Ethical Issues When Caring for Patients with Substance Use Disorder
It is well established that the care of individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) can be a source of work-related stress for clinicians. This presentation will define types of SUD and identify disparities and inequity in treatment. Clinicians must balance principles of beneficence, or preventing harm, with fidelity, which requires fairness, truthfulness, and advocacy. This can be a challenge for clinicians who are in positions where there is a mandatory requirement to report substance use. In these situations, clinicians must be compassionate, truthful, forthcoming and transparent when communicating obligations with patients to maintain trust in the patient-provider relationship. This discussion will provide recommendations for compassionate care including care for pregnant women with SUD including education on mental health, SUD, interpersonal violence, and treatment options. As patient advocates, clinicians can be a strong voice for individuals with substance use disorder.
Target Audience
ISD Clinical Staff
Learning Objectives
RN / SW Learning Objectives:
1. Describe physical challenges individuals with substance use disorder face, including when patients are pregnant and the clinical impacts for their infants
2. Analyze a clinician’s ethical obligations to deliver compassionate and transparent care
3. Identify specific recommendations for treatment that benefit people with SUD
Pharmacy Learning Objectives:
1. Discuss the impact of SDOH on SUD patients and subsequent skills clinicians can utilize to recognize and improve outcomes
2. Examine the impact of clinician’s personal knowledge, motivation, and emotions when managing patients with SUD, as well as their ability to create and achieve shared goals with the patient
Program begins at 10:00am and ends at 11:00am. Total Education Time = 1 Hour(s) | ||
TIME | CONTENT | PRESENTER |
10:00-10:20am | Describe physical challenges individuals with substance use disorder face, including pregnant women and the clinical impacts for their infants. | Liz Stokes, PhD, JD RN |
10:20-10:40am | Analyze a health care providers ethical obligations to deliver compassionate and transparent care. | Liz Stokes, PhD, JD RN |
10:40-11:00am | Identify specific recommendations for treatment that benefit individuals with SUD and their infants. | Liz Stokes, PhD, JD RN |
Liz Stokes, PhD, JD RN
Dr. Liz Stokes is the Director of the American Nurses Association Center for Ethics and Human Rights and worked several years as a critical care nurse focusing on end-of-life care issues. She received her Juris Doctor from the University of Richmond and worked as a Discipline Consultant for the District of Columbia Board of Nursing interpreting and conferring professional ethical provisions in nursing. Her passion for research has led to a PhD in Nursing Ethics from Duquesne University where she studied limited resuscitation efforts and end-of-life conflict. Liz’s additional research and areas of interest include medical aid-in-dying, artificial intelligence, intellectual disabilities, and women's reproductive health.
In support of improving patient care, the University of Pittsburgh is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
CCM CE will be provided: 1 CE - CCM COA will be sent via email from UPMC Health Plan nurse planner approximately 6-8 weeks following the live date of the course.
This activity is eligible for endorsed credit for UPMC Health Plan EMTs and Paramedics. Complete ETHOS course work, obtain the attendance certificate, and submit to EMS governing body for 1 CE credit(s).
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, University of Pittsburgh is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. University of Pittsburgh maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 1 continuing education credit(s).
Other health care professionals will receive a certificate of attendance confirming the number of contact hours commensurate with the extent of participation in this activity.
NOTE: Paramedic/EMT CE is approved for any activity in which ANCC (nursing CE) is approved. This is per Heather Bogdon and Christie Hempfling
Available Credit
- 1.00 ACPE PharmacyThe UPMC Center for Continuing Education in the Health Sciences is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a Provider of continuing pharmacy education.
- 1.00 ANCCUPMC Provider Unit is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation
- 1.00 ASWB
- 1.00 Attendance