Consensus-based ethical best practices for performing educational point-of-care ultrasonography in the emergency department.
Samantha K ChaoYiju T LiuCharles W KropfRobert D HuangNik TheyyunniLindsay A TaylorJanice I FirnRoss KesslerDaniel R MichellerAlethia J BattlesNatalja P RosculetEmily E AgerAlyssa A ValentyneChristine J SchellackJohn P HennessyCameron WhiteRyan V TuckerPublished in: AEM education and training (2024)
Based on expert consensus, ethical best practices include obtaining informed consent before performing educational POCUS, allowing patients to decline educational POCUS, informing patients the examination is not intended to be a part of their medical evaluation and is not billed, using appropriate draping techniques, maintaining a professional environment, and disclosing incidental findings in coordination with the primary team caring for the patient. These practices could be implemented at institutions to encourage ethical use of educational POCUS when training physicians, fellows, residents, and medical students.