MWHC BCU Ethics Lecture Series Webinar | Ethical Issues When Using Innovative/Experimental Therapeutic Approaches in the Context of an Emerging Infectious Disease

Tuesday, September 30, 2025, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM, virtual


This lecture will review common ethical issues that arise when seeking to treat patients with innovative / experimental interventions in the context of an emerging infectious disease. These issues will be linked to published guidelines, where these exist. When a serious infectious disease emerges and is not readily treatable, a host of questions can arise about what sort of interventions may be tried. Patients may be given supportive care only, on the grounds that there is no other evidence-based treatment to provide. Alternatively, some may argue that supportive care only is inappropriate and that patients should be provided some, or many, interventions in the hopes that one will prove effective. Others may agree that all patients should be provided with experimental treatment(s) but believe that these interventions must be given and monitored in the context of research protocols, so that their risks and benefits can be understood as soon as possible, for the benefit of other patients. Such core disagreements become even more fraught if: patients (and/or families) are vocal in demanding interventions (or even specific interventions); patients are incapacitated; and there is no policy or person with jurisdiction over the whole entity (e.g., hospital, aid service, department of health, etc.), leaving decisions to be made on a one-by-one basis.

1. Identify common ethical issues that arise when seeking to treat patients with innovative / experimental interventions in the context of an emerging infectious disease.
2. Provide examples of these ethical issues and demonstrate how contextual factors (e.g., patient incapacitation, lack of policy, patient or surrogate demands) can add complexity.
3. Outline key points from relevant published guidelines.

This conference is COMPLIMENTARY to all attendees, however, you must register to attend. For registration inquiries, please contact Craig DeAtley, PA-C, 202-257-4714 or the BCU program office, 202-877-9232.

Grant support for this activity is provided by the Health & Human Services ASPR VCU Program.

Attention Physician Learners: To ensure accurate CME credit data reporting to state licensing boards, click on My CE >Profile to review and update your profile with the following details: your full name, state of licensure, state license number, and your birth month and day. You must check the box at the bottom of the profile screen to grant permission for us to report your completion data to ACCME and state licensing boards. Questions? Email [email protected]

In support of improving patient care, MedStar Health 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.

Credit Designation

This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 1.00 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.

 Physicians: MedStar Health designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

Nurses: This activity is approved for 1.00 ANCC contact hours. Nurses should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Physician Assistants: 
MedStar Health has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 1.00 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ Physician (1.00 hours), IPCE (1.00 hours), Non-Physician Member of the Healthcare Team (1.00 hours), Nurse - ANCC (1.00 hours), Physician Assistant - AAPA (1.00 hours)

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

MedStar Health adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education.

Individuals in a position to control the content of this CE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others are required to disclose all financial relationships with ineligible companies. An ineligible company is any entity whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. All of the relevant financial relationships listed below have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.

The following Planning Committee members have reported no relevant financial relationships:Craig Deatley, PA-C | Shane Kappler, MD | Bethany Little, BSN

Speaker Alison Bateman-House, MPH, PhD reported the following relevant financial relationships: Grant Support – Johnson & Johnson; Pfizer | Consulting Fee - Biogen

All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.

Tuesday, September 30, 2025