Many of the challenges faced by physicians and other health professionals do not result from the "difficult diagnosis," or the choice of management approach; rather, they flow from issues of ethics:

� Does the patient have decision-making capacity?
If not, who is the appropriate surrogate decision-maker?
� How should the physician proceed when the request to "do everything" may entail care that is medically inappropriate?
� What ethical considerations surround resuscitative attempts?
� How should the physician approach discussions about end-of-life care?
� What is the role of "preventive ethics" in patient care?
� What ethical responsibilites do investigators and their staffs have in the conduct of research?
� What techniques may be employed to analyze and resolve ethical challenges?

This Department of The Cyber Medical College addresses these topics and more.

(The Medical Ethics Department is under active development.)