The Institute of Human
Values is developing research and education programs that address
the medical, ethical and social issues related to the delivery of
health services. This work is not only targeted at the development
of clinical services at MUSC, it also focuses on specific issues of
national importance to help shape health policy. Listed below
are a few of the current projects and initiative being undertaken
by the Institute and its members.
Pitts Memorial Lectureship
Each year the Medical University of South Carolina presents
the Pitts Memorial Lectureship on Issues in Medical Ethics. The Lectureship was made
possible by a generous bequest to the Health Sciences Foundation of the Medical University
of South Carolina from Thomas Antley Pitts, M.D. (1893-1991).
Pitts
Memorial Lectureship .......... 
Public Policy Initiatives
Rapid medical and scientific advances have enabled many
thousands of Americans to receive the gift of life through transplantation, but the number
of donated organs still falls critically short of the need. Today, nearly 60,000
people are on the national organ transplant waiting list. The Institute
believes that there is an need to research and address this urgent need for organ
donors. As such, the Institute has designed a project to investigate and remove
barriers to consent. The overall goal of the project is to help identify highly
promising strategies and approaches that can serve as model interventions for increasing
organ and tissue donation. This initiative will also serve to frame a public
education agenda on the medical, ethical, and social issues related to organ
transplantation. It is possible that some easily identifiable economic and/ or
social barriers can be eliminated without major legislative efforts. Such remedies
might include providing reimbursement for funeral services for families who donate or
developing a family support services program for families approached about donation.
Check back soon for more information on this initiative.
Legal Initiative
While other groups debate the advantages and disadvantages
of litigation to address state and federal legal barriers to adequate care at the
end-of-life, the Institute of Human Values has surveyed the current state of prescribing
practices across the nation, and has complied a useful guide for both practitioners and
health policy makers interested in addressing issues related to physician-assisted suicide
and pain management.
Pain
Policy Initiative ......................
Community-based Initiative
By sponsoring public discussions at the local level, the
Institute will identify community needs as well as existing services and develop local
structures for meeting those needs. These community-based networks will provide support
for a wide variety of people, including local and state ethics committee members,
legislators, medical and legal professionals, and other allied health professionals who
are often faced with difficult health care decisions. Check back soon for more details.
Media & Publications
The Institute of Human Values in Health Care takes every
opportunity to share its knowledge about the medical, ethical and legal aspects of
delivering health care to as large an audience as possible through media activities and
publications.
Publication
Information ................
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