Baylor College of Medicine Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy

06/02/2026

As human space exploration advances, so do the ethical questions surrounding research participation beyond Earth.

In a new publication, Dr. Vasiliki Rahimzadeh and colleagues explore the unique challenges of obtaining informed consent during space missions, where isolation, risk, and operational constraints may complicate traditional research ethics frameworks.

📖 Read the publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/bioe.70088

While informed consent is widely recognized as a cornerstone of ethical research with human participants, applying this principle to space exploration research creates some unique challenges and dile...

05/26/2026

Hemorrhoids affect millions of people, yet patients often face confusion, misinformation, and uncertainty about treatment options.

In our newest blog, Dr. Waqar Qureshi explores the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA)’s first expert review on hemorrhoids and highlights key recommendations for diagnosis, management, and patient care.

The piece also examines how clearer clinical guidance can help improve communication and decision-making between patients and providers.

📖 Read the full blog:
https://blogs.bcm.edu/2026/05/22/your-hemorrhoid-playbook-the-agas-first-expert-review/

A closer look at the first guideline for how to diagnose and treat hemorrhoids.

05/21/2026

Congratulations to the 2026 Medical Ethics and Health Policy Pathways graduates! 🎓

Today we celebrated the hard work, dedication, and passion of this incredible group during the Pathways Reception and Certificate Ceremony. Wishing all of our graduates continued success as they move forward in medicine, ethics, health policy, and beyond. Thank you to the faculty, mentors, families, and friends who helped support them along the way!

05/20/2026

Endometriosis affects millions of people, yet diagnosis is frequently delayed and patients are often redirected between providers without clear answers.

In a new publication, Center faculty, staff and former trainees explore the concept of “diagnostic buck-passing” in endometriosis care and the structural and clinical barriers that contribute to these experiences.

📖 Read the publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1467-9566.70142

People living with endometriosis, a disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows elsewhere in the body, often experience prolonged diagnostic journeys because of symptom variabil...

05/18/2026

AI medical devices are changing health care, but children are often left out of the conversation.

In our newest blog, Dr. R. Brandon Hunter, Dr. Kolaleh Eskandanian and Dr. Chester J. Koh examine the growing gap in pediatric AI medical devices and the ethical, regulatory, and clinical challenges that come with adapting technologies designed primarily for adults.

Their piece explores why pediatric-specific considerations matter and what is needed to ensure children benefit safely and effectively from advances in AI-driven care.

📖 Read the full blog:
https://blogs.bcm.edu/2026/05/15/beyond-the-label-closing-the-gap-in-ai-medical-devices-for-children/

What do we do about a system where the applicability and safety profile of AI devices for pediatric care are unknown

05/15/2026

Center faculty and staff published the peer commentary “Pregnancy Exceptionalism in End-of-Life Care: Ethical Challenges and the Need for Updated Guidance” in The American Journal of Bioethics.

Read the publication:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15265161.2025.2601692

Published in The American Journal of Bioethics (Vol. 26, No. 1, 2026)

05/14/2026

Center faculty, scholars and former RAs published the article “Reported Safety Practices of Publicly Advertised Psychedelic Retreats” in JAMA Network Open. The publication was also featured in the STAT News newsletter.

Read the publication:
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2843513

This qualitative study describes safety precautions reported by representatives of publicly advertised psychedelic retreat organizations.

05/12/2026

Center faculty, staff and collaborators published the article “Stakeholder Perspectives on Humanistic Implementation of Computer Perception in Health Care: Qualitative Study” in Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) Mental Health.

Read the publication:
https://mental.jmir.org/2026/1/e79182

Background: Computer perception (CP) technologies—including digital phenotyping, affective computing, and related passive sensing approaches—offer unprecedented opportunities to personalize health care, especially mental health care, yet they also provoke concerns about privacy, bias, and the er...

05/11/2026

Center Director Dr. Amy McGuire was quoted in the article “The Double-Edged Code: The Promise and Peril of Personal Genomics,” published by Inside Precision Medicine.

Read the article: https://www.insideprecisionmedicine.com/topics/precision-medicine/the-double-edged-code-the-promise-and-peril-of-personal-genomics/

The final installment in my personal genomics series discusses the economic, regulatory, and psychological impact of accessible genomic testing.

05/08/2026

Clinical Research Associate Bronwyn Danielle Walsh and Professor Vaso Rahimzadeh collaborated on the paper “When ‘More Isn’t More’: The Normative and Practical Case for Improving Genetic Data Infrastructure,” published in The American Journal of Bioethics.

Read the publication here:

Published in The American Journal of Bioethics (Vol. 25, No. 12, 2025)