The Rheumatologist
COVID-19 News
  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed
  • Home
  • Conditions
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • SLE (Lupus)
    • Crystal Arthritis
      • Gout Resource Center
    • Spondyloarthritis
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Soft Tissue Pain
    • Scleroderma
    • Vasculitis
    • Systemic Inflammatory Syndromes
    • Guidelines
  • Resource Centers
    • Ankylosing Spondylitis Resource Center
    • Gout Resource Center
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
    • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
  • Drug Updates
    • Biologics & Biosimilars
    • DMARDs & Immunosuppressives
    • Topical Drugs
    • Analgesics
    • Safety
    • Pharma Co. News
  • Professional Topics
    • Ethics
    • Legal
    • Legislation & Advocacy
    • Career Development
      • Certification
      • Education & Training
    • Awards
    • Profiles
    • President’s Perspective
    • Rheuminations
  • Practice Management
    • Billing/Coding
    • Quality Assurance/Improvement
    • Workforce
    • Facility
    • Patient Perspective
    • Electronic Health Records
    • Apps
    • Information Technology
    • From the College
    • Multimedia
      • Audio
      • Video
  • Resources
    • Issue Archives
    • ACR Convergence
      • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
      • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
      • Gout Resource Center
      • Abstracts
      • Meeting Reports
      • ACR Convergence Home
    • American College of Rheumatology
    • ACR ExamRheum
    • Research Reviews
    • ACR Journals
      • Arthritis & Rheumatology
      • Arthritis Care & Research
      • ACR Open Rheumatology
    • Rheumatology Image Library
    • Treatment Guidelines
    • Rheumatology Research Foundation
    • Events
  • About Us
    • Mission/Vision
    • Meet the Authors
    • Meet the Editors
    • Contribute to The Rheumatologist
    • Subscription
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Search
You are here: Home / Articles / Ethics Forum

Ethics Forum

September 1, 2011 • By Michele Meltzer, MD, MBE, C. Ronald MacKenzie, MD, and Elizabeth A. Kitsis, MD, MBE

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version / Save PDF
A rheumatologist discusses the results of an ultrasound exam with a patient.

This month we will consider the potential ethical pitfalls of costly new technology—and we want your help. Tell us how you would address this ethical dilemma by e-mailing dantoline@wiley.com.

You Might Also Like
  • Ethics Forum: The Ethics of Accepting Gifts
  • Ethics Forum: Letters from our Readers
  • Ethics Forum: Understanding the Challenges in Rheumatology Today
Explore This Issue
September 2011
Also By This Author
  • Ethics Forum: The Ethics of Accepting Gifts

The Situation

My partners would like to buy an ultrasound machine to generate more income. I feel very conflicted because I am concerned that once we have the machine, we might be tempted to use the ultrasound more than necessary. My partners counter we are not being paid adequately for our cognitive services and this is the only way we will be able to survive professionally. However, I have several dilemmas. First, there is currently no standard of care or guidelines to establish when musculoskeletal ultrasound is appropriate for diagnosis, monitoring care, and/or intraarticular injections. Second, I am concerned that I will be tempted to aggressively treat small erosions or mild synovitis that is of questionable clinical significance. How should we decide when it is appropriate to use ultrasound? Is it ethical to buy a piece of technology as a means of generating revenue? And, finally, I understand that the learning curve is pretty steep. How will I know that I or my partners are adequately trained in ultrasound use?

ad goes here:advert-1
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Send Us YouR Case

If you have comments or questions about this case, or you have a case study that you want to see in “Ethics Forum,” e-mail us at: dantoline@wiley.com.

Send your comments to dantoline@wiley.com, and we will publish some of the responses in a future “Ethics Forum.”

Dr. Meltzer is assistant professor of medicine at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Dr. MacKenzie is associate professor of clinical medicine and public health at Weill Cornell Medical College, Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. Dr. Kitsis is director of bioethics education and a member of the rheumatology division at Albert Einstein College Medicine in the Bronx, N.Y.

ad goes here:advert-3
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Send Us Your Case

Letters from Our Readers

We received a few letters in response to the May 2011 Ethics Forum, which asked the question: What is the rheumatologist’s ongoing obligation to care for patients who do not have health insurance or other means to pay for their care? We wish to thank Drs. Block and MacGuire for their thoughtful responses. Especially in today’s climate, it is refreshing to hear from our colleagues who try to provide care for the less fortunate. Keep those letters coming!

Beyond the Bottom Line

The practice of medicine, despite the best efforts of government and industry, still remains more than just a business with a bottom line—at least I hope so.

ad goes here:advert-2
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Pages: 1 2 3 | Single Page

Filed Under: Ethics, Professional Topics, Technology Tagged With: Ethics, Practice Management, rheumatologist, Technology, UltrasoundIssue: September 2011

You Might Also Like:
  • Ethics Forum: The Ethics of Accepting Gifts
  • Ethics Forum: Letters from our Readers
  • Ethics Forum: Understanding the Challenges in Rheumatology Today
  • Ethics Forum: Patient Test Requests Pose Challenges for Rheumatologists

Meeting Abstracts

Browse and search abstracts from the ACR Convergence and ACR/ARP Annual Meetings going back to 2012.

Visit the Abstracts site »

ACR Convergence

Don’t miss rheumatology’s premier scientific meeting for anyone involved in research or the delivery of rheumatologic care or services.

Visit the ACR Convergence site »

Rheumatology Research Foundation

The Foundation is the largest private funding source for rheumatology research and training in the U.S.

Learn more »

The Rheumatologist newsmagazine reports on issues and trends in the management and treatment of rheumatic diseases. The Rheumatologist reaches 11,500 rheumatologists, internists, orthopedic surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who practice, research, or teach in the field of rheumatology.

About Us / Contact Us / Advertise / Privacy Policy / Terms of Use

  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed

Copyright © 2006–2021 American College of Rheumatology. All rights reserved.

ISSN 1931-3268 (print)
ISSN 1931-3209 (online)

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
This site uses cookies: Find out more.