Table 3 Frequency and relevance of ethical conflicts. Data: average (order in the country’s sample)
Ethical conflict | Frequency | Relevance | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spain | Argentina | México | Spain | Argentina | México | |
Withholding and withdrawing care | 3.84 (1st) | 3.87 (1st) | 3.3 (2nd) | 3.69 (1st) | 4.09 (1st) | 4.10 (6th) |
Palliative care | 3.75 (2nd) | 3.70 (2nd) | 3.06 (8th) | 3.31 (5th) | 3.93 (3rd) | 4.18 (3rd) |
DNR orders | 3.33 (3rd) | 3.65 (3rd) | 3.20 (4th) | 3.26 (7th) | 3.89 (5th) | 4.08 (7th) |
Conflicts with patient’s loved ones | 3.11 (4th) | 3.06 (9th) | 3.13 (6th) | 3.36 (3rd) | 3.54 (8th) | 3.92 (10th) |
Decision making in incapable patients | 3.06 (5th) | 2.85 (10th) | 2.90 (10th) | 3.36 (4th) | 3.49 (10th) | 4.03 (8th) |
Patient-Physician communication | 3.05 (6th) | 3.60 (4th) | 3.61 (1st) | 3.17 (8th) | 3.93 (4th) | 4.47 (1st) |
Evaluation of capacity | 2.76 (7th) | 3.09 (7th) | 3.07 (7th) | 3.49 (2nd) | 3.40 (11th) | 4.15 (5th) |
Confidentiality and privacy | 2.59 (8th) | 3.28 (6th) | 3.26 (3rd) | 2.91 (11th) | 3.86 (6th) | 4.38 (2nd) |
Rejection of procedures | 2.57 (9th) | 3.38 (5th) | 3.02 (9th) | 3.27 (6th) | 3.5 (9th) | 3.99 (9th) |
Informed consent | 2.37 (10th) | 3.08 (8th) | 3.20 (5th) | 2.71 (12th) | 3.66 (7th) | 4.17 (4th) |
Conflicts with other professional groups | 2.20 (11th) | 2.63 (11th) | 2.60 (12th) | 2.65 (13th) | 3.15 (16th) | 3.25 (16th) |
Conflicts with colleagues | 1.85 (12th) | 2.16 (15th) | 2.22 (17th) | 2.60 (14th) | 3.01 (17th) | 3.24 (17th) |
Resource allocation | 1.78 (13th) | 2.49 (12th) | 2.38 (13th) | 2.54 (15th) | 3.28 (15th) | 3.44 (15th) |
Conflicts with cultural values | 1.62 (14th) | 2.14 (16th) | 2.77 (11th) | 2.42 (16th) | 3.29 (14th) | 3.81 (13th) |
Advance directives or living will | 1.56 (15th) | 2.12 (18th) | 2.32 (14th) | 2.94 (10th) | 3.40 (12th) | 3.82 (12th) |
Conflicts of interest with third parties | 1.51 (16th) | 2.12 (17th) | 1.74 (19th) | 2.21 (18th) | 2.65 (18th) | 2.66 (18th) |
Favorable treatment of certain patients | 1.34 (17th) | 1.49 (19th) | 1.95 (18th) | 1.97 (19th) | 2.11 (19th) | 2.18 (19th) |
Patient mistreatment | 1.27 (18th) | 2.47 (13th) | 2.22 (16th) | 3.12 (9th) | 3.99 (2nd) | 3.91 (11th) |
Vital risk to physicians | 1.06 (19th) | 2.25 (14th) | 2.23 (15th) | 2.39 (17th) | 3.37 (13th) | 3.75 (14th) |
Total Average | 2.35 | 2.81 | 2.75 | 2.91 | 3.45 | 3.76 |