The participation of physicians in torture and murder both before and after World War II is a disturbing legacy seldom discussed in medical school, and underrecognised in contemporary medicine. Is there something inherent in being a physician that promotes a transition from healer to murderer? With this historical background in mind, the author, a medical student, defines and reflects upon moral vulnerabilities still endemic to contemporary medical culture. Published in the Journal of Medical Ethics. link here (free access).

Ethical challenges are common in end of life care; the uncertainty of prognosis and the ethically permissible boundaries of treatment create confusion and conflict about the balance between benefits and burdens experienced by patients, published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. Free PMC article, link here.

Institutional cultures and policies might influence how physician trainees develop their professional attitudes toward autonomy and their willingness to make recommendations regarding the decision to implement a DNR order. A singular focus on autonomy might inadvertently undermine patient care by depriving patients and surrogates of the professional guidance needed to make critical end of life decisions. Published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Link here (there is a paywall, please contact me for reprints)

Comparative case study of the patenting and licensing of the genes responsible for Tay-Sachs and Canavan disease, published in Genetics in Medicine - Nature. Open access article, link here.