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. 2023 Dec;26(4):507-515.
doi: 10.1007/s11019-023-10163-x. Epub 2023 Aug 16.

"Green informed consent" in the classroom, clinic, and consultation room

Cristina Richie  1
Affiliations

"Green informed consent" in the classroom, clinic, and consultation room

Cristina Richie. Med Health Care Philos. 2023 Dec.

Abstract

The carbon emissions of global health care activities make up 4-5% of total world emissions, placing it on par with the food sector. Carbon emissions are particularly relevant for health care because of climate change health hazards. Doctors and health care professionals must connect their health care delivery with carbon emissions and minimize resource use when possible as a part of their obligation to do no harm. Given that reducing carbon is a global ethical priority, the informed consent process in health care delivery must change. I argue that the expanded role of bioethicists in this climate crisis is to promote and support "green informed consent:" the sharing of climate information with patients, offering options for lower-carbon health care, and accepting the patient's right to decline treatments which are deemed too carbon intensive for their values.

Keywords: Environmental bioethics; Green informed consent; Health care ethics; Medical education; Professionalism.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript. The author has no competing interests to declare that are relevant to the content of this article.

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