Journal-based CME Course: When Should Surgical Human Subject Research Involve Patients Who Are Incarcerated?

Activity ID

14326

Expires

April 1, 2028

Format Type

Journal-based

CME Credit

Fee

CME Provider: AMA Journal of Ethics

Description of CME Course

Surgical research involving patients who are incarcerated is fraught with ethical, logistical, and practical questions. This article first considers important moments in the history of research with people who are incarcerated and suggests how they have contributed to evolution in human subject research ethics and regulation. This article also examines the problem of limited data about surgical disease burden and describes barriers to enrolling individuals who are incarcerated in surgical clinical trials, including study exclusion criteria and clinician-investigator bias. Finally, this article recommends strategies for balancing human research subject protections with the need for equitable enrollment in surgical clinical trials, especially later-phase trials in which benefit is more likely than in early-phase trials.

Disclaimers

1. This activity is accredited by the American Medical Association.
2. This activity is free to AMA members.

ABMS Member Board Approvals by Type

ABMS Lifelong Learning CME Activity

Allergy and Immunology

Anesthesiology

Colon and Rectal Surgery

Family Medicine

Medical Genetics and Genomics

Nuclear Medicine

Ophthalmology

Pathology

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Plastic Surgery

Preventive Medicine

Psychiatry and Neurology

Radiology

Thoracic Surgery

Urology

More Information

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NOTE: If a Member Board has not deemed this activity for MOC approval as an accredited CME activity, this activity may count toward an ABMS Member Board’s general CME requirement. Please refer directly to your Member Board’s MOC Part II Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment Program Requirements.

General Information on CME Activity

Educational Objectives

1. Explain a new or unfamiliar viewpoint on a topic of ethical or professional conduct
2. Evaluate the usefulness of this information for health care practice, teaching, or conduct
3. Decide whether and when to apply the new information to health care practice, teaching, or conduct

Keywords

Ethics, Health Inequities, Patient Care, Research, Methods, Statistics, Surgery

Competencies

Medical Knowledge, Professionalism

CME Credit Type

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit

DOI

10.1001/amajethics.2025.283