healthcare can learn from what has happened and through better practices.

Keywords: doctor-patient, Norway, health care

Ethical Rules for Doctors in Norway

Author: Ana-Maria Dumitrescu

Co-authors: Andreas Nilsen Myhre, Ana-Maria Andrei, Charlotta Louise
Skorpen
Scientific Coordinators: Associate Professor Anca Sava, MD, PhD; Professor
Rodica Ghiuru, MD, PhD; Professor Danisia Haba, MD, PhD
“Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iași, Romania

Introduction: The paper focuses on the Norwegian legal and bioethical

frameworks for doctors.
Materials and Methods: There are mentioned ethical rules and regulations for
doctors working in Norway within the Medical Ethics Council, adopted by the
National Board of the Norwegian Medical Association, stating the importance of
the Code of Ethics in the medical field.
Medical ethics is a tool to make medicine better including by raising awareness
about the many value conflicts that medicine gives rise to. Modern medical ethics
is a large field that builds on many different traditions. Medical ethics represents
today a theoretical subject having strong connections with moral philosophy and
theology. Duty ethics emphasizes the actual act, consequence ethics emphasizes
the outcome of the action, while virtue ethics emphasizes the moral qualities of
these trades.
In recent decades, the principle-based ethics have been proeminent within
medical ethics. Emphasis especially four principles: beneficence, not harm,
justice and respect for self-determination.
Results: While a critique to professional ethics has been the theory of poverty
and the more emerging rules of etiquette, the theoretical medical ethics has been
criticized for moving beyond the practical life, being less for those who daily
confront ethical dilemmas and must weigh different values and considerations.
Conclusion: Medical ethics in Norway discusses: respect for the patient's
interests and integrity, confidentiality, prohibition of euthanasia, prohibition to
exploit the patient financially, sexually or religiously, physician's duty to keep up
to date and also the duty to have due regard for the national economy . Other
aspects include: advertisement of medical services, certificate writing and
collegial relationship.

Keywords: bioethical, Norway, Medical