# data[].attributes.body
Is AI ethical because it can be used for bad things? You can ask AI about anything unless restricted which can lead to people knowing how to do bad things. AI has led to concerns that jobs will be taken over which concerns many people.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
AI ethics is a framework that guides data scientists and researchers to build AI systems in an ethical manner to benefit society as a whole.

# data[].attributes.body
Medical euthanasia - also referred to as assisted suicide - is it unethical?

Medical euthanasia is when a person is put to death to prevent further pain. It is used almost exclusively in extreme cases, such as a person with a painful terminal illness. In the US, it is left to the states to determine the regulation of this act. The regulation of euthanasia is highly dependent on the country's/state's choice of regulation and can vary greatly.

Euthanasia can be divided into 4 categories:

Active: The use of medicine to cause immediate death for a patient. EX. injecting a lethal dose of a sedative.

Passive: The withholding of medical care or use of pain-relief medication with the aim of expediting a patient's death.

Voluntary Suicide: The patient is aware and consents to the procedure.

Involuntary Suicide: The patient is unaware and cannot consent to the procedure.

Additional sources:

https://www.healthline.com/health/what-is-euthanasia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Euthanasia and assisted suicide: An in-depth review of relevant historical aspects

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
End-of-life care is an increasingly relevant topic due to advances in biomedical research and the establishment of new disciplines in evidence-based medicine and bioethics. Euthanasia and assisted suicide are two terms widely discussed in medicine,…

# data[].attributes.headline
Informed Consent vs. Emergency Treatment

# data[].attributes.subject
Informed Consent vs. Emergency Treatment

# data[].attributes.body
A patient is unconscious and needs life-saving surgery, but there is no way to obtain their consent. Should doctors proceed without consent, or wait for a legal representative?

In emergency situations where a patient is unconscious, the principle of consent allows doctors to provide life saving treatment without explicit permission, assuming a reasonable person would consent if able. Ethical guidelines, such as those from the American Medical Association, support this approach while emphasizing the importance of informed consent when feasible. In research settings, exceptions from informed consent (EFIC) exist for emergency studies, requiring community consultation to uphold ethical standards.

# data[].attributes.headline
Ethics in Freedom Of Expression .vs. Harmful Speech

# data[].attributes.subject
Ethics in Freedom Of Expression .vs. Harmful Speech

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Hate speech or free speech: an ethical dilemma?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Freedom of expression is the cornerstone and the warrant of democracy, but like all other rights and freedoms we enjoy, also the right to free speech has its limits. Hate speech is one of the most…

# data[].attributes.headline
Ethics in Freedom Of Expression vs. Harmful Speech

# data[].attributes.subject
Ethics in Freedom Of Expression vs. Harmful Speech

# data[].attributes.body
The ethics of freedom of expression revolves around balancing individual rights to voice opinions with the responsibility to prevent harm. While free speech is essential for democracy and personal autonomy, harmful speech — such as hate speech or incitement to violence — can threaten public safety and individual well-being.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Hate speech or free speech: an ethical dilemma?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Freedom of expression is the cornerstone and the warrant of democracy, but like all other rights and freedoms we enjoy, also the right to free speech has its limits. Hate speech is one of the most…

# data[].attributes.headline
Media Studies: Balancing the public/viewer's right to know facts about a story, with an individual's right to privacy. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Media Studies: Balancing the public/viewer's right to know facts about a story, with an individual's right to privacy. 

# data[].attributes.body
In media, Sometimes the public will ask for facts about a story in order to gain knowledge about a story, but sometimes the vocal person behind the story wants to keep certain elements/facts confidential. Therefore, sometimes Media professionals weigh the newsworthiness and public benefit against the potential harm to individuals.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Media Helping Media - Free journalism and media strategy training resources

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Journalists face a difficult balancing act. They must respect privacy, but they must also be rigorous and robust in their investigations into issues that are in the public interest.

This means that in some cases it will be necessary for a journalist to carry out an investigation that interferes with someone's privacy.

Such cases could include:

crime and anti-social behaviour

corruption or injustice

incompetence or neglect

The most important rule is that we must treat people fairly and with respect. We must also be clear about our own motives. We must have no personal interest in an investigation that invades a person's privacy. The only justification is that it is in the public interest and we are genuinely trying to expose wrongdoing.

What does privacy cover?

Privacy covers anything that a person might reasonably expect to keep from becoming public knowledge. It could include some facts that are known by some, but not by all. There will also be cases where a person in the public eye, who is in a public place, can expect to have their privacy protected. Such cases might be where they are in a clinic or hospital receiving treatment.

Submitted material

Increasingly, journalists are using user-generated content (UGC). This is where members of the public record video, sound or still images and either share them with media organisations, or on social media where the journalist can download and reuse the material.

This does not mean that journalists can ignore their editorial principles, and it raises important editorial issues.

For example, if material is in the public domain and everyone is talking about it yet we ignore it, we might be seen as missing out on an important element of a news story and failing to inform our users. Such situations need careful editorial consideration.

Care needs to be taken with submitted material, particularly that taken from security cameras, webcams, video cameras and mobile phones.

It's unlikely that we will be able to verify all contributed material as being genuine. Many respected news organisations stipulate that material has to be verified by two independent sources. This might not be possible with contributed material. In that case, an editorial decision needs to be made about whether to use the material or not.

Clear labelling is a way around this if we feel that the material is justified, but we need to be careful about displaying material that could compromise our editorial values and those of the news organisation we work for.

Reliability, trust, honesty, fairness and accuracy are hard-won values and we must protect these. If your audience sees material that leads them to believe that you have moved away from such values, you might lose their trust.

Judge and jury

A journalist's job is to report facts and inform the public debate so that people can make educated choices. We are not the judge and jury regarding what is right and wrong in the communities we serve.

Journalists have a right, and a duty, to investigate stories in the public interest, but they must not consider themselves to be beyond the law. They must also consider the hurt and damage that their digging might cause.

Some feel that an individual's right to privacy is qualified by their behaviour. If a person is considered to be involved in crime or anti-social behaviour, it could be felt that they have given up their right to privacy because it is more likely to be in the public interest to expose their behaviour. This is not for us to decide.

This is also a delicate area. Events that might be termed by some to be anti-social or unlawful behaviour could, in some cases, be seen by others as an important and legitimate protest against unjust regimes and systems.

If we are asked to stop recording, taking photographs or jotting down notes because of concerns about privacy, we should do so unless it is editorially justified to continue. At that point we need to be absolutely clear about our reasons.

Keeping up with our competition, winning more viewers, or selling more papers are not good enough reasons. The story must inform the public debate and it must be an accurate and fair representation of the known facts.

Even then, the journalist must be sure that they have come to a considered conclusion having weighed all the facts.

Obtaining consent

There are a number of places where journalists should obtain two forms of consent, one to gather the material and the other to broadcast or publish it. These include hospitals, schools or prisons. Journalists should always seek permission from their seniors:

to use unattended recording equipment without the knowledge of those being recorded

to record telephone conversations originally intended for background information

to door-step a potential interviewee without making a prior approach

to broadcast material recorded by others, such as UGC.

Secret recording

If a journalist intends to make a secret recording, they have to be able to justify the decision on the grounds of there being a clear public interest.

It is sometimes justified if it is likely to gather evidence or behaviour that the audience would otherwise not see and hear. Justifications for secret recordings could include:

where there is evidence that there is an intention to commit an offence

where an open approach would be unlikely to succeed

gathering evidence

consumer, social or scientific research in the public interest.

In all cases, the material gathered should be a fair and accurate representation of what has happened. There is also an obligation on the journalist to seek retrospective consent and, in some cases, obscure some identities. Secret recording could include:

the use of hidden cameras and microphones

long-range audio-video equipment

small video cameras

the use of drone cameras

mobile phone cameras

concealed radio microphones

phone calls

continuing to record after the interview is over.

If you are intending to carry out a secret recording, make sure that your editor has approved it. Your news organisation will have a procedure. Ensure that you comply. It will probably involve:

senior editorial approval and signed documents

a clear declaration as to why the action is in the public interest

a statement as to how the material is to be used

an accurate log of what has taken place

a certificate or licence if legally required

a log of what is to be broadcast and what will not be broadcast

an honest declaration of any deception that was required to gather the material.

That final point is extremely important. Journalists are increasingly coming under pressure not to use editing or newsgathering techniques that could be seen as misleading.

If you intend to use any material gathered secretly in the future - such as in a review of the year or referring to a story when following up the item - you will probably have to revisit the whole process, but legal advice will need to be taken.

You will need to be certain that all you propose to do is in the public interest, particularly in:

a private place where the public does not have access

where people are receiving medical treatment

in cases of grief and extreme stress.

It is never justified to go on so-called fishing expeditions where secret recording is carried out on private property in search of crime or anti-social behaviour.

Similarly, you should never leave recording equipment on private property with the intention of gaining evidence of serious crime unless you have first obtained senior editorial sign-off and can justify your actions in terms of public interest.

Electronic note-taking

Many reporters use electronic equipment as part of their note-taking. Some use recorders instead of notebooks, believing it to be a better way of ensuring accuracy in their reporting.

It needs to be made clear at all times that such electronic note-taking is for research and not for broadcast. If you find you have stumbled upon a significant newsworthy clip that is clearly in the public interest to broadcast or publish you will need to discuss this with senior editors and apply the public interest test.

Door-stepping

Sometimes a reporter must be persistent in order to secure an interview. Is it really necessary? What purpose does it serve? What information is likely to be gathered that is not available through other, more conventional, channels?

A journalist has a duty to continue to question their own motives and the value of what they are doing. The general public can expect a certain amount of protection from door-stepping, however public figures, particularly politicians, fall into a different category. They expect questions being thrown at them without prior arrangement and should expect the answers to be published.

If you are convinced that the story you are chasing is in the public interest, you might want to door-step because the person involved has failed to respond to repeated interview requests. But they have a right to refuse. You also have the right to tell the public that this person refused an interview.

Tag-along scenario

A tag-along scenario is when a journalist accompanies officials carrying out their work in order to cover a story that is in the public interest. This could include going along as an observer with police, customs, immigration, or environmental health officers or other public authorities on operational duties.

But you have to be absolutely certain that there is a clear public interest, because this touches on many issues such as privacy, consent and trespass.

If you do tag along on an official visit to a private property, you must make it clear for whom you are reporting and where the material will be used, seek consent from the occupier of the property being raided, and be prepared to leave immediately if consent is refused - unless it has been agreed with your senior editors that there is a clear public interest in the event being covered.

Reporting suffering and distress

The media's relationship with the public during times of suffering and distress is unpredictable. Journalists may often be sent out to the home of someone who has lost a loved one through criminal activity, an accident, or a bombing. There are a few common reactions.

The first is when you knock at the door and nobody answers, although you can see that there are lights on and you can hear voices. You know that people are in and you know that they don't want to be disturbed. However, you also know that your news editor is expecting an interview with the relatives of the deceased and a picture of the person who has died.

What do you do? Do you keep knocking until they answer, or give up and head back to the office, respecting their grief and their decision to hide from you? Your news editor will either be totally supportive or will give you a hard time for not getting the interview and picture. You could write a note and put it through the door telling them why you called and why you wanted to talk to them.

The second reaction is that they open the door and set the dogs on you or give you a mouthful of abuse.

The third is that they invite you in, put the kettle on, make a cup of tea, and then show you all their family photographs and let you take some away.

You never know which reaction you will get. It is important that the reporter is sensitive to the suffering people are going through.

Intruding on private grief can hardly be in the public interest. However, here is the contradiction; the media often get criticised for covering grief, but people buy newspapers and turn on their TV expecting to see pictures of those who have died through tragic circumstances.

We can't win, but we can be professional, consistent, and ensure that all we do is in the public interest.

Graphic material

We always need to consider carefully the editorial justification for portraying graphic material of human suffering and distress. There are no circumstances in which it is justified to show executions, and very few circumstances in which it is justified to broadcast other scenes in which people are being killed. We should also avoid the gratuitous use of close-ups of faces and serious injuries or other violent material.

We must also be global in our news values. If we have editorial rules that state that we don't publish details of someone who has been killed until the family has been notified, then that rule has to be applied globally. Those in the West who apply such rules to domestic coverage need to ensure that they are consistent when dealing with tragedies in far-flung countries.

The family of a dead person - who can clearly be identified from still pictures or footage - but who is the victim of a killing thousands of miles away, is entitled to the same editorial standards we apply when the incident is on our doorstep.

The passage of time is an important factor when it comes to making judgments about broadcasting graphic material. In the immediate aftermath of an event, the use of more graphic material is normally justified to provide a reasonable illustration of the full horror, although a good script is equally important in conveying the reality of the tragedy.

However, as the story unfolds it may become more difficult to justify its continued use. When it comes to marking the anniversary of an event or when considering it in a contemporary historical context, it may again be editorially justified to re-use it.

We must not add to a person's suffering and grief. We should not put them under any pressure in order to obtain an interview. We must not harass them with repeated phone calls, emails, text messages or calls at their door, we must not ignore their pleas for us to leave, and we should not follow them if they are trying to avoid/escape us.

Graphic scenes of grief are unlikely to offend or distress those victims and relatives who consented to our recording them, but we need to remember that the images could upset or anger members of the audience. It helps if we set out the context for the images people are about to see in order to prepare them and to help prevent any misunderstandings.

Funerals

Funerals, except in the case of public figures, are usually considered a private affair. We should not attend without the consent of the family. Even in the case of people in the public eye, such as politicians, entertainers and sports personalities, we should also respect a family's wish to have a private funeral. In such cases there is usually a public event to which the media is invited and often a private event for family only.

Revisiting past events

Responsible media organisations will frequently return to past events in order to put current events in context. As a result, journalists need to ensure that they do all they can to minimise any possible distress to the surviving victims and relatives.

This is particularly important when covering suffering and trauma. This also applies even when material being published or broadcast was previously in the public domain. Where possible, surviving victims or the immediate families of the dead people who are to feature in the programme should be notified in advance.

Archive material

All news organisations use archive material in news coverage. This will include the reuse of scenes of suffering, distress and trauma. We have a duty to ensure that the repeated use of such material, particularly where it features people who can be identified and are still alive, is editorially justified.

We should never use such material to illustrate a general theme. At all times we must be sensitive to the impact such material is likely to have on those who suffered the first time round.

Missing people

The media is often called on to help trace people by broadcasting details of missing people which has been provided by relatives and friends.

We must not give over our journalism to the control of others. It could be that information the family is keen to release could be embarrassing and distressing. It could be that the information is infringing the missing person's privacy.

We must always take editorial responsibility and consider whether the missing person would want the information published if they are found. We should also respect the fact that not every missing person wishes to be found.

Personal information

A journalist has a responsibility to be totally open and transparent with people about how they intend to use their personal information. This includes details such as telephone numbers and email addresses. We must never pass these on to others without obtaining the owner's consent.

Questions

1. What is the primary challenge journalists face when balancing privacy and public interest in their investigations?

2. Define "privacy". What are some examples of situations where privacy might be expected?

3. Explain the role of user-generated content (UGC) in journalism and the editorial challenges it presents.

4. Why is it important for journalists to verify contributed material, and what are some methods mentioned for verification?

5. Discuss the ethical considerations journalists must weigh when deciding to use secret recordings.

6. What are the guidelines for journalists when obtaining consent in sensitive locations such as hospitals or schools?

7. How should journalists handle situations where they are asked to stop recording due to privacy concerns?

8. Analyse the potential consequences for a journalist who fails to maintain reliability, trust, honesty, fairness, and accuracy in their reporting.

9. Evaluate the ethical implications of door-stepping in journalism. When might it be justified?

10. Sum up the considerations a journalist must take into account when reporting on suffering and distress. How can they balance public interest with respect for individuals' privacy?

Answers

1. Journalists must balance respecting individuals' privacy with conducting thorough investigations into matters of public interest, which may sometimes require privacy intrusion.

2. Privacy covers anything a person might reasonably expect to keep private, such as personal facts not widely known. Examples include being in a clinic or hospital receiving treatment.

3. UGC involves the public sharing media with journalists, raising issues of editorial integrity and the need to verify the authenticity of such content.

4. Verification is crucial to maintain credibility. Methods include requiring confirmation from two independent sources, though this may not always be possible with UGC.

5. Secret recordings must be justified by a clear public interest, such as gathering evidence of wrongdoing that would otherwise remain hidden.

6. Journalists should obtain consent to gather and publish material in sensitive locations, and seek permission from senior editors for certain actions.

7. Journalists should stop recording unless there is a strong editorial justification to continue, ensuring they are clear about their reasons.

8. Failing to uphold these values can lead to a loss of audience trust and damage the journalist's and their organisation's reputation.

9. Door-stepping may be justified if the story is in the public interest and other methods have failed, but the person involved has the right to refuse an interview.

10. Journalists must be sensitive to individuals' suffering, ensuring their reporting is in the public interest without adding to the distress of those involved.

Lesson plan for trainers

If you are a trainer of journalists we have a Lesson plan: Respecting privacy as a journalist which you are welcome to download and adapt for your own purposes.

The free teaching tools at the Khan Academy were used as a basis for converting the original article into a lesson plan.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Respecting privacy as a journalist - Media Helping Media

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Journalists face a difficult balancing act. They must respect privacy, but they must also be rigorous and robust in their investigation into issues that are in the public interest.

# data[].attributes.body
A balance needs to be found between being creative and correctly representing the subject or situation. People want to make visually and aesthetically pleasing content but that might clash with what is actually true and not perceptively/stylistically warped.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Video production ethics: responsibility and impact.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In today’s digital world, video production has become easily accessible to all. It is an exciting time with endless possibilities for creativity and expression. But with great power comes great responsibility, or so they say. Ethics in video production play a crucial role in ensuring that the content created is not only visually stunning but also respectful and conscious of its impact on individuals and society.

# data[].attributes.body
A patient refuses a potentially life-saving treatment, even when it's recommended by medical professionals

Ethical Considerations: Balancing the patient's right to make their own choices with the healthcare provider's duty to provide the best possible car

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
✉
Dhruv Ahuja dhruvahuja96gmail.com ✉Corresponding author.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Ethical Dilemmas and Conventionalism in Healthcare: A Scoping Review

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This review aims to evaluate the current ethical dilemmas faced by healthcare practitioners, especially in dentistry, and analyze how conventionalism with ethical norms influences these challenges. By exploring the balance between evolving…

# data[].attributes.body
Ethical vs Malicious Hacking

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Looking to become an ethical hacker? Explore the world of ethical hacking & learn how EC Council trains individuals to protect digital systems through ethical hacking techniques.

# data[].attributes.headline
Should doctors give blood to save someone who is a Jehovah's Witness even though it is against their beliefs?

# data[].attributes.subject
Should doctors give blood to save someone who is a Jehovah's Witness even though it is against their beliefs?

# data[].attributes.body
Jehovah's witnesses are highly religious and refuse transfusions of any type of blood from another person. This is an ethical dilemma for the healthcare professional who has access to potentially life-saving blood but would be going against the patient's wishes. Informed consent and patient autonomy are a key part of bioethics and as a doctor, you are required by law to not go against your patient's wishes. Is it unethical to use blood to save someone's life who is a Jehovah's Witness?

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3934270/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Ethical and legal aspects of refusal of blood transfusions by Jehovah’s Witnesses, with particular reference to Italy

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Jehovah’s Witnesses originated near Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) in the 1870s, when Charles T. Russell formed a movement based on a literal millennialist interpretation of the Bible. However, it was not until 1945 that the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society (the legal organisation of leaders of the Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, usually known simply as the Watch Tower Society) concluded that blood transfusions are contrary to divine law. The Society leaders based their conclusions on parts of the Scripture, specifically: “Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat” (Genesis 9, 3–4). “And whatsoever man there be of the House of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people” (Leviticus 17, 10). “Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood” (Leviticus 17, 12). “For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh; for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off” (Leviticus 17, 14). “Only thou shalt not eat the blood thereof; thou shalt pour it upon the ground as water” (Deuteronomy 15, 23). “For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; that ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves ye shall do well (Acts 15, 28–29).

# data[].attributes.body
Tik Tok was shut down because off the bill that the represenitives made.The Bill of tik Tok was billed because of the chinese parent company ByteDance.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Banning TikTok is unconstitutional and will not make America safer

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Policymakers should address national security without infringing upon free trade and the right of free speech.

# data[].attributes.headline
Patient Confidentiality vs. Public Safety

# data[].attributes.subject
Patient Confidentiality vs. Public Safety

# data[].attributes.body
If a patient has a severe contagious disease. Is it be right to break patient confidentiality and alert others?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Denying a patient’s final will: public safety vs. medical confidentiality and patient autonomy - PubMed

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Especially when caring for patients approaching the end of life, physicians and nursing staff feel committed to fulfilling as many patient desires as possible. However, sometimes a patient’s “final will” may threaten public safety. This can lead to severe conflicts, outweighing the physician’s oblig …

# data[].attributes.body
Balancing a patient's right to make decisions about their own care with the nurse's duty to promote their overall well-being.

When a patient needs medicine/treatment in order to live but they don't want to follow through with it.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 Examples of Ethical Dilemmas in Nursing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Examples of ethical dilemmas in nursing and how nurses should handle them.

# data[].attributes.body
Deepfake technology is a generated image or audio of a person, to make them do or say something, created by generative AI. While this technology has benefits, and can be used for education, as well as historical restoration, many worry about the ethics of stealing someone's likeness. Deepfakes are often used non-consensually to make explicit material, or used to make false images and spread across the internet to defame someone, specifically celebrities. The ethical dilemma is how far we should advance technology while also making sure its use is consensual.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In an era where seeing is no longer believing, deepfake technology has emerged as a double-edged sword. The term ' deepfake'-a fusion of 'deep learning' and 'fake'-refers to synthetic media where a person's likeness or voice is swapped or created using artificial intelligence. This makes it appear as though the person is saying or doing something they are not.

From online sales and marketing tactics to severe invasions of privacy and disinformation campaigns, the implications of deepfakes are vast. Understanding and dealing with deepfakes is still relatively new which makes it the perfect time to inject ethical guidelines, transparency measures, and proactive governance before the technology gets out of control.

The Majority of Deepfakes Today

One of the most insidious uses of deepfake technology is the creation of non-consensual pornography. Currently, pornography represents the vast majority of deepfakes. Images of women, some of whom are under-aged, are created without their consent or knowledge. Unfortunately, right now there is no simple technical fix for this problem.

Female celebrities and private individuals alike have fallen victim to this abuse, with their faces superimposed onto explicit content and spread across the internet. A notable case is that of Taylor Swift, whose digital likeness was exploited to create and disseminate pornographic material on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. This case sparked outrage among Taylor Swift fans and Congress and furthered the conversation about digital rights and regulation.

In response to the Taylor Swift deepfake, X removed all identified images and said it was taking action against the accounts responsible for posting them. So far, platforms have tried to address deepfakes by asking users to report them, but by the time this happens, millions of users have already seen the images, as was the case with the Taylor Swift deepfake. This reactive approach by social media platforms is simply not enough. Stronger action is needed because this form of abuse is not only a gross violation of privacy but also serves as a tool for emotional and psychological harm.

Deepfakes in Business

In business, there are examples of deepfakes being used for both illegitimate and legitimate purposes.

On the illegitimate side, deepfakes have been weaponized to commit fraud. For example, a finance worker at a multinational firm recently paid out $25 million to fraudsters who used deepfake technology to pose as the company's chief financial officer and other company employees in a video call. The finance worker was tricked by the deepfake and while initially suspicious, he went ahead with the money transfer because the people on the video call looked and sounded just like colleagues he recognized from his company.

On the other hand, there are some early examples of how deepfakes may be used for legitimate business purposes, such as extending a seller's influence and marketing reach. Deepfake technology has been used to create marketing and sales videos of human likenesses who promote products sold via online platforms such as Taobao, China's most popular e-commerce platform. The creation of this type of deepfake is surprisingly inexpensive, costing as little as $1,100 or several thousand for a more sophisticated deepfake.

Once created, these deepfake videos can be livestreamed 24/7. Using the likenesses of online influencers round-the-clock in this way can reduce a company's operating costs. If the deepfake influences are effective at bringing in sales, then the company does not need to hire as many human influencers who come at a much higher cost.

This type of advertising for an e-commerce site, where products are typically displayed as a static continuous shopping aisle, is believed by some to create more of an emotional connection between the host company and the viewer. But should we be trying to create an emotional connection between AI-generated deepfakes and human beings? What about when the existence of the deepfake is not transparently disclosed, or where consent has not been given for creation of the deepfake? This takes us straight into the realm of ethics, transparency, and governance.

Ethical Guidelines for the Creation and Use of Deepfakes

The creation and distribution of deepfakes bypass the fundamental ethical principle of respect for another individual's autonomy when they are created without obtaining the person's consent. By co-opting an individual's likeness, deepfakes can also infringe on rights to privacy and lead to damaging misrepresentations. Without ethical guidelines, such as those outlined below, the societal impact of deepfakes could profoundly erode the fabric of trust that underpins our understanding of truth and reality.

Purpose and Intent: Legitimate purposes for creating and using deepfakes should be clearly defined, such as using them for educational purposes or lawful research. Uses intended to deceive, harm, or infringe on privacy rights, such as creating non-consensual explicit content, spreading misinformation, or impersonating individuals for fraudulent purposes, should be prohibited.

Consent: Explicit consent from individuals whose likenesses are used to create deepfakes must be obtained. This includes informing them about how their images or voices will be used and the context for the content being created. Moreover, consent should be an ongoing process and not a one-time event. Individuals should have the right to withdraw their consent if they no longer feel comfortable with their likeness being used in a certain way.

Promoting Transparency

A significant challenge with deepfakes is the difficulty an average person has in distinguishing them from authentic content. This lack of transparency is a major hurdle in maintaining the integrity of digital media and preventing the spread of misinformation. To promote transparency, wide-scale adoption of disclosure and verification processes is needed.

Labeling Deepfakes: Disclosure should be required when content has been altered or generated using deepfake technology, especially in contexts where the authenticity of the content could influence public opinion. If platforms and creators would provide visible and understandable notices when content is created or significantly altered with deepfake technology, individuals would be better equipped to critically evaluate the content and make informed decisions.

Verifying the Source: Another way to promote transparency is to use technology that verifies the source and authenticity of digital content. Blockchain technology, for example, could be used tocreate a verifiable history of digital content, ensuring that alterations are transparently recorded. If a standard such as this were to be adopted industry-wide, it would help to combat the spread of harmful deepfake content and misinformation.

Proactive Governance

As with other types of technology, the creation and use of deepfakes have outpaced government regulation to address it. While a regulatory framework may be developed at some point in the future, it does not currently exist in the United States. This means that industry self-regulation is needed now, along with stakeholder collaboration and public education.

Companies should proactively adopt and enforce ethical guidelines and transparency standards by implementing their own clear internal principles, frameworks, and policies. Moreover, collaborative partnerships must be built across various segments of society - technology companies, academia, and government agencies - to continuously promote wide-scale adoption of deepfake ethical guidelines and transparency standards. Finally, education is key. Public awareness campaigns about deepfakes and how to critically assess digital content, can keep individuals from being misled.

As we look to the future, we must remember that the technology we create reflects our values. The story of deepfakes is still being written. It is up to us to ensure that the story becomes one where integrity, authenticity, transparency, and respect for the individual shine through.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Navigating the Mirage: Ethical, Transparency, and Regulatory Challenges in the Age of Deepfakes

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Deepfakes are still relatively new, which makes now the perfect time to inject ethical guidelines, transparency measures, and proactive governance.

# data[].attributes.body
Say there is cost cutting going into the production of aircraft and this has caused a lack of structural stability. Is speaking up about such illegal or unsafe practices worth losing your job?

Whistleblowing is a very important decision for an employee. At the risk of losing your job you can make the perhaps more ethical decision of making light of the issue. For many the simple solution is to be a good person and do it. For those in the position, it can be a much harder task. It takes time to become an engineer and get into a good job, losing that can be a huge loss even if it means you're revealing a problematic practice in the workplace.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Engineering Ethics: A Look at Ethical Dilemmas - McKissock Learning

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We’re taking a closer look at engineering ethics with 4 ethical dilemmas engineers are likely to face in their work.

# data[].attributes.headline
Should insulin prices be capped to ensure accessibility for people with lower incomes?

# data[].attributes.subject
Should insulin prices be capped to ensure accessibility for people with lower incomes?

# data[].attributes.body
Insulin price caps are government-imposed limits on the cost of insulin and the prices pharmacy industries can charge. As the U.S. continues to make progress on insulin price caps, it has not reached all 50 states yet.

Goal: People want price caps on a life-saving drug. Since it costs so much, people are forced to choose between their health and other necessities.

Controversy: The government should not create price caps for insulin as it reduces profits and funds to research diabetes treatments.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
✉Correspondence: Irl B. Hirsch, ihirschuw.edu ✉Corresponding author.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Insulin in America: A Right or a Privilege?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Even as a medical student, I was interested in the history of insulin. As an endocrine fellow, I read The Discovery of Insulin by Michael Bliss (1). It is a book anyone interested in diabetes should read, as life before insulin is difficult to appreciate by today’s standard of care, at least in the United States. Amazing stories of what people did to obtain insulin are plentiful, perhaps none more dramatic than Eva Saxl’s story, with her husband making insulin in Shanghai, China, for the more than 200 Jews who escaped Nazi persecution during World War II (2).

# data[].attributes.headline
Empirical Knowledge vs. Religious Beliefs

# data[].attributes.subject
Empirical Knowledge vs. Religious Beliefs

# data[].attributes.body
Healthcare providers might encounter situations where a patient's religious beliefs, such as refusing blood transfusions, conflict with recommended medical treatments.

This ethical dilemma happens when a patient’s religious beliefs stop them from getting a medical treatment that’s been proven to work. A good example is Christian Scientists choosing prayer and faith healing over medical care, even in serious situations where treatment could save their life.

Is it unethical to administer medical treatment to a Christian Scientist who refuses it in favor of faith healing, even if the treatment could save their life?

https://www.christianscience.com/what-is-christian-science/beliefs-and-teachings

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Balancing Equity and Efficiency in the Allocation of Health Resources—Where Is the Middle Ground?

# data[].attributes.headline
Balancing Quality of Care and Efficiency

# data[].attributes.subject
Balancing Quality of Care and Efficiency

# data[].attributes.body
How can you help patients who require care if they can't afford the cost?

Balancing Quality of Care and Efficiency is important because it is crucial to create a healthcare system that provides the best care to all patients while maintaining and using resources effectively and in a way where the money is not overspent

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Balancing Equity and Efficiency in the Allocation of Health Resources—Where Is the Middle Ground?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The notion of equity in health service delivery has been embodied in several of the Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially the aspiration for universal health coverage (UHC). At the same time, escalating healthcare costs amidst…

# data[].attributes.body
Women in mass media are viewed as young slim and with beauty that meets the accepted standards

https://feminism-boell.org/en/2016/04/08/women-and-mass-media

# data[].attributes.headline
Ethics of Medical Students involvement in Patient Care

# data[].attributes.subject
Ethics of Medical Students involvement in Patient Care

# data[].attributes.body
Medical students are required to shadow and learn from practicing medical professionals as part of their educational standards. These medical students observe patient care and also participate in providing the care, as a means to prepare for future jobs they will complete during residency, and further on.

The ethical dilemma takes place when considering that some patients may not want medical students, who do not have the full credentials to practice as medical professionals, involved in their care. This is where it discusses whether or not it is right for a student to be involved in the performance of procedures and tests, which are usually preformed by medical professionals.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Correspondence to: L S Lehmann llehmann1partners.org

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Medical students and doctors in training need to hone their clinical skills on patients to make themselves better doctors, but patients may not benefit directly from such attention. Jagsi and Lehmann consider this ethical dilemma and suggest ways to…

# data[].attributes.body
There are many cases in hospitals where they don't have enough resources to help every patient, whether in a pandemic or in a low-income area.

Give priority to those patients for whom treatment will avoid premature death or inferior outcomes, then to patients who will experience the biggest change in quality of life, when there are very substantial differences among patients who need access to limited resources.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Summary

Introduction.

Allocate fixed resources among competing users is a challenge in terms of hospital management in order to obtain the best performance considering strategic objectives. In order to address this need, a system of evaluation in an important research and teaching hospital was designed. This study describes resource allocation criteria in a hospital focusing on the evaluation system and its developed application methodology.

Methods.

The indicator system allows the strategic management to rapidly detect the priorities in the evaluations of the Strategic, Organizational, Managerial, Economic, Research and Qualitative conditions of each unit. The chosen indicators are expressed with three numerical values, (1 indicating critical status, 2 acceptable conditions and 3 a good operational situation).

Results and discussion.

The adopted evaluation system considered different thematic areas: Strategic, Organizational, Managerial, Economic, Research and Qualitative. In order to define each area, 3 fields of evaluation have been chosen. The indicators have been structured according to a pyramid system allowing creating a single indicator for each area for each unit. Furthermore, a single indicator has been fixed in order to facilitate a first consideration on whether to carry out or not closer examinations of the most critical units. This manuscript describes an attempt to define objective criteria for the allocation of scarce resources in order to achieve the hospital's strategic objectives. The indicators identified allow to obtain an overall score for each unit, which allows the management to prioritize the needs.

Key words: Resources, Allocation, Hospital

Introduction

The allocation process concerning the more and more limited health resources presents several criticisms at different levels: macro (national/regional), meso (institutional/ territory-hospital) and micro (at patient bedside). In particular the meso level plays a fundamental role in the resources management by representing the point of reference in the health services supply [ 1].

The health sector and, more specifically, the hospitals have been asked, over the last years, to manage fixed resources with respect to the increasing activity levels [ 2], due to the ever-increasing number of needs from a population which is older and older and who bears many copathologies that have to be treated with territorial outof- hospital care services which are not always effective. Therefore, it is necessary defining the hospital priorities and criteria of resources allocation.

The different models, that have been studied for the strategic planning of healthcare [ 1, 3, 4] and, in particular of hospitals, take into account different aspects: the context in which the organization operates, the involvement of stakeholders, the definition of those processes that shall be managed and of those criteria for the resources allocation testifying the work done and certifying its validity [ 1]. The resources allocation models also in the healthcare sector, are based on economic efficiency, justice, equity, sharing and optimization of the resources themselves [ 4].

This manuscript describes the evaluation system through indicators both from a conceptual and illustrative point of view explaining the principles of the system and the developed application methodology. The objective is evaluating the strategic positioning, the operating activities, the economic results, the research, organization and the qualities of all the hospital unit. The model was built for an hospital offering third level activities, first level post-university centre, a research centre benefiting from both national and international funding, a place of reference for over 250 rare diseases, three emergency departments and more than ten block.

Methods

The developed model identified 6 thematic areas that can represent the managerial condition of a complex hospital. They can be named as follows: Strategic, Operating, Research, Economic, Organizational, Quality. Within these areas, some qualitative and quantitative evaluation elements have been chosen; they are considered as most significant.

Each thematic area has been given three indicators that were considered as adequately representative to evaluate the position of a specific unit in that area. The indicators selected to evaluated each area were chosen for some reasons:

they were the same identified in other similar evaluations;

the hospital has data to calculate them;

the hospital management board wants comparing units in order to develop strategic activities devoted to research and teaching, but according to the medical and surgical activities that the hospital has to perform.

Some indicators are referred to the activity of doctors operating in the different units. In order to obtain a datum that reflects as much as possible their actual commitment. The concept of "Equivalent Doctor" (d e), was adopted with the aims at reporting the real time that the physician dedicates to the clinical activity. Conventionally, as time of the d e it is possible to use 1500 h/year. The indicators have been structured according to a pyramid system allowing to create a single indicator for each unit.

The purpose of the single indicator is to immediately highlight, within the same area, what is the positioning of the unit under consideration.

The indicator system allows the strategic management to rapidly detect the priorities in the evaluations of the Strategic, Organizational, Managerial, Economic, Research and Qualitative conditions of each unit, within the ambit of its own relevant area.

For each thematic area, the chosen indicators are expressed with three numerical values, attributing:

value 1 to the values belonging to the segment lower than the average value, indicating the appropriateness of checking the insufficiency status of the unit taken into consideration (critical status);

value 2 to the segment of approximately +/- 20% near the average value, indicating that the unit taken into consideration is among those to be considered in acceptable conditions;

value 3 to those located in the segment higher than the average value, indicating, in this case, a good or satisfactory operational situation.

No ethical approval was requested to carry out this study.

Results

The model with its six areas and for each area the three fields of evaluation was presented.

A - Strategic Area

A1 - The Importance of the Hospital: at local, regional and national level

This evaluation takes into consideration the level of importance attributed to the activity carried out.

A2 - The Importance of the potential for development: at local, regional and national level

This evaluation plays a fundamental role in the decisionmaking process to accept or reject the request for new resources with regard to the hospital development programmes.

The top management on the strength of the objectives that it wants to achieve will therefore decide whether to encourage the development and the professional growth of a specific unit or not.

A3 - Necessary professional specificities even in the presence of enough personnel

This evaluation takes into consideration the professional level that in a specific unit has to be maintained or increased.

It is obvious that, unlike the indicators of the other areas, these evaluations are made on a qualitative basis.

The evaluations of this thematic area are also assigned a three-level score (1, 2, 3) in order to participate in the creation of the single indicator.

B - Operating Area

This area takes into account the medical staff, and it is useful to assess whether their number is adequate to the activity performed in a specific unit or not. The number of doctors can meet the accreditation requirements but it has to be considered the fact that these are minimum requirements therefore they can be insufficient for the type of work carried out in the individual unit.

B1 - Institutional clinical activity

For all the units it has been taken into consideration: the number of equivalent doctors and the number of yearly clinical performance for ordinary admissions to hospital (OA), for day hospital admissions (DH) and for the outpatient examinations (OE).

In the case of OA the number of performance has been adjusted multiplying it by the rate of case mix, in order to take into consideration the objective difference of clinical complexity, and by the number of the average days of hospitalization in order to consider the more time that the doctor has to spend performing this kind of clinical performance.

For each of these clinical activities the number of individual performance has then been compared with the average value of all the analogous performance carried out by the units belonging to the same area, assigning this way the three sub-indicators characterizing the degree of efficiency of the single clinical activities (OA-DH-OE) performed by every single unit. This assessment was performed as follows.

Having taken the average value as reference, a segment equal to +/- 20% was set, the coefficient 2 was included among its values. This number indicates that the activity referred to in the assessment can be considered as sufficiently in conformity with the value expected in a correct management, and therefore not in need of human resources allocation since it is balanced with the resources at disposal.

If there is no clinical activity it is given the 0 value; if it is lower than the average segment the value is 1 and if it is higher than the average segment the value is 3.

Then a single indicator of the institutional clinical activity has been established by transforming these three indicators into a single index named "clinical efficiency index", that in line with what has been previously stated, allows to be transformed into the "institutional clinical activity" indicator.

B2 - Clinical activity performed for other units- Emergency medical service shifts

This evaluation element indicates the importance of the treatment activity that the examined unit carries out on behalf of the other units of the hospital that is to say that some working days have been subtracted to the clinical activity in the unit of belonging.

Since this service falls within the type of organization that the hospital decided to follow, it represents a commitment that all the units have to fulfil, we thought to compare the number of emergency medical service shifts performed by each unit divided by the number of doctors on the roll, with the average obtained by all the equivalent doctors of the other units belonging to the same area, to assess its position compared to the one that can be considered as an average obligation, and therefore in line with the standard procedures.

Also in this case the so obtained values coming within the +/- 20% segment have been given number 2, to indicate that the commitment to the service of the other units is in line with the standards and, therefore, this is not a critical situation. The values below this segment have been given number 1, to indicate that the commitment of the emergency medical services does not significantly vary the work performed in that unit being below the average, that is to say below the standard procedures.

In the opposite case, the values above the average segment, have been given number 3, which means a load of emergency medical services more demanding than what is usually expected.

Finally when the emergency medical service is not performed we give 0.

B3 - Doctors of an unit/total employed staff ratio

It represents the percentage of doctors in the total employed staff. If the indicator is below the average or percentages of the operating units belonging to the same area, the indicator is given number 1, which means a possible lack of doctors; if it is above the average it is given number 3 to indicate that the percentage of doctors is above the average and, therefore it points out a possible superabundance of doctors. Number 2 indicates that the unit comes within the +/- 20% segment near the average value and also that the unit is in a state of balance.

C - Research Area

Considering that the research is an integral part of the clinical activity of every doctor who works in a research hospital, with this thematic area we wanted to highlight the commitment of every doctor for research.

C1 - Impact Factor

As known, the impact factor (IF) gives an official representation of the research activity carried out by the researchers of an unit.

It is the significant official recognition of the research carried out, but it is not exhaustive since a part of the research performed is not mentioned in the official publications and, therefore, the IF cannot be considered as a recognition of the whole research carried out by an unit.

Considering that the research volume is presumably higher where the number of doctors is higher, we thought it proper to compare the IF to the number of equivalent doctors existing in the different units.

This benchmark is given a score from 0 to 3. 0 when there is no research activity, 1 when the activity is located below the average value decreased by 20%, 2 when the activity is placed in the segment defined by +/- 20% of the average value, 3 for the activity placed above the average value increased by 20%.

The benchmark reading therefore points out if the doctors' productivity is satisfactory, on average adequate or even critical, requesting close substantive analyses.

C2 - Extra financing for current research

This index aims at highlighting the production capacity that a specific unit has in obtaining financing not coming from the ministerial source.

This depends not only on the promotional ability that the chief doctor can exercise c/o the non-governmental and private bodies in order to obtain financing for the research, but also on the reputation that the unit has in the scientific world, and on its knowledge and experiences in specific areas.

The indicator was created starting from the financing given to each unit divided by the corresponding number of equivalent doctors considered as devoted to research, and comparing the result with the average value obtained by the same reports of the other units belonging to the same area.

As in the above indicators, its value is assessed according to its positioning whether inside or outside a segment of values included between +/- 20% of the average value.

Number 0 indicates that the unit does not raise funds besides the ones for the current research. Number 1, given to those values included below the average value decreased by 20%, indicates an unsatisfactory financing attracting capacity compared to the average of the other units. On the contrary, number 3 indicates a satisfactory situation.

C3 - Temporary staff devoted to research

This index represents the significance of the staff hired temporarily, such as for example the holders of a scholarship and contract researchers, employed in the research, compared to the number of doctors who devote to research and when such significance is relatively high it means that the research activity is substantial.

The ability to attract this kind of staff is connected to the ability to attract non-ministerial funds and it indicates a good functioning of the unit, which does not need any corrective action to be performed toward the employees, unless in case of specific strategic reasons such as to ensure the preservation of the know-how acquired through the research.

In order to assess the indicator, the number of this temporary staff shall be expressed as a percentage compared to the number of equivalent doctors. The average value of all percentages of the units belonging to the same area has to be considered as a reference to define the indicator, obtained with the same criteria repeatedly explained in the other indicators, in the scale of reference, from 0 to 3. That is to say 0 when there are no holders of a scholarship and contract researchers, 1 when the percentage of this type of temporary employees together with the permanent employees is below the value reported by the average segment, 3 when it is above it.

D - Economic Area

D1 - Total revenues from clinical activity

The revenues from OA, DH and OE have been taken into account, obtaining this way the annual revenue of each unit.

The total revenues have been attributed to the number of doctors belonging to the considered unit, in order to quantify the production efficiency of each doctor. The deriving indicator has a value equal to 1 or 2 or 3 depending on the fact that such efficiency is lower than the average, on average or higher than the average respectively.

D2 - Operating margins

From the total annual revenue indicated above variable costs and the cost of personnel have been deducted obtaining, therefore, the Gross Operating Margin of each unit.

Among the variable costs we have taken into consideration the consumption of healthcare material, of office tools and supplies, the laboratory and radiology costs.

The indicator assessment is analogous to the one reported in section D1.

D3 - Other revenues

It mainly refers to grants related to income obtained by the unit thanks to special activities which cannot be identified through the DRGs, the range of fees of outpatient treatments and/or the research activity. The revenues from non-clinical activities, like the sale of plasma bags, also belong to this category.

The calculation methods for this indicator are equal to those indicated in the previous D1 and D2 sections.

E - Organizational Area

In this area the number of doctors are always evaluated taking into account the accreditations rules of the Lombardia Region.

E1 - Logistics: operating divisions

The location in which the activity of a specific unit is carried out is taken into consideration in order to evaluate whether the logistic conditions in which the work has been performed are optimum or not.

Where the arrangement of the working areas is not functional and coherent within the same block shared with the other units of the same Department, or in the presence of a chaotic arrangement or, worst, of a division into more blocks, obviously the work efficiency cannot be satisfactory.

In order to evaluate the effect on the work efficiency of such possible different situations a different importance has been attributed to the type of logistic arrangement in which every single unit operates, that is to say the number of floors or of blocks, and the sum of such values has been divided by the number of employed doctors who, in theory, are spread in them. According to the other scores value 1 means that in that specific unit doctors work in an environment which is more fragmented from a logistic point of view compared to the average, value 2 means that the situation is normal, and value 3 means that the presence of doctors in the departments is above the average.

E2- Event organization

This indicator refers to the organizational skills of the personnel. It examines the number of cultural events: conferences, professional refresher courses, on-the-job training, which have been organized during the examined period. The indicator depending on whether the number of events promoted by the doctors of the examined unit is below or above the average with 3 refers to the superior ability that doctors have shown.

E3- Outpatient clinic Logistics - Laboratories

With reference to every single unit, this index aims at pointing out the managerial complexity connected to the number of outpatient clinics and laboratories. A high number of outpatient clinics compared to the arithmetic mean of those existing in the other units of the same area could indicate a heavy functional organization.

As in E1 the indicator takes into account the number of doctors operating in the outpatient clinics/laboratories and it is expressed by means of number 1-2-3. In this case index 3 means that the number of doctors using the outpatient clinics and/or laboratories is higher than the average, and, therefore, there is an evidence that the use is high, while index 1 means that their number is below the average, and this could indicate that there can be a poorly targeted use of outpatient clinics and/or laboratories. Number 2, as usual, indicates an average use of outpatient clinics and/or laboratories as regards the units of the same area to which they belong.

F - Quality Area

From a strategic point of view, checking this aspect is fundamental, since it gives indications on the market positioning of the unit within the healthcare offer that is to say on the "reputation" (or "success") built through the quality of the service performed.

Quality indications can mix, obviously together with the other managerial and operating evaluations, proper and accurate corrective and/or improvement actions.

F1 - Commendations to personnel

Within the ambit of the Quality Area the indicator "Commendations to personnel" was selected as a proportion between the number of commendations praised on an unit, obtainable from the remarks that reached the offices in charge of the relations with the public, and the number of doctors operating in the unit itself.

If the proportion obtained is above the average of reports examined for all the units belonging to the same area, it can be presumed that, according to the user's opinion, the medical personnel is able to operate satisfactorily.

On the contrary, if the proportion mentioned above is below the average, it can be presumed that the users' satisfaction with the quality of healthcare performance is not highly satisfied. The value of the indicator therefore allows to report a critical situation or, at least, susceptible of improvement.

Similarly to what is reported above, the indicators are expressed by increasing values 1, 2, 3 from a condition below the average to one above it.

F2 - Claims against clinical activity

It provides indications about the organizational and procedural activities of an unit, through the assessment of claims against it.

The modus operandi for the assessment of the indicator is always the same. However in this case index 3 means that in the unit claims against doctors are lower than the average and index 1 that claims against doctors are above the average.

F3 - Litigation

It indicates the actions brought against the hospital by patients or by their families subsequently to derelictions of duty and/or malpractice by the healthcare personnel, to diagnostic and/or therapeutic errors, to negative outcome after health interventions, etc. In general, considering the fact that the litigation is presumably more significant where the concentration of activities is higher, this is another example in which the litigation is referred to the number of doctors of the unit.

Also in this event the values go from 1 to 3, where 1 means a relatively high number of legal actions, 2 an average situation and 3 a low number of legal actions.

G - Single Indicator

After having fixed the indicators concerning the six thematic areas, A B C D E F, in order to facilitate a first consideration on whether to carry out or not closer examinations of the most critical units, a single indicator has been fixed. This is able to provide a macro insight of how the single unit of a same area is placed compared to the others.

This gives an immediate indication on the opportunity to evaluate more deeply and more in detail the most critical units through the analysis of the thematic areas indicators.

The single indicator is obtained through the sum of the indicators assigned to every single unit and through the division of the sum by the number of the units of the same rea, this way the average value of the single indicator can be achieved. The examination of the unit positioning compared to such average will enable a quick assessment of the criticality status, acceptable standard and satisfactory situation.

As for the other indicators, the segment included between +/- 20% of the average value is considered as an average standard working situation.

To each thematic area examined has been given a different importance, variable from 1 to 3, in order to take into account the different importance given to them during the data analysis. In particular, importance 3 has been given to the operating area, 2 to Research and 1 to the remaining areas.

Discussion

The presented method is not limitless. First of all the health outcomes are not examined, but only their proxies [ 5]. Then the development of the analysis technology concerns only one part of the strategic planning process, which refers to the definition of objectives, their sharing with all the interested parties and their operationalization. This last step consists in transferring the hospital strategy to specific objectives for every single unit [ 1].

This work illustrates a proposal for a practical method aimed at allowing the strategic management of a complex hospital to have a sort of "Dashboard" able to provide it with an overview on the conditions of the duly aggregated units for the decision making process purpose.

The "Dashboar" takes into consideration the assessment of the activity conditions and of the units positioning, such units are aggregated by "areas", by means of a multidimensional approach fixed on six thematic areas: Strategic, Operating, Research, Economic, Organizational, Quality.

Such thematic areas can be given different scores from 0 to 1 depending on the importance attributed.

Each area is characterized by a set of three quantitative indicators, except the Strategic Area which consists of qualitative indicators, to which are given conventional scores equal to 1, 2, 3 depending on their positioning compared to the average value of the values obtained by the other units belonging to the same area.

On the basis of such data it is possible to obtain a total score for each unit, by means of which significant comparisons can be carried out among the different units.

The comparison makes possible the fast detection of points of strength, criticality or weakness, such information can be followed by possible accurate deep investigations.

The feasibility and completeness of the method are based on the availability and accessibility of data concerning the activities identified by each thematic area. Such data shall be periodically produced and validated in order to gather all information to use for the assessment of indicators. For a good use of this observation and control method employed for the managerial activity of the different units it is necessary that the data collection from the competent sources, and the management of the "Dashboard" are performed in an organized and systematic way.

This method was yet not implemented because the strategic management board of the hospital finished its agency and they were not renewed. The new named strategic management board is evaluating it.

On the other hand it is possible to adopt, where present, an automatic data processing by means of a simple application software able to process the basic data by extrapolating them directly from the software of the hospital information system.

The possibility to make decisions on the basis of the information obtained through the indicators helps to avoid the impulsive decisions which are often objectively unfounded [ 6].

Conclusions

The developed instrument should allow the Management to have an overall view on the conditions of the clinical units, by means of a group of significant indicators.

The priority principle in the development of this studied model is the one to use a limited number of indicators in order to allow their easy and immediate use, without requiring a high waste of time by the user for their evaluation. Those data which are necessary to constitute the indicator can be easily acquired from the routine data flows of an hospital.

The allocation of fixed resources (i.e. personnel, services, etc.) among the users/suppliers in competition with one another, from a managerial point of view it represents a challenge aimed at obtaining the best hospital performance in full obedience of the shared strategic objectives.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The study was supported by Gruppo Manager Tecnosalute: A. Abaldi, P.D. Alleva, R. Protto, P. Ronconi, P. Tassara, M. Vincenti.

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

References

1. Barasa EW, Molyneux S, English M, Clearly S. Setting healthcare priorities in hospitals: a review of empirical studies. Health Policy Plann. 2014;30(3):386-396. doi: 10.1093/heapol/czu010. Health Policy Plan 2015. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

2. CERGAS Bocconi, Rapporto OASI 2014.

3. Higginbotham EJ, Church KC. Strategic planning as a tool for achieving alignment in academic health centers. Trans Am Clin Climatol Assoc. 2012;123:292-303. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

4. Haijkowicz S. Cutting the cake: supporting environmental fund allocation decisions. J Environ Manage. 2009;90:2737-2745. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2009.03.002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

5. Sibbald SL, Gibson JL, Singer P, et al. Evaluating priority setting success in healthcare: a pilot study. BMC Health Serv Res. 2010;10:131-131. doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-10-131. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

6. Baker T, Baker P. Ethical criteria for allocating health-care resources. Lancet. 2009;373:1424-1425. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(09)60816-3. author reply 1425-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene are provided here courtesy of Pacini Editore

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Resource allocation criteria in a hospital

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Allocate fixed resources among competing users is a challenge in terms of hospital management in order to obtain the best performance considering strategic objectives. In order to address this need, a system of evaluation in an important research ...

# data[].attributes.headline
Is abortion medically necessary sometimes?

# data[].attributes.subject
Is abortion medically necessary sometimes?

# data[].attributes.body
A patient wants to abort a soon-to-be child for many reasons unknown. It could be the wrong timing for the mother or possibly could cause the mother health risk. How can the mother have a choice when society and places in the United States have banned such medical procedures?

Abortion has been an ethical dilemma for years, some people and groups believe it goes against their religion for such "a violent" procedure to happen. While others, use it as freedom of choice and rights of the mother who is the deciding factor of keeping the baby.

# data[].attributes.headline
How does AI affect the integrity of movies and tv and should its work be accepted for big time awards

# data[].attributes.subject
How does AI affect the integrity of movies and tv and should its work be accepted for big time awards

# data[].attributes.body
1. The debate that AI assisted films win big awards is a complex issue with no easy answer. The debate about the role of AI in filmmaking and the effort and definition of the artistic merit. Some argue that AI should be used as a tool to enhance filmmaking, while others talk about the concerns about its potential to ruin human creativity and artistic integrity.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
AI usage creating controversy in Best Picture-nominated films at the 2025 Oscars

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Several movies nominated for Best Picture are under fire this Oscars season for the usage of artificial intelligence in the films.

# data[].attributes.headline
The Ethics of Organ Transplant Allocation

# data[].attributes.subject
The Ethics of Organ Transplant Allocation

# data[].attributes.body
Organ transplants save lives, but there is a severe shortage of available organs. This raises ethical questions about who should receive priority when allocating organs. Should younger patients receive priority over older ones? Should a patient’s lifestyle choices (such as alcohol or drug use) impact their eligibility? Additionally, should wealthy individuals or celebrities have better access due to their ability to afford costly procedures or travel for transplants? These questions highlight the tension between fairness, medical urgency, and personal responsibility in healthcare decision-making.

Source:

# data[].attributes.headline
Environmentally sustainable medical practices VS. Sanitation

# data[].attributes.subject
Environmentally sustainable medical practices VS. Sanitation

# data[].attributes.body
Healthcare is a giant contributor to environmental pollution and energy consumption - and satisfying the needs of our healthcare system is worth damaging our environment and our future health.

A hospital requires a sterile environment consisting of single-use materials covered in single-use plastic. Is it worth risking exposure to bacteria and diseases by offering more reusable healthcare innovations? On top of physical items, the healthcare industry has some of the highest energy consumption. But again, is it worth risking a patient's best possible health to reduce the use of energy in a hospital?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Towards Green and Sustainable Healthcare: A Literature Review and Research Agenda for Green Leadership in the Healthcare Sector

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The health sector is one of the keys to sustainable development. Although it is directly related to only one Sustainable Development Goal (Goal 3, “Ensuring a healthy life and promoting well-being at all ages”), the sector itself, which aims to…

# data[].attributes.headline
Making Decisions When Professional vs Personal Values 

# data[].attributes.subject
Making Decisions When Professional vs Personal Values 

# data[].attributes.body
Patients have the right to make informed decisions about their healthcare, even if those choices conflict with the provider’s personal beliefs. Medical professionals must respect these decisions and provide necessary information for informed consent.

For example, consider a physician who personally opposes abortion due to religious beliefs but works in a hospital where a patient requests an abortion for a medically necessary reason. The physician must decide whether to refer the patient to another provider or risk compromising the patient’s care.

Healthcare professionals have an ethical obligation to provide evidence-based care and ensure that personal biases do not interfere with patient treatment. They must act in the best interest of their patients, regardless of personal values. In some cases, medical professionals may refuse to perform certain procedures due to moral or religious objections. However, they are still responsible for ensuring that the patient receives care by referring them to another qualified provider in a timely manner.

# data[].attributes.headline
Being honest vs. withholding information

# data[].attributes.subject
Being honest vs. withholding information

# data[].attributes.body
Patients withholding information from getting treated can result in worse symptoms & dishonesty. However, it has a certain amount of protection over undocumented and very personal (dealing with identity) struggles.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Common Examples of Ethical Dilemmas in Nursing — Pacific College

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn everything you need about nurses’ ethical awareness, ethical dilemmas in nursing, how one should deal with them, and the consequences of avoiding ethical issues.

# data[].attributes.headline
Ethical Dilemma and Conventionalism in Healthcare : As scoping review.  

# data[].attributes.subject
Ethical Dilemma and Conventionalism in Healthcare : As scoping review.  

# data[].attributes.body
This review aims to evaluate the current ethical dilemmas faced by healthcare practitioners, especially in dentistry, and analyze how conventionalism with ethical norms influences these challenges. By exploring the balance between evolving healthcare practices and establishing ethical principles., the review aims to to provide insight into the ongoing ethical discussions and dilemmas within the field.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
✉
Dhruv Ahuja dhruvahuja96gmail.com ✉Corresponding author.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Ethical Dilemmas and Conventionalism in Healthcare: A Scoping Review

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This review aims to evaluate the current ethical dilemmas faced by healthcare practitioners, especially in dentistry, and analyze how conventionalism with ethical norms influences these challenges. By exploring the balance between evolving…

# data[].attributes.headline
Ethical dilemma: The idea of creating the "Perfect child"

# data[].attributes.subject
Ethical dilemma: The idea of creating the "Perfect child"

# data[].attributes.body
Technology is advancing now that it can be used in the field of genetics, These technology's can alter DNA and detect risks. This can form a lot of opinions on choosing fetuses during pregnancy and creating a perfect child. The ethical dilemma is Creating the perfect child disturbing or not.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The human genome project is very useful, but presents difficult political, social, and cultural issues for society to deal with. A living organism is one of the hardest things to study. Its DNA is always duplicating within its cells and can mutate at any moment. The knowledge of how these strands of DNA work is not necessarily a good thing to know. Some have the capability of

# data[].attributes.body
Making the decision to continue treating a patient or focus on their comfort is known as end-of-life care. Physicians provide compassionate, respectful assistance to patients and their families in making these crucial decisions.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
End-of-life care presents a multitude of ethical dilemmas for healthcare professionals, as they navigate through complex decisions that can profoundly impact the quality of life and dignity of their patients. These dilemmas often arise when a patient’s medical condition becomes terminal, and decisio

# data[].attributes.headline
Ethics of Deep Faking and the spreading of misinformation

# data[].attributes.subject
Ethics of Deep Faking and the spreading of misinformation

# data[].attributes.body
The recent elections showed the immense potential for and consequences of misinformation. This is boosted by the drastic growth in the usage of deepfake technology and websites that spread unverified news.

The creation and distribution of deepfakes bypass the fundamental ethical principle of respect for another individual’s autonomy when they are created without obtaining the person’s consent. By co-opting an individual's likeness, deepfakes can also infringe on rights to privacy and lead to damaging misrepresentations. Without ethical guidelines, such as those outlined below, the societal impact of deepfakes could profoundly erode the fabric of trust that underpins our understanding of truth and reality.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Navigating the Mirage: Ethical, Transparency, and Regulatory Challenges in the Age of Deepfakes

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Deepfakes are still relatively new, which makes now the perfect time to inject ethical guidelines, transparency measures, and proactive governance.

# data[].attributes.body
While the opportunity of data science to drive innovation is proven clear, creating a balance between innovation and ethical considerations is important. This balance involves adopting a responsible and proactive approach to data privacy, security, bias, fairness, transparency, explainability, accountability, and governance.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Ethical Dilemmas of Data Science: Balancing Privacy and Innovation | Covelent Insights

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Data science has revolutionised how we make decisions, solve problems, and innovate, but there are ethical concerns that require careful consideration. These include privacy, data security, bias, fairness, transparency, explainability, accountability, and governance. Data scientists must create interpretable models and provide clear documentation to foster trust and accountability, while also balancing innovation and ethics. Ethical data science practices should be implemented to ensure the benefits of innovation are not overshadowed by unintended consequences. Organisations and practitioners should promote data privacy by design, bias detection and mitigation, transparency and explainability, accountability and governance structures, and a culture of ethical responsibility.

# data[].attributes.body
Cyber Warfare- what international regulations should be put into place to keep cyber warfare ethical? What would be considered to be ethical use of Cyber Warfare? Should these regulations be based on the same foundations of existing warfare conventions?

Cyber Attacks are becoming more common with the most recent attack between states being the attacks launched against Ukraine's military forces and accredited to the UNC1151, a Belarus military unit, ahead of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Cyber-attacks are neither victimless nor harmless and can lead to unwanted, disproportionate damage which can have serious negative consequences for individuals and for our societies at large. For this reason, we need adequate regulations to inform state use of these attacks.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Cyberwarfare Conundrum: An Ethical Analysis - Viterbi Conversations in Ethics

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Traditional armed conflict is subject to conventions that govern the way wars are fought and protect those who are not involved. However, thus far, there are no equivalents to the Hague and Geneva Conventions of war for the cyber world, where artillery and explosives are replaced by viruses and malware. Therefore, this paper argues that it is imperative to establish international regulations to keep cyberwarfare ethical, based on the foundations provided by existing warfare conventions.

# data[].attributes.body
The cost of creating a building is not only extremely important, but also the safety of people. This creates a problem of maintaining the budget for a building, and figuring out how to make the building stable enough so that it is safe to be in it. The most important part of engineering is keeping the people safe. Prioritizing the safety of humans is far more important than just saving money, this is because people make money, and the money goes to the funds for building these infrastructures. with less funds, our buildings would have less budget, leading to us being in harms way.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Ethical considerations can play a pivotal role in guiding professionals through decision-making processes both inside and outside of their careers. Engineers are not only responsible for creating innovative solutions but also for ensuring the safety, sustainability, and welfare of society.

# data[].attributes.body
self driving cars raise ethical issues, especially when they have to make life or death decisions in emergencies. a key question is whether the car should protect its passengers or pedestrians if an accident is unavoidable. for example, should the car swerve to hit a pedestrian to save the people inside? there are also challenges in deciding who is responsible if an accident happens, whether it's the car maker, software developers, or the passenger. these issues are complicated by different cultural views on what is the right choice in these situations.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The ethical dilemma of self-driving cars - Patrick Lin

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Self-driving cars are already cruising the streets today. And while these cars will ultimately be safer and cleaner than their manual counterparts, they can’t completely avoid accidents altogether. How should the car be programmed if it encounters an unavoidable accident? Patrick Lin navigates the murky ethics of self-driving cars.

# data[].attributes.body
Is it ethical to use robots and/or artificial intelligence in medical care, such as providing assistance to hospital patients or when performing surgical procedures? The use of things like AI and robot arms during surgeries has the potential to increase the accuracy and effectiveness of those procedures but also introduces potential risks due to tech malfunctions and the volatility of AI. Do the risks outweigh the potential rewards? Should AI powered robot assistants be used to provide physical and emotional support to hospital patients in place of medical staff? Are machines even capable of giving the emotional care we expect from human care givers? Would there be negative impacts from increasing the distance between patients and human professionals? If these technologies do become commonplace in the medical field due to technological advances, who should decide how to regulate them?

# data[].attributes.headline
ethics of making videos for video classes 

# data[].attributes.subject
ethics of making videos for video classes 

# data[].attributes.body
In order to make some videos they first need to respect the fact of the video their making and who/what they are making the video of.

People would like to know the truth in the videos of what they film. Honesty is the truth in videos and people watch videos so they want the utmost honesty. Another is to treat people with respect and to keep their private business outside the video and/or the things they did not consent to. And finally video production artist have to avoid to not try to copyright anything and make their own film.

source:https://www.venturevideos.com/insight/navigating-the-ethics-of-video-production

# data[].attributes.headline
Empirical knowledge vs. religious beliefs

# data[].attributes.subject
Empirical knowledge vs. religious beliefs

# data[].attributes.body
Jehova's Witnesses are known in the medical field as people who refuse whole blood transfusions as well as their four key components. Key ethical principles to consider are patient autonomy, beneficence, and non-maleficence. How should healthcare professionals balance patient autonomy with the duty to preserve life when caring for a Jehova's Witness?

# data[].attributes.headline
Ethical Issues and Challenges in Social Media

# data[].attributes.subject
Ethical Issues and Challenges in Social Media

# data[].attributes.body
The Social Media platforms have interfered with how people communicate and interact with one another. Social Media is also a place where much false information can be spread around, so it causes ethical problems when taking action to solve certain issues.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Ethical Issues and Challenges in Social Media: A Current Scenario | Abstract

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Ethical Issues and Challenges in Social Media: A Current Scenario. Research & Reviews is a scientific organization that drives the progress of research through open access journals.

# data[].attributes.headline
How does AI impact media & information on the internet? (david v)

# data[].attributes.subject
How does AI impact media & information on the internet? (david v)

# data[].attributes.body
vOver the course of many many years, technology has advanced significantly to the point where AI has been a tool used by everyone. Ever since, AI has been used by almost everyone, this allowed people to create fake information in videos and news. Having fake news & information ....