Research Ethics & Policy Series (REPS): "Ethical Considerations in Palliative Care Trials and the Impact of a Pragmatic Paradigm" - Katherine Courtright, MD, MSHP

12:00pm - 1:00pm • Hybrid: 8-031, 3600 Civic Ctr Blvd (and virtual via Zoom)

2026-05-12 12:00:00 2026-05-12 13:00:00 America/New_York Research Ethics & Policy Series (REPS): "Ethical Considerations in Palliative Care Trials and the Impact of a Pragmatic Paradigm" - Katherine Courtright, MD, MSHP Ethical Considerations in Palliative Care Trials and the Impact of a Pragmatic Paradigm Katherine Courtright, MD, MSHP Assistant Professor of Medicine Director of Palliative Care Research in the Department of Medicine Core Faculty, PAIR Center University of Pennsylvania Common challenges in research ethics can be heightened in palliative and end-of-life care clinical trials due to the real or perceived higher stakes when working with seriously ill populations. While some inroads have been made to navigate these challenges and the evidence base for palliative care is steadily increasing, there remains substantial heterogeneity in the interpretation and application of standard research ethics and regulatory frameworks in palliative and serious illness trials across health systems, institutional review boards, and data and safety monitoring boards. Pragmatic clinical trials, which often employ cluster randomization, EHR-based outcomes, and alternative consent models, address some of these challenges but also introduce new ethical terrain. This presentation examines how pragmatic designs reshape core ethical dilemmas with a focus on informed consent, gatekeeping, and attrition. It also highlights related areas of uncertainty in pragmatic trial design and oversight, including the blurred boundary between quality improvement and research, defining the research subject(s), and equity implications. Be prepared for more questions than answers! Registration required; Lunch provided Streaming available via Zoom. Hybrid: 8-031, 3600 Civic Ctr Blvd (and virtual via Zoom) Penn Medical Ethics

Common challenges in research ethics can be heightened in palliative and end-of-life care clinical trials due to the real or perceived higher stakes when working with seriously ill populations. While some inroads have been made to navigate these challenges and the evidence base for palliative care is steadily increasing, there remains substantial heterogeneity in the interpretation and application of standard research ethics and regulatory frameworks in palliative and serious illness trials across health systems, institutional review boards, and data and safety monitoring boards. Pragmatic clinical trials, which often employ cluster randomization, EHR-based outcomes, and alternative consent models, address some of these challenges but also introduce new ethical terrain.

This presentation examines how pragmatic designs reshape core ethical dilemmas with a focus on informed consent, gatekeeping, and attrition. It also highlights related areas of uncertainty in pragmatic trial design and oversight, including the blurred boundary between quality improvement and research, defining the research subject(s), and equity implications. Be prepared for more questions than answers!