medical research debate topics

77 interesting medical research topics for 2024

Last updated

25 November 2023

Reviewed by

Brittany Ferri, PhD, OTR/L

Medical research is the gateway to improved patient care and expanding our available treatment options. However, finding a relevant and compelling research topic can be challenging.

Use this article as a jumping-off point to select an interesting medical research topic for your next paper or clinical study.

How to choose a medical research topic

When choosing a research topic , it’s essential to consider a couple of things. What topics interest you? What unanswered questions do you want to address?

During the decision-making and brainstorming process, here are a few helpful tips to help you pick the right medical research topic:

Focus on a particular field of study

The best medical research is specific to a particular area. Generalized studies are often too broad to produce meaningful results, so we advise picking a specific niche early in the process.

Maybe a certain topic interests you, or your industry knowledge reveals areas of need.

Look into commonly researched topics

Once you’ve chosen your research field, do some preliminary research. What have other academics done in their papers and projects?

From this list, you can focus on specific topics that interest you without accidentally creating a copycat project. This groundwork will also help you uncover any literature gaps—those may be beneficial areas for research.

Get curious and ask questions

Now you can get curious. Ask questions that start with why, how, or what. These questions are the starting point of your project design and will act as your guiding light throughout the process.

For example:

What impact does pollution have on children’s lung function in inner-city neighborhoods?

Why is pollution-based asthma on the rise?

How can we address pollution-induced asthma in young children?

77 medical research topics worth exploring in 2023

Need some research inspiration for your upcoming paper or clinical study? We’ve compiled a list of 77 topical and in-demand medical research ideas. Let’s take a look.

Exciting new medical research topics

If you want to study cutting-edge topics, here are some exciting options:

COVID-19 and long COVID symptoms

Since 2020, COVID-19 has been a hot-button topic in medicine, along with the long-term symptoms in those with a history of COVID-19.

Examples of COVID-19-related research topics worth exploring include:

The long-term impact of COVID-19 on cardiac and respiratory health

COVID-19 vaccination rates

The evolution of COVID-19 symptoms over time

New variants and strains of the COVID-19 virus

Changes in social behavior and public health regulations amid COVID-19

Vaccinations

Finding ways to cure or reduce the disease burden of chronic infectious diseases is a crucial research area. Vaccination is a powerful option and a great topic to research.

Examples of vaccination-related research topics include:

mRNA vaccines for viral infections

Biomaterial vaccination capabilities

Vaccination rates based on location, ethnicity, or age

Public opinion about vaccination safety

Artificial tissues fabrication

With the need for donor organs increasing, finding ways to fabricate artificial bioactive tissues (and possibly organs) is a popular research area.

Examples of artificial tissue-related research topics you can study include:

The viability of artificially printed tissues

Tissue substrate and building block material studies

The ethics and efficacy of artificial tissue creation

Medical research topics for medical students

For many medical students, research is a big driver for entering healthcare. If you’re a medical student looking for a research topic, here are some great ideas to work from:

Sleep disorders

Poor sleep quality is a growing problem, and it can significantly impact a person’s overall health.

Examples of sleep disorder-related research topics include:

How stress affects sleep quality

The prevalence and impact of insomnia on patients with mental health conditions

Possible triggers for sleep disorder development

The impact of poor sleep quality on psychological and physical health

How melatonin supplements impact sleep quality

Alzheimer’s and dementia

Cognitive conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are on the rise worldwide. They currently have no cure. As a result, research about these topics is in high demand.

Examples of dementia-related research topics you could explore include:

The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in a chosen population

Early onset symptoms of dementia

Possible triggers or causes of cognitive decline with age

Treatment options for dementia-like conditions

The mental and physical burden of caregiving for patients with dementia

Lifestyle habits and public health

Modern lifestyles have profoundly impacted the average person’s daily habits, and plenty of interesting topics explore its effects.

Examples of lifestyle and public health-related research topics include:

The nutritional intake of college students

The impact of chronic work stress on overall health

The rise of upper back and neck pain from laptop use

Prevalence and cause of repetitive strain injuries (RSI)

Controversial medical research paper topics

Medical research is a hotbed of controversial topics, content, and areas of study.

If you want to explore a more niche (and attention-grabbing) concept, here are some controversial medical research topics worth looking into:

The benefits and risks of medical cannabis

Depending on where you live, the legalization and use of cannabis for medical conditions is controversial for the general public and healthcare providers.

Examples of medical cannabis-related research topics that might grab your attention include:

The legalization process of medical cannabis

The impact of cannabis use on developmental milestones in youth users

Cannabis and mental health diagnoses

CBD’s impact on chronic pain

Prevalence of cannabis use in young people

The impact of maternal cannabis use on fetal development

Understanding how THC impacts cognitive function

Human genetics

The Human Genome Project identified, mapped, and sequenced all human DNA genes. Its completion in 2003 opened up a world of exciting and controversial studies in human genetics.

Examples of human genetics-related research topics worth delving into include:

Medical genetics and the incidence of genetic-based health disorders

Behavioral genetics differences between identical twins

Genetic risk factors for neurodegenerative disorders

Machine learning technologies for genetic research

Sexual health studies

Human sexuality and sexual health are important (yet often stigmatized) medical topics that need new research and analysis.

As a diverse field ranging from sexual orientation studies to sexual pathophysiology, examples of sexual health-related research topics include:

The incidence of sexually transmitted infections within a chosen population

Mental health conditions within the LGBTQIA+ community

The impact of untreated sexually transmitted infections

Access to safe sex resources (condoms, dental dams, etc.) in rural areas

Health and wellness research topics

Human wellness and health are trendy topics in modern medicine as more people are interested in finding natural ways to live healthier lifestyles.

If this field of study interests you, here are some big topics in the wellness space:

Gluten sensitivity

Gluten allergies and intolerances have risen over the past few decades. If you’re interested in exploring this topic, your options range in severity from mild gastrointestinal symptoms to full-blown anaphylaxis.

Some examples of gluten sensitivity-related research topics include:

The pathophysiology and incidence of Celiac disease

Early onset symptoms of gluten intolerance

The prevalence of gluten allergies within a set population

Gluten allergies and the incidence of other gastrointestinal health conditions

Pollution and lung health

Living in large urban cities means regular exposure to high levels of pollutants.

As more people become interested in protecting their lung health, examples of impactful lung health and pollution-related research topics include:

The extent of pollution in densely packed urban areas

The prevalence of pollution-based asthma in a set population

Lung capacity and function in young people

The benefits and risks of steroid therapy for asthma

Pollution risks based on geographical location

Plant-based diets

Plant-based diets like vegan and paleo diets are emerging trends in healthcare due to their limited supporting research.

If you’re interested in learning more about the potential benefits or risks of holistic, diet-based medicine, examples of plant-based diet research topics to explore include:

Vegan and plant-based diets as part of disease management

Potential risks and benefits of specific plant-based diets

Plant-based diets and their impact on body mass index

The effect of diet and lifestyle on chronic disease management

Health supplements

Supplements are a multi-billion dollar industry. Many health-conscious people take supplements, including vitamins, minerals, herbal medicine, and more.

Examples of health supplement-related research topics worth investigating include:

Omega-3 fish oil safety and efficacy for cardiac patients

The benefits and risks of regular vitamin D supplementation

Health supplementation regulation and product quality

The impact of social influencer marketing on consumer supplement practices

Analyzing added ingredients in protein powders

Healthcare research topics

Working within the healthcare industry means you have insider knowledge and opportunity. Maybe you’d like to research the overall system, administration, and inherent biases that disrupt access to quality care.

While these topics are essential to explore, it is important to note that these studies usually require approval and oversight from an Institutional Review Board (IRB). This ensures the study is ethical and does not harm any subjects.

For this reason, the IRB sets protocols that require additional planning, so consider this when mapping out your study’s timeline.

Here are some examples of trending healthcare research areas worth pursuing:

The pros and cons of electronic health records

The rise of electronic healthcare charting and records has forever changed how medical professionals and patients interact with their health data.

Examples of electronic health record-related research topics include:

The number of medication errors reported during a software switch

Nurse sentiment analysis of electronic charting practices

Ethical and legal studies into encrypting and storing personal health data

Inequities within healthcare access

Many barriers inhibit people from accessing the quality medical care they need. These issues result in health disparities and injustices.

Examples of research topics about health inequities include:

The impact of social determinants of health in a set population

Early and late-stage cancer stage diagnosis in urban vs. rural populations

Affordability of life-saving medications

Health insurance limitations and their impact on overall health

Diagnostic and treatment rates across ethnicities

People who belong to an ethnic minority are more likely to experience barriers and restrictions when trying to receive quality medical care. This is due to systemic healthcare racism and bias.

As a result, diagnostic and treatment rates in minority populations are a hot-button field of research. Examples of ethnicity-based research topics include:

Cancer biopsy rates in BIPOC women

The prevalence of diabetes in Indigenous communities

Access inequalities in women’s health preventative screenings

The prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension in Black populations

Pharmaceutical research topics

Large pharmaceutical companies are incredibly interested in investing in research to learn more about potential cures and treatments for diseases.

If you’re interested in building a career in pharmaceutical research, here are a few examples of in-demand research topics:

Cancer treatment options

Clinical research is in high demand as pharmaceutical companies explore novel cancer treatment options outside of chemotherapy and radiation.

Examples of cancer treatment-related research topics include:

Stem cell therapy for cancer

Oncogenic gene dysregulation and its impact on disease

Cancer-causing viral agents and their risks

Treatment efficacy based on early vs. late-stage cancer diagnosis

Cancer vaccines and targeted therapies

Immunotherapy for cancer

Pain medication alternatives

Historically, opioid medications were the primary treatment for short- and long-term pain. But, with the opioid epidemic getting worse, the need for alternative pain medications has never been more urgent.

Examples of pain medication-related research topics include:

Opioid withdrawal symptoms and risks

Early signs of pain medication misuse

Anti-inflammatory medications for pain control

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Latest articles

386 Health Debate Topics & Controversial Medical Issues

In the realm of health, opposing viewpoints clash like titans. Constant heated debates challenge our fundamental understanding of wellness. That is why health debate topics for high school are extremely beneficial critical thinking tools. They teach you to make the right decisions and consider your physical and mental well-being.

Below you will find a list of more than 380 controversial medical topics. Truth springs from an argument, and brainstorming ideas is a great way to develop your analytical skills. We hope our healthcare debate topics will help you create a solid position to defend.

⚕️ Health Debate Topics

🚑 How to Choose a Topic

🏥 Health Care Debate Topics

💊 public health debate topics.

💉 Controversial Medical Topics
🩺 Medical Ethics Topics

👩‍⚕️ Nursing Debate Topics

🚴 Health & Fitness Topics
🍽️ Diet & Nutrition Topics

🔗 References

All medication is overpriced.
Non-vegetarian food is healthy.
Abortion: necessary help or murder?
Is homeopathy just another placebo?
Everyone has mental health problems.
Vaccination is natural and healthy.
Overdiagnosis: are we as sick as we think?
Overworked nurses become violent toward patients.
Euthanasia is a confirmation of medical helplessness.
Is antibiotic misuse so harmful to the next generations?
Do you think a universal cancer treatment will be found?
Aggressive patients should not receive any medical care.
Does science confirm much of health care is unnecessary?
Does gender discrimination persist among medical professionals?
Should doctors be responsible for all their patients who died under law and ethics?

🚑 Health Debate Topics: How to Choose a Good One

Evidence-based healthcare is a relatively new notion for the general public. Many people still believe in alternative medicine, esotery, and the power of self-suggestion. Still, most of us go to a health professional when serious health issues arise.

And while research can support or refute pseudo-scientific opinions, moral aspects go far beyond the limits of truth and lies. Most medical ethics topics for debate bring up intense disputes, irresolvable so far. For instance, correct nutrition, maternity, abortions, euthanasia, and human genome cloning raise medical controversies. Still, you can develop your position by participating in debates.

How can you select the best one from all the medical debate topics? Apply the following criteria to your short list of topic ideas.

Unnecessary Health Care Debate Topics

Do physicians increase the number of services?
Doctors’ income dependence on the services harms healthcare.
Does excessive care help the forensic investigation ?
Downsizing can help eliminate overtreatment.
Fear of litigation is a significant cause of overtreatment.
High costs for Medicare do not lead to better health.
Hospital impudence is the root of the problem of overtreatment.
Isolation from price sensitivity triggers medical costs .
Legal peculiarities of diagnosis and treatment harm doctors.
Most unnecessary medical procedures are not evidence-based.
Overdiagnosis hurts the health care budget.
Overtreatment does not benefit patients.
Prejudice forces people to choose unnecessary procedures.
Patients shift health responsibility to the doctor.
Thorough procedures violate patients’ rights .
The risk of complications increases with the overuse of care.
The cost of insurance is the reason for overtreatment.
Useless care does not justify the effects.
Wasteful care accounts for about 30% of the budget.
Why does healthcare incline patients to overtreatment?

Workplace Safety for Medical Workers Debate Topics

Administration violates ethics laws without protecting doctors.
Aggression and violence lead to physician decline.
Businesses underfund injured medical staff.
Current protections for physicians need to be improved.
Health care and the government do not improve safety.
HIV and hepatitis safety measures are inadequate.
The increase in injury fatalities speaks to medical imperfections.
Injuries are the prerogative of nurses .
The law should side with patients on controversial issues.
Patient aggression against nurses is on the rise.
Patients are to blame for many medical staff injuries.
Physician care programs are not effective.
Post-traumatic stress is a major problem among physicians.
Staffing shortages violate medical workers’ rights.
The high cost of services provokes patient violence.
The value of nurses’ and physicians’ work needs to be higher.
The USA did not care enough about personnel during the pandemic .
Who should be responsible for injuries in the hospital ?
Why is healthcare not taking responsibility for hazards?
Workspace safety is the responsibility of doctors, not the hospital.

Discrimination in Health Care Debate Topics

Women doctors are more likely to experience burnout than men .
Gender bias prevents women from becoming doctors.
Having children for women doctors is a career obstacle.
Healthcare benefits form pressure on women.
LGBT+ employees are not protected from discrimination.
Medical degrees are a privilege for white people.
Men have an advantage in obtaining a medical degree.
Men’s wages in healthcare are higher than women’s.
Patients perceive women doctors as less qualified than men.
Pressure on female doctors leads to understaffing.
Racial minorities get lower-paid positions in healthcare.
Sexism violates the ethics of nursing and medicine.
Sexual harassment in the workplace hurts women doctors.
Stereotypes in health professions are not harmful.
Surgical specialty is a privilege for men.
The law is on the side of the majority.
Stereotypes cause violations of women’s rights in medicine.
Virtually all women nurses experience pressure at work.
Why do patients trust male doctors more?
Women doctors manipulate hospitals for compensation.

Health Care Prices Debate Topics

Government intervention is necessary to control the cost of prescription drugs.
Pharmaceutical companies are exploiting vulnerable patients for profit.
Universal healthcare is more affordable and accessible than private healthcare.
Medical tourism is a viable solution to high healthcare costs in one’s home country.
Insurance companies contribute to rising healthcare prices by prioritizing profits over patient care.
There should be reforms to promote generic competition and lower costs .
Patients should have access to detailed information about medical procedures and their costs.
Medical malpractice lawsuits drive up healthcare prices.
Lobbying affects healthcare pricing policies.
Patients are unfairly burdened with exorbitant bills for urgent medical care.
The rising costs of medical equipment impacts overall healthcare expenses .
Middlemen in the pharmaceutical supply chain are responsible for inflating drug prices.
We must address the issue of crippling healthcare expenses.
There is a need for more comprehensive insurance coverage in long-term care.
Greater investments need to be made to reduce long-term healthcare expenses.
There should be stricter controls to curb high costs in healthcare.
We must ensure fair and transparent pricing for surgeries .
The influence of healthcare monopolies contributes to higher prices.
Co-pays place an undue financial burden on individuals seeking medical care .
Income inequality affects access to affordable healthcare services.

Antibiotic Misuse Debate Topics

The social and economic impact of antibiotic misuse.
Common examples of avoidable antibiotic misuse in clinics.
Historical instances of antibiotic regulation.
Ways of monitoring the duration of antibiotics.
We should limit antibiotic use in different environments.
Antibiotics: mechanisms and organisms.
Society and culture affect antibiotic use.
Global action plans and awareness of antibiotic use.
Alliance for the prudent use of antibiotics.
Mechanisms for the development of antibiotic resistance.
International positions on antibiotic use in farm animals.
Beliefs about the misuse of antibiotics by parents.
Risks associated with antibiotic overuse.
Education level is related to the misuse of antibiotics.
General population’s knowledge and attitudes toward antibiotics.
Self-medication and self-prescription with antibiotics.
Antibiotic misuse during the COVID-19 pandemic .
How the COVID-19 era contributed to inappropriate antibiotic use.
Indiscriminate use of antibiotics for COVID-19 treatment.
Preventing the COVID-19 pandemic from causing an antibiotic resistance catastrophe.
Use of antibiotics for patients with clear signs of bacterial infection.
Prevalence of antibiotic treatment in patients with COVID-19.
We need to develop new drugs to avoid antibiotic use.

Generic Drugs Debate Topics

Generic drug regulations in developing countries.
Drug regulations in the US.
How drug regulations affect economics.
Classification and types of medicine.
Are generic drugs as safe and effective as branded drugs?
Why are generics cheaper than branded drugs?
The role of generics in sustaining healthcare systems .
Maintaining the contribution of generics.
Quantifying the recent contributions of generic medicines
Should generics look different from brand drugs?
What standards must generic medicines meet to receive FDA approval?
Does FDA monitor the side effects of generic medicines well enough?
FDA must ensure generics work as well as brand-name medicines.
Should every brand-name drug have a generic drug?
Is a biosimilar also a generic drug?
Anatomical therapeutic chemical classification system.
Drug safety approach in administration and nursing.
Mechanism of action of antiviral drugs.
The challenges of the global pharmaceutical industry.
Are novel drugs riskier for patients than less novel drugs?

Alternative Medicine Debate Topics

Evidence and efficacy of homeopathy.
Publication bias and other methodological problems of homeopathy.
Statistical hypothesis testing, P-value, and publication bias against alternative medicines.
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of homeopathy efficacy.
Rediscovery of ancient treatments in the new reality.
Prescription drug history and medieval pharmacology.
Why is there access to unapproved drugs?
What’s the relevance of conventional homeopathic medicine to modern medicine.
Assessment of the human sciences contribution to homeopathy.
Clinical evidence for homeopathy in the UK.
Is there good scientific evidence for homeopathy?
What is the biomedical research model?
How does the biomedical research model work with homeopathy?
Studying a single homeopathic remedy.
What is the mechanism of action for homeopathy?
Is there any proof that the clinical effects of homeopathy are only placebo effects ?
Mechanism of action of homeopathic medicines.
Homeopathy for COVID-19 in primary care.
Homeopathic treatment of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome.
Dangerous placebo use during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prescription drugs with complementary and alternative medicines.
Pandemics, disinfectants, and healthcare systems.
Environmental pollution and food production.
Environmental impact of personal care products.
Tackling drug-resistant infections globally.
Drug use and its impact on culture and society.

💉 Controversial Medical Topics for Debate

Abortion debate topics.

Abortion is morally permissible.
Should every woman have the right to abortion?
Is an embryo a human being?
Does Islam advocate for the rights of an unborn child?
Medical and social implications of abortion.
Views on abortion in the history of Christianity.
Artificial termination of pregnancy: moral and ethical aspects .
Positions of supporters of abortion restrictions.
The attitude of representatives of Judaism to abortion.
Does abortion interrupt an already existing human life?
The rights of an embryo and a woman.
The US law against “killing children:” essence and specifics.
Why do people believe pro-lifers regarding abortions?
Pro-life and pro-choice: Who currently holds more weight?
History of abortion bans and permissions in the US.
Laws banning abortions in different countries.
How does the new ban on abortions work in Poland?
What is the right time limit for having an abortion?
Eugenic abortions and the norms of protecting human life.
Does abortion affect fertility?
Termination of pregnancy: physical and mental health threats.
Why terminate a pregnancy at a later date?
Abortion in early and late pregnancy: the main differences.
Impact of the pandemic on abortions in the US.
Will paid abortions help increase fertility and reduce crime?
When does personhood begin, and how does it impact the ethics of abortion?
How to strike a balance between protecting women’s autonomy and fetal interests?
Do parental consent laws for minors seeking abortions protect young individuals or infringe upon their rights?
Access to abortion services in rural areas by women with limited options.
What are the ethical implications of terminating pregnancies based on the gender of the fetus?

Vaccination Debate Topics

Why is vaccination needed, and how safe is it?
In what cases are there complications from vaccination?
What vaccinations do adults and children actually need?
The role of vaccinations in disease prevention.
How did the idea of vaccination come about?
How does vaccination really work?
Punishment for spreading fake news about coronavirus vaccines .
What are the contraindications of vaccination ?
Vaccination rates in different countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why are some people afraid to get vaccinated?
Ways to avoid the spread of misinformation about vaccines.
Procedure for registration and approval of vaccines.
Vaccination is a reliable way to prevent infectious diseases.
Safety and effectiveness of modern vaccines .
Statistics on the incidence and mortality among vaccinated and unvaccinated citizens.
Is it safe to do multiple vaccinations?
What is the danger of refusing vaccinations?
Pros and cons of vaccinations for children.
Benefits and drawbacks of various COVID-19 vaccines.
Types of vaccines against coronavirus.

ASD Debate Topics

Who qualifies for the diagnosis of “autism”?
Is ASD a medical condition or a natural feature?
Is autism really a “disease of the XXI century”?
Hypotheses of the origin and development of autism spectrum disorders.
Factors that determine the appearance of autism in a child.
Different perspectives on the best methods of autism treatment .
Will there be a cure for autism spectrum disorders?
How likely is the birth of a child with autism?
Can autism develop with age?
Vaccinations cause autism: is it myth or reality?
Do students with ASD need individualized education plans?
Early and later intervention for children with ASD: which option is more effective?
Should vaccination for children with autism spectrum disorder be mandatory?
Is there a genetic predisposition to ASD, or is it solely a result of environmental factors?
Should Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy be the standard treatment for children with ASD?
Special and general education classroom intervention is essential for students with autism spectrum disorder.
Discuss the connection between ASD and screen time.
Should there be more funding for research on ASD?
Is it ethical to use animals in research for autism spectrum disorder treatments?
Should insurance companies be required to cover the cost of ASD therapies?
Including children with ASD in clinical trials for new treatments: pros and cons.
Analyze the necessity of having teachers trained to work with students with autism spectrum disorder in every school.
Should children with ASD be allowed to have service animals in school?
Is there a gender bias in the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder?
Should parents of children with ASD be allowed to homeschool their child without meeting the same educational requirements as public schools?
The mandatory identification bracelets for children with ASD: are they necessary?
Discuss whether employers should be required to accommodate employees with autism spectrum disorder.
Should there be separate housing or group homes for adults with ASD?
Benefits of organizing social skill training courses for children with ASD at schools.
Counseling and support groups for siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder : pros and cons.

Stem Cell Debate Topics

Stem cell controversy: ethical and political points of view.
Is hESC research the way forward for regenerative medicine?
Is it worth giving a “green light” to hESC research ?
Catholic church’s attitude to stem cell debate.
The attitude of the US Congress towards stem cell research.
The study of stem cells: the main scientific problems.
Using stem cells to create human organs for transplantation: pros and cons.
Should the government fund stem cell research or leave it to private companies and organizations?
Is it ethical to use stem cells from aborted fetuses for research purposes?
Pros and cons of allowing patients to pay for stem cell treatments that the FDA does not yet approve.
Should there be a ban on using stem cells for cosmetic purposes, such as anti-aging treatments?
Discuss the need for more regulations on using stem cells in research and treatment.
Is using stem cells from a sibling or other family member to treat a sick child ethical?
Should parents be allowed to store their child’s cord blood for future use of stem cells?
Insurance should cover stem cell treatments: arguments for and against.
Benefits and drawbacks of allowing scientists to use gene editing technologies on stem cells.
Should stem cell research be prioritized over other areas of medical research?
Is it ethical to create human-animal hybrids using stem cells for medical research?
Using stem cell treatment to enhance athletic performance: Is it cheating?
Discuss whether the athletes must disclose if they have received stem cell treatment.
Allowing prisoners to donate their stem cells for research purposes: science support or exploitation?
Should stem cell treatments be available for pets and other animals?
The importance of limiting the amount of stem cells that can be harvested from a donor.
Should patients be allowed to choose the gender of the stem cell donor for their treatment?
The effectiveness and ethical implications of adult stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells.
Ethical and legal issues surrounding seeking unproven stem cell treatments abroad.
Intellectual property rights in stem cell research.
The implications and ethical concerns of altering the genetic makeup of stem cells.
Is there a potential for tailored therapies based on an individual’s unique stem cell profile?
Investigate the connection between stem cell research and extending the human lifespan.
The ethical boundaries and implications of creating hybrid organisms for research purposes.

🩺 Medical Ethics Topics for Debate

Utilitarian concept of the good and its influence on medical ethics.
Ethical considerations and access to gender-affirming treatments, surgeries, and mental health support .
How should healthcare providers navigate conflicts between their patients’ beliefs and medical recommendations ?
Moral aspects of euthanasia: from antiquity to the present day.
Ethical standards in palliative care: moral aspect.
Ethical concerns of autopsies.
Moral and ethical issues of prenatal diagnosis.
Status of the embryo and fetus: practices of manipulation.
What are the limits of patient confidentiality , and when should healthcare providers breach it to protect public safety?
Artificial insemination: Should information about the donor be disclosed?
Moral aspects of in vitro fertilization .
Surrogacy: who is the child’s mother?
Assisted reproductive technologies: ethical grounds for reproduction.
Medical genetic screening: an invaluable help or breach of privacy?
Ethical standards of medical counseling.
Human genetics: ethical problems of the present and the future.
Organ transplantation from living donors: moral aspects.
Cloning: a move against nature or promising reproduction technology?
Ethical issues of gene therapy of germ and somatic cells.
Testing medication on humans is a necessary evil.
Medical experiments on living organisms: ethical aspects.
When should terminally ill patients have access to experimental treatments?
Organ and tissue transplantation from dead bodies: should permission be given?
Moral problems of fetal organ and tissue transplantation.
Is xenotransplantation an ethical practice?
Should terminally ill patients be encouraged to become donors?
How should limited resources be allocated to ensure equitable healthcare access for all?
The problem of equity in the distribution of scarce resources for transplantation.
Obligatory vaccination: a defense against deceases or intrusion into privacy?
Mandatory disclosure of HIV status to partners: pros and cons.
Drug addictions treatment vs. punishment.
Discuss the general ethical principles in medical genetics.
Confinement of psychiatric patients: is it morally justified?
Gathering personal information during psychotherapy sessions.
Ethical aspects of punitive psychiatry.
Micro- and macro-level application of the equity principle in healthcare .
What are the ethical considerations for altering the genetic makeup of humans?
Possible complications of treatment: should all of them be named?
Do needle exchange programs for drug users do more harm than good?
Cardiac surgeries for older adults : ethical aspects of age.
Circumcision of newborns without anesthetics: do newborns feel pain?
Telling the truth to terminally ill patients: ethical aspects.
Privacy rule: How much information can be disclosed to relatives?
Unintended medical mistakes in nursing.
Non-discrimination of AIDS patients in nursing practice.
What are the requirements for obtaining valid patient consent before medical procedures or research participation?
Can nurses refuse medical care in acute situations?
Medical necessity versus religious conventions of patients: advice for nurses.
Discuss the question of withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment for terminally ill patients.
Reporting injuries to the police against patients’ will.
BSN versus ADN programs in healthcare.
Morphine in pain management : strict regulation against the suffering of patients.
Nurses’ long working hours and poor patient outcomes.
Nurses’ ratios: understaffing and its impact on patients’ care
Pandemic and its effect on nurses’ burnout.
Resuscitation measures for terminally ill patients: nursing practice.
Refusal to perform medical manipulations on dying patients : how is it justified?
Explore the complexities of assisted reproductive procedures.
Medical errors in nursing practice: admission versus concealment.
Patient-centered care and nursing shortages: are they compatible?
Time shortages and understaffing and their role in poor care.
Argue about disclosing the diagnosis to relatives versus keeping silent on patients’ demands.
Can nurses advise patients in medical settings?
Unduly procedures of medical manipulations and staff shortages.
Discuss the compatibility of practice and theory in nursing .
The role of nurses in resuscitation measures: the price of mistakes.
Doctors’ prescription and the ethics of their blind implementation.
Nurses in palliative care: compassion versus professional duty.
Should nurses explain the origins of the disease to patients?
Alleviating patients’ distress through lying: moral choice.
Ways of breaking bad news to patients’ relatives.

🚴 Debate Topics on Health & Fitness

Professional sports are harmful to athletes’ health.
Fitness as a health science.
Amateur sports are safer than professional sports.
The possibility of replacing the diet with physical activity.
Is it ethical to use performance-enhancing drugs in professional sports?
Should college athletes be paid for their participation in sports?
Physical education classes for all students: are they necessary?
Do schools prioritize winning in sports over the well-being of student-athletes?
Discuss whether student-athletes should be required to maintain a certain GPA to participate in sports.
Should schools be held liable for injuries sustained by student-athletes while participating in school-sponsored sports?
Schools and sports teams should be required to provide mental health resources for student-athletes: arguments for and against.
Is cheerleading a sport or an activity?
Will banning contact sports, such as football, help to reduce the risk of concussions and other related injuries?
Should parents be allowed to sign waivers to exempt their children from wearing protective gear while playing sports?
Analyze the need for sports teams to have trained medical personnel present at all practices and games.
Is it ethical for professional sports leagues to have a salary cap, or should players be able to earn as much as they can negotiate?
The importance of providing equal resources and opportunities to female athletes.
Discuss whether physical fitness should be required for high-level government officials, such as the President of the United States.
Should there be age restrictions for children participating in certain sports, such as boxing and mixed martial arts?
Pros and cons of recruiting young athletes from other countries and bringing them to the US to play professionally.
Should sports teams be required to disclose the long-term health risks associated with playing certain sports, such as football and hockey?
The necessity to limit the number of hours per week that high school and college athletes can practice and participate in games.
Discuss the importance of regulating the advertisements and sponsorships that sports teams and leagues accept.
Should professional athletes be required to speak publicly about social issues and current events, or is their role limited to entertainment?

️🍽 Health Debate Topics on Diet & Nutrition

Relationship between healthy eating and physical fitness.
What’s the effect of calorie intake on human endurance?
Discuss the impact of vegetarianism on the likelihood of injury.
Types of diets for diabetes.
Dependence of mental health on one’s diet.
Measurement of cholesterol levels in people with different diets.
The level of public health depends on fast food availability.
Is calorie counting important in a healthy diet?
The consequences of frequent junk food consumption.
The importance of mindful eating.
Consequences of high carbohydrate intake.
One’s skin condition depends on one’s nutrition.
Causes of stomach problems.
The influence of metabolism on the human physique.
Determining factors of endurance in overweight people .
New methods of developing diets for weight loss.
Overtreatment in the United States: PMC
Racism and Discrimination in Health Care: Providers and Patients: Harvard University
Gender Bias in Healthcare: Examples and Consequences: Medical News Today
Vaccines and Immunization: World Health Organization
What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder?: CDC
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM): NCI
The World’s Abortion Laws: Center for Reproductive Rights
The Stem Cell Debate: Is It Over?: University of Utah
Debate Ethics of Embryo Models from Stem Cells: Nature Journal
How Does Diet Impact Health?: University of Minnesota
Ethics and Human Rights in Nursing: American Nurses Association
Fitness: What It Is, Health Benefits, and Getting Started: Everyday Health
Workout Injuries: Prevention and Treatment: WebMD
Antibiotics: Are You Misusing Them?: Mayo Clinic
The Danger of Antibiotic Overuse (for Parents): KidsHealth
Generic Drugs: Questions & Answers: Food and Drug Administration
What Is Homeopathy and Does It Work?: Cleveland Clinic

289 Medical Argumentative Essay Topics & Ideas

18 January 2024

last updated

Medical argumentative essay topics revolve around debatable issues in the healthcare sector. They aim to challenge readers and writers to ponder ethical, moral, technical, and policy-related questions in medicine. Topics might include vaccination mandates, euthanasia rights, health insurance policies, the role of technology in healthcare, mental health treatments, and others. These subjects seek to encourage rigorous investigation and thoughtful discourse, necessitating both extensive research and empathetic understanding of diverse viewpoints. Such debates are vital to the evolution of medical practices and policies, inviting all stakeholders to weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks of specific approaches to health and wellness. Ultimately, medical argumentative essay topics stimulate critical thinking and foster insightful conversations about health care’s past, present, and future.

Best Medical Argumentative Essay Topics

The Ethical Implications of Gene Editing: A Paradigm Shift in Medicine
Mandatory Vaccinations: A Public Health Necessity or Personal Liberty Infringement?
Exploring Alternative Medicine: Should Insurance Cover Holistic Treatments?
Regulation of Stem Cell Research: Ethical Concerns and Medical Breakthroughs
End-of-Life Care: The Controversial Argument for Assisted Suicide
Impact of Telemedicine: An Improvement or Deterioration in Patient Care?
Advanced AI in Healthcare: Potential Risks and Unprecedented Benefits
Psychotherapy vs. Medication: Best Approach for Mental Health Issues
Animal Experimentation in Medicine: Necessary Evil or Inhumane Practice?
Health Implications of GMO Foods: A Matter of Safety or Fear-Mongering?
Price Transparency in Healthcare: A Solution to Exorbitant Costs or a Pandora’s Box?
Debate Surrounding Childhood Obesity: Who Bears the Responsibility?
Cosmetic Surgery: A Matter of Personal Choice or Social Pressure?
Implementation of Universal Healthcare: Boon or Burden?
Repercussions of Antibiotic Overuse: Superbugs and the Threat to Public Health
Vegetarianism and Veganism: Health Benefits or Nutritional Deficiencies?
Euthanasia: An Act of Compassion or a Slippery Slope?
Organ Donation: Should It Be Compulsory or Remain Voluntary?
Long-term Effects of Prenatal Substance Exposure: Understanding the Consequences
Physician-Assisted Suicide: Ethical Compass or A Bridge Too Far?
Right to Try Experimental Drugs: Humanitarian Act or Risky Business?
Chronic Pain Management: Opioid Dependency vs. Patient Autonomy
Transgender Health Rights: The Importance of Inclusive Medical Services
Vaccine Hesitancy: Understanding the Anti-Vax Movement

Easy Medical Argumentative Essay Topics

Legalization of Medical Marijuana: Miracle Drug or Gateway Substance?
Nanotechnology in Medicine: Pioneering Innovations or Ethical Minefield?
Childhood Vaccinations and Autism: Debunking the Misinformation
Genetically Modified Organisms: Lifesavers or Health Hazards?
Allocation of Scarce Medical Resources: A Matter of Justice or Efficiency?
Mental Health Stigma: Does It Hinder Access to Quality Care?
Maternal Mortality Rates: Societal Factors and Public Health Strategies
Roles of Big Pharma: Medicine Accessibility vs. Profitability
Nutritional Guidelines: Science-Based Recommendations or Influenced by Food Industry?
Impact of Environmental Pollution on Human Health: A Silent Killer?
Artificial Intelligence in Diagnostics: Efficiency vs. Human Judgment
Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing: Empowerment or Privacy Concern?
CRISPR Technology: A Revolution in Medicine or Unleashing Unknown Dangers?
Right to Privacy vs. Public Health: Contact Tracing in Pandemic Response
Medical Marijuana vs. Opioids: A Better Option for Pain Management?
The Role of Probiotics in Gut Health: Fad or Fact?
Decoding the Human Microbiome: Implications for Health and Disease
Fast Food Consumption and Health: Unraveling the Direct Connection
Does Screen Time Affect Children’s Mental Health?
Artificial Sweeteners: Safe Alternatives or Hidden Dangers?
Robotic Surgery: Innovation or Excessive Medicalization?
Exploring Epigenetics: Influence of Lifestyle on Gene Expression
Antibacterial Soaps: Do They Contribute to Antibiotic Resistance?
Animal Assisted Therapy: Pseudoscience or Effective Treatment?
Human Cloning: Ethical Dilemma in the Medical Field
The Controversial Debate Around Gluten Sensitivity

Medical Argumentative Essay Topics & Ideas

Interesting Medical Argumentative Essay Topics

Home Births vs. Hospital Births: Weighing the Risks and Benefits
Is Functional Medicine the Future of Healthcare?
Challenges and Possibilities in Personalized Medicine
Implications of 3D Printed Organs: A New Era in Transplantation?
Acupuncture in Modern Medicine: Anecdotal Belief or Scientifically Proven?
Detox Diets: Health Benefits or Nutritional Risk?
Addressing Health Inequality: Is it a Medical or Social Responsibility?
Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine: Hopeful Promises or Unrealistic Expectations?
Evaluating the Efficacy of Chiropractic Care
The Health Impact of Air Pollution: An Underestimated Threat?
Designer Babies: A Step Too Far in Genetic Engineering?
Health Consequences of Sleep Deprivation: A Growing Concern
Ethical Issues Surrounding Surrogacy and Assisted Reproductive Technologies
Sugar Tax: Effective Public Health Measure or Unjust Policy?
The Future of Virtual Reality in Healthcare
The Truth about Processed Foods: Are They Really That Bad?
Can Meditation Influence Physical Health?
Does a Universal Blood Donor Type Really Exist?
Antibiotic-Free Meat: Health Consciousness or Marketing Ploy?
The Debate Around Prophylactic Mastectomy
Exploring the Impact of Music Therapy on Mental Health
Are Digital Health Records a Security Risk?
Antidepressants and Teenagers: Are We Overprescribing?
The Controversy Over Electronic Cigarettes: Health Savior or Stealthy Killer?
Should Life-Saving Medication Be Exempt From Patents?

Controversial Medical Argumentative Essay Topics

Mandatory Vaccinations: Public Health vs. Personal Freedom
Justification of Animal Testing in Medical Research
The Morality of Assisted Suicide: Patients’ Rights and Medical Ethics
Embryonic Stem Cell Research: Unethical Practice or Medical Breakthrough?
Allocation of Scarce Medical Resources: Whom Should We Prioritize?
Transgender Medicine: Necessity of Hormone Therapy and Surgical Procedures
Roles of Alternative Medicine in Modern Healthcare: Validity and Effectiveness
Antidepressants and Teenagers: Overdiagnosis or Appropriate Treatment?
Cosmetic Surgery: Medical Necessity or Vanity?
Use of Placebos in Clinical Trials: Ethical Considerations
Mental Health Disorders: The Controversy Over Diagnosis and Treatment
Genetic Testing: Right to Know or Ignorance Is Bliss?
Telemedicine: Risks, Benefits, and Ethical Implications
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Healthcare: Solutions and Challenges
Nanotechnology in Medicine: Potential Risks and Ethical Issues
Diet and Nutrition: The Controversial Role in Preventive Medicine
Prescription Drug Abuse: A Crisis or Misunderstood Issue?
Fertility Treatments: Ethical Implications and Potential Abuses
Regulating Digital Health Applications: Necessity or Invasion of Privacy?
Roles of AI in Healthcare: Are Doctors Becoming Obsolete?
Human Cloning: Science Fiction or Future Reality?
Childhood Obesity: Parental Neglect or Societal Failure?
Euthanasia: Compassionate Care or Ethical Dilemma?
Human Genome Editing: Future Potential and Ethical Concerns
Internet and Health Information: Self-Diagnosis or Health Anxiety?
Physician Burnout: An Occupational Hazard or Systemic Issue?
Access to Experimental Treatments: Patient’s Right or Ethical Quandary?

Compare and Contrast Medical Argumentative Essay Topics

Traditional Medicine vs. Modern Medicine: Is Old Always Gold?
Allopathic Treatment Approaches Compared to Homeopathic Techniques: Which Is More Beneficial?
Palliative Care and Hospice Care: Examining Similarities and Differences
Vaccination Advocacy vs. Anti-Vaccination Stance: A Comprehensive Analysis
Medical Marijuana and Pharmaceutical Drugs: Evaluating Benefits and Drawbacks
Psychiatric Treatment: Psychotherapy vs. Medication
Roles of Artificial Intelligence in Medical Diagnosis vs. Human Expertise
Benefits of Telemedicine Compared with Traditional In-Person Consultations
Dietary Management vs. Medication in Diabetes Control: What Works Best?
Integrative Medicine and Conventional Medicine: A Comparative Study
Advantages of Robotic Surgery vs. Conventional Surgical Methods
Eastern Medicine Philosophies vs. Western Medical Practices: Contrasting Approaches
Health Benefits of Organic Foods vs. Genetically Modified Foods: A Scientific Analysis
Chiropractic Healing Compared With Physical Therapy: Effectiveness in Pain Management
Private Healthcare and Public Healthcare: Analyzing Quality and Accessibility
Prenatal Screening vs. Postnatal Screening: Impacts on Early Disease Detection
Prosthetic Advancements and Natural Limb Capabilities: A Comparison Study
The Debate Between Antibiotics and Probiotics: Examining Long-Term Health Effects
Stem Cell Research vs. Traditional Medical Research: Ethical and Practical Considerations
Invasive Surgeries vs. Non-Invasive Procedures: Comparing Risks and Benefits
Pediatric Care vs. Adult Healthcare: Differences in Treatment Approaches
Animal Testing and In Vitro Testing: Evaluating Ethical and Scientific Standpoints
Fitness Regimens vs. Medication: Approaches to Cardiovascular Health Improvement
Holistic Nursing vs. Specialized Nursing: Diverse Perspectives on Patient Care
Laser Treatments vs. Surgical Treatments: Examining Efficiency and Side Effects
Roles of Meditation in Stress Relief vs. Pharmaceutical Interventions

Healthcare Argumentative Essay Topics

Balancing Public Health and Individual Freedom: A Tightrope Walk
Is Mandatory Vaccination for Adults a Necessity?
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Improving Healthcare Delivery
Should Be Assisted Suicide Legalized Globally or Not?
Analyzing the Impact of Telemedicine on Traditional Healthcare Services
Effectiveness of Holistic and Alternative Medicine: Myth or Reality?
Are Pharmaceutical Companies Exploiting the Sick for Profits?
Weighing the Pros and Cons of Single-Payer Healthcare Systems
Evaluating the Implications of Genetic Engineering in Healthcare
Compulsory Organ Donation: An Ethical Solution to Organ Shortage?
Antibiotic Resistance: Should We Curb Over-the-Counter Availability?
Is Homeopathy a Valid Treatment Option or Pseudoscience?
Assessing the Effects of Medical Tourism on Domestic Healthcare Systems
Should Health Insurance Coverage Be a Universal Right?
Do Digital Health Records Infringe Upon Patient Privacy?
Promoting Preventive Medicine Over Reactive Treatments: A Policy Change?
Do Patients Understand the Full Implications of Informed Consent?
Does Medical Advertising Mislead Patients?
Fast Food Industry’s Responsibility for Rising Obesity Rates
Are Price Controls Necessary for Prescription Drugs?
Mandatory Physical Education in Schools: An Answer to Childhood Obesity?
Assessing the Viability of Medicare for All People
Can Animal Testing Be Justified in the Era of Advanced Technology?
Discussing the Ethics of Cosmetic Surgery: Is It Justifiable?
Should Substance Abuse Treatment Be Favored Over Incarceration?
Is Personalized Medicine the Future of Healthcare?
Potential Health Hazards of Genetically Modified Foods: A Legitimate Concern?

Medical Argumentative Essay Topics for High School

Effectiveness of Vaccines in Preventing Infectious Diseases
Integrating Holistic Medicine into Traditional Healthcare
Impacts of Mental Health on Physical Well-Being
Importance of Sex Education in High Schools
Debate on Abortion: Ethical Perspectives
Medical Marijuana: Risks vs. Benefits
Ethics of Animal Testing in Medical Research
Impacts of Nutrition on Chronic Illness Management
Consequences of Sleep Deprivation on Teenagers
Roles of Telemedicine in Modern Healthcare
Possibility of Human Cloning: Ethical Concerns
Dangers of Cosmetic Surgery: Vanity or Necessity
Advances in Neonatal Care: Ethical Dilemmas
Roles of Regular Exercise in Preventing Disease
Issues Surrounding Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
Health Risks Associated with Sedentary Lifestyles
Medical Ethics: The Case for Patient Confidentiality
Technology’s Impact on Patient Care Quality
Genetic Testing: A Blessing or Curse?
Efficacy of Alternative Medicine: Myths and Facts
Implications of Stem Cell Research: Ethical Perspective
Crisis in Mental Health Services: Solutions and Challenges
Use of Antidepressants in Children: Safety and Efficacy
Roles of Medical Professionals in Tackling Substance Abuse

Medical Argumentative Essay Topics for Middle School

Debate on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs): Health Benefits and Risks
Power of the Placebo Effect: Psychological and Biological Factors
Controversy over Childhood Obesity and the Responsibility of Food Companies
Ethics of Organ Donation and Transplants
Legalizing Assisted Suicide: Human Right or Ethical Dilemma?
Roles of Sports in Maintaining Mental Health
Ethics Surrounding Prenatal Genetic Testing
Consequences of Antibiotic Overuse and Resistance
Controversy Around ADHD Medication for Children
Importance of Preventive Care in Healthcare Systems
Potential Health Risks of Wireless Technology
Dangers of Non-Prescription Drug Use Among Teenagers
Exploring the Psychological Impact of Chronic Pain
Understanding the Ethics of Gene Editing Technologies
Legalizing Psychedelics for Therapeutic Use: Risks and Benefits
Challenging Stigmas Attached to Mental Health Disorders
Advancements in Prosthetic Technology: Ethical Considerations
Impacts of Air Pollution on Respiratory Diseases
Necessity of Immunizations: Public Health vs. Personal Choice
The Ethics of Using AI in Medical Diagnostics
Obesity Epidemic: Role of Fast Food Industry
Investigation of Homeopathic Medicine Effectiveness
Risks of Prolonged Screen Time on Youth Eye Health
Consequences of Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Sports
Roles of Animal-Assisted Therapy in Mental Health Treatments

Medical Argumentative Essay Topics for College Students

Justification for Mandatory Vaccinations in Higher Education
Incorporation of Alternative Medicine in Mainstream Healthcare
Efficacy of Telemedicine in Today’s Technological Age
Consideration of Mental Health as Significant as Physical Health
Role of Antibiotics: Overuse and Its Consequences
Importance of Stem Cell Research: Ethical Boundaries
Usage of Animal Testing in Medical Research: Right or Wrong?
Pros and Cons of Assisted Suicide for Terminal Illnesses
Impacts of Regular Health Check-Ups on Overall Wellness
Examination of the Placebo Effect: Psychological or Physiological?
Discussion on the Right to Health: Universal Healthcare
Balancing Patient Confidentiality With Public Safety
Necessity of Sex Education in Schools and Colleges
Analysis of the Obesity Epidemic: Medical or Societal Issue?
Alcohol and Drug Abuse: Prevention Strategies and Their Effectiveness
Ethical Considerations in Organ Transplantation and Donation
Influence of Diet on Chronic Diseases: Are Doctors Trained Enough?
Influence of Technological Advancements on Surgical Procedures
Discrepancies in Health Care Coverage: A Social Injustice
Roles of Nutrition in Maintaining Mental Health
Assessment of Artificial Intelligence in Medical Diagnostics
Cosmetic Surgery: Vanity or Medical Necessity?
Value of Biomedical Research in Pandemic Preparedness
Impact of Prenatal Genetic Testing on Parental Decisions
Comparing Traditional and Modern Approaches to Pain Management
Childhood Vaccination: Parental Rights vs. Public Health
Links Between Environmental Pollution and Rising Health Issues

Medical Argumentative Essay Topics for University

Efficacy of Stem Cell Research in Addressing Degenerative Diseases
Mandatory Vaccination Policies: Are They Ethical?
Genetically Modified Organisms: Threat or Salvation to Global Food Security?
Animal Testing: Ethical Implications vs. Scientific Progress
Nanotechnology in Medicine: A Leap Forward or a Potential Risk?
Dissecting the Impact of Antibiotic Overuse on Public Health
Disparity in Healthcare Services: A Global Analysis
Telemedicine: Innovation or Threat to Traditional Healthcare Practice?
Effectiveness of Alternative Medicine: A Comprehensive Review
Childhood Obesity: Prevention Strategies and Health Implications
Dangers of Prolonged Screen Time on Children’s Health
Public Health Policies and Their Impact on Pandemic Management
The Ethics of Organ Transplantation: Who Should Be Prioritized?
Mandatory Mental Health Screenings in Schools: Are They Necessary?
Opioid Crisis: Who Bears the Responsibility?
Benefits and Risks of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine
Analyzing the Effectiveness of Universal Healthcare Models
Roles of Diet in Preventing Chronic Diseases
Impacts of Sleep Deprivation on Physical and Mental Health
Benefits and Dangers of Medical Marijuana Usage
Analysis of Drug Pricing: Ethical and Economic Perspectives
Pros and Cons of Genomic Sequencing in Newborns
Medical Ethics in the Era of Personalized Medicine
Addressing Mental Health Stigma in Society
Link Between Environmental Pollution and Health Disorders
Nutritional Supplements: Necessity or Marketing Strategy?
The Implication of Big Data in Healthcare: Privacy vs. Progress
Comparative Study of Eastern and Western Medical Practices

Medical Argumentative Essay Topics for Master’s & Ph.D.

Addressing the Ethical Implications of Genetic Engineering in Modern Medicine
Analyzing the Efficacy of Alternative Medicine: Evidence-Based Discussion
The Impact of Big Data on Medical Research: Benefits and Drawbacks
Roles of Telemedicine in Delivering Equitable Healthcare: A Global Perspective
Mandatory Vaccinations: A Necessary Approach or an Invasion of Personal Liberty?
Evaluating the Psychological Consequences of Chronic Illness
Potential Risks and Benefits of Experimental Treatments in Terminal Illnesses
Medical Artificial Intelligence: Enhancing Patient Care or Dehumanizing the Practice?
Integrating Mental Health Services into Primary Healthcare: Pros and Cons
Contemplating the Impact of Physician-Assisted Suicide on Medical Ethics
Right to Die: Examining the Legal and Ethical Framework of Euthanasia
Universal Healthcare: A Sustainable Model or an Unrealistic Dream?
Roles of Big Pharma in Shaping Healthcare Policies: A Critical Examination
Medical Professional Burnout: Consequences and Possible Solutions
Personalized Medicine: A Revolution in Patient Care or an Invitation to Discrimination?
Biomedical Research on Animals: An Ethical Dilemma
Clinical Trials in Developing Countries: Exploitation or Cooperation?
Antibiotic Resistance: Analyzing Causes and Formulating Solutions
Informed Consent in Medical Research: Current Issues and Future Directions
Health Disparities in Ethnic Minorities: Societal Factors and Solutions
Examining the Impact of Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing on Public Health
Stem Cell Research: Balancing Scientific Progress With Ethical Concerns
Obesity Epidemic: Examining the Role of Fast Food Industry and Government Regulations
Plastic Surgery for Cosmetic Purposes: A Matter of Choice or Social Pressure?
Mitigating the Impact of Pandemics: Learning From COVID-19 Experience
Analyzing the Long-Term Impacts of Electronic Health Records on Patient Privacy
Use of Predictive Analytics in Healthcare: Opportunities and Risks
Assessment of the Role of Health Insurance Companies in Medical Decision-Making
Quality of Life vs. Length of Life: The Ethical Dilemma in Palliative Care
Discussing the Potential Implications of 3D-Printed Organs in Transplant Medicine

To Learn More, Read Relevant Articles

Essay on the power of vulnerability, 762 research paper topics & good ideas.

MARC TUNZI, MD, MA, Natividad Family Medicine Residency, Salinas, California; University of California, San Francisco, California

WILLIAM VENTRES, MD, MA, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas

PHILIP G. DAY, PhD, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts

DAVID J. SATIN, MD, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Related editorial: Ethics, Education, and American Family Physician

Am Fam Physician. 2022;106(1):12-13

Author disclosure: No relevant financial relationships.

What are the ethical responsibilities for clinical journals publishing articles on controversial topics? Does controversy matter if the content is evidence based and the article is well written? Must all such articles be accompanied by an editorial that acknowledges opposing perspectives on a topic?

Family medicine is as diverse as the doctors who practice it and the communities we serve. Family physicians comprise a broad spectrum of age, gender, race and ethnicity, religious and spiritual beliefs, and political and philosophical ideologies who contribute an array of skill sets and styles to practice medicine in all locations. Clinically, we vary with respect to whether we care mostly for adults or also include children and adolescents; perform hospital work and maternity care or ambulatory care alone; provide palliative and end-of-life care; or provide reproductive health care. Geographically, our practices range from urban inner city to rural and frontier. Institutionally, we vary from single-physician to large-group offices in private, managed care, safety net, hospital, and academic settings.

Family physicians have always adapted our practices to meet the needs of our individual patients and our communities. Indeed, a key academic tenet of family medicine is the biopsychosocial model: Family physicians intervene for our patients holistically, in a myriad of ways, however we are best able to serve them. 1 Practically, we espouse the principles of relationship-based, comprehensive, continuous, contextual, coordinated, community-focused, patient-centered care. 2 , 3 These principles, in turn, help us address the four goals of medicine: treating illness, preventing disease, ameliorating pain and suffering, and prolonging a good life when possible and promoting a good death when not. 4

This broad, generalist context produces a distinctly family medicine ethos—a moral orientation and habit of practice—that focuses our efforts on one unifying question: What, all things considered, should happen in this specific health situation? Family physicians are charged to answer this question in light of the previously mentioned principles—with a healthy sense of ethical humility about our knowledge, skills, and attitudes—and mindful of our own and our patients’ and communities’ values and beliefs. 5

Although individual family physicians must follow their conscience regarding their own practice of family medicine, we should remain open to education about topics that might be considered controversial if the education is necessary to ensure that our patients receive the care they need. As family medicine and the general standard of health care continue to evolve, it is our professional duty to stay informed about developments that fit within our scope and competencies. These developments include medical knowledge and clinical care as well as practice-based learning, interpersonal and communication skills, systems-based practice, and professionalism.

American Family Physician ( AFP ), the premier evidence-based, educational, family medicine journal in the United States, is a leader in these efforts. Indeed, its mission and goals explicitly address this duty. 6

Controversial Topics

Clinical topics commonly considered controversial include abortion and other aspects of reproductive health; end-of-life and palliative care matters, including physician-assisted dying; LGBTQIA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer [or questioning], intersex, asexual) care; elements of addiction medicine and chronic pain management; and various topics in complementary and alternative medicine.

Controversial community health topics include air, water, and food pollution; climate change; health equity, which includes addressing issues of health literacy, racism, immigration policy, and other social determinants of health; the aging physician and other issues of physician competency; vaccine mandates; youth sport policies; tobacco, alcohol, and substance use; and firearm safety and gun violence prevention.

When family physicians apply these concepts in practice, we are caring for real people with genuine needs. When we act on and advocate for community health issues, our neighbors pay attention, and our communities benefit. Not all of us want to participate in these pursuits—just as not all of us practice hospital medicine and maternity care—but all these matters fall within family medicine’s scope and competencies. For family physicians specifically, the question remains: What, all things considered, should I do in relation to these clinical activities and community health issues?

Just as with any other article in AFP , the content of articles about controversial topics must be evidence based; focus on family medicine; state why the education is important in advancing individual and community health care; be neutral and objective in tone; and be devoid of overt commercial, religious, political, or philosophical rhetoric. We appreciate that authors are individuals with their own experiences and that, strictly speaking, there is no philosophical “view from nowhere.” 7 Authors should address the values and principles of family medicine and speak to practicing family physicians. When applicable, authors should discuss caveats and weaknesses of their work, acknowledging the diversity of opinion on the topic at hand.

Some readers might wonder whether AFP is obligated to devote equal space to all sides of a controversial topic. The simple answer is no. Pieces published in AFP should address educationally important topics germane to the ongoing practice of family medicine in an evidence-based manner. Significant diversity of practice and opinion should be addressed, but not all sides of a given topic are relevant to the evolution of family medicine’s standard of care.

Active critical appraisal of the literature should occur when we read any medical journal. Readers may disagree with the educational importance, the relevance to family medicine, or the quality of evidence for a given topic. Such disagreement is the hallmark of any healthy profession, and addressing it is one of the best ways to push ourselves, together, to evolve. One way to do this is by conversing with colleagues, which can be a source of relief but also a source of new perspectives. Engaging patients and communities in discussions is another way to gain insight into alternative perspectives. Other ways include commenting on an article or writing a letter to the journal to share feedback.

As physicians dedicated to the care of our patients and communities, embracing the biopsychosocial model of care and practicing the principles of family medicine in our daily work, family physicians have much more in common than we have in difference. Whatever our disagreements are, we must try to communicate them with each other, respectfully. We do not need to be united on everything, but we should not let our differences of opinion divide us. Indeed, where we do have differences, we should welcome professional dialogue and discussion. Especially when it comes to education, our duty is to envision, encounter, and engage—controversy or not.

Editor's Note: If you would like to provide feedback about AFP 's appearance or editorial content (e.g., articles, patient information handouts, other features), contact Matthew Neff, managing editor of AFP ( [email protected] ). If you would like to write a letter to the editor, follow the instruction in the Letters to the Editor section of AFP 's Authors' Guide on the AFP website ( https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/authors.html ).—Sumi M. Sexton, editor-in-chief

Borrell-Carrió F, Suchman AL, Epstein RM. The biopsychosocial model 25 years later: principles, practice, and scientific inquiry. Ann Fam Med. 2004;2(6):576-582.

Saultz JW. Textbook of Family Medicine: Defining and Examining the Discipline . McGraw-Hill; 2000.

Freeman TR. McWhinney's Textbook of Family Medicine . 4th ed. Oxford University Press; 2016.

Callahan D. The goals of medicine. Setting new priorities. Hastings Cent Rep. 1996;26(6):S1-S27.

Tunzi M, Ventres W. Family medicine ethics: an integrative approach. Fam Med. 2018;50(8):583-588.

American Family Physician . About AFP . Accessed May 16, 2022. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/about.html

Nagel T. The View From Nowhere . Oxford University Press; 1986.

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More in AFP

Research Topics & Ideas: Healthcare

100+ Healthcare Research Topic Ideas To Fast-Track Your Project

Healthcare-related research topics and ideas

Finding and choosing a strong research topic is the critical first step when it comes to crafting a high-quality dissertation, thesis or research project. If you’ve landed on this post, chances are you’re looking for a healthcare-related research topic , but aren’t sure where to start. Here, we’ll explore a variety of healthcare-related research ideas and topic thought-starters across a range of healthcare fields, including allopathic and alternative medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, optometry, pharmacology and public health.

NB – This is just the start…

The topic ideation and evaluation process has multiple steps . In this post, we’ll kickstart the process by sharing some research topic ideas within the healthcare domain. This is the starting point, but to develop a well-defined research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , along with a well-justified plan of action to fill that gap.

If you’re new to the oftentimes perplexing world of research, or if this is your first time undertaking a formal academic research project, be sure to check out our free dissertation mini-course. In it, we cover the process of writing a dissertation or thesis from start to end. Be sure to also sign up for our free webinar that explores how to find a high-quality research topic.

Overview: Healthcare Research Topics

Allopathic medicine
Alternative /complementary medicine
Veterinary medicine
Physical therapy/ rehab
Optometry and ophthalmology
Pharmacy and pharmacology
Public health
Examples of healthcare-related dissertations

Allopathic (Conventional) Medicine

The effectiveness of telemedicine in remote elderly patient care
The impact of stress on the immune system of cancer patients
The effects of a plant-based diet on chronic diseases such as diabetes
The use of AI in early cancer diagnosis and treatment
The role of the gut microbiome in mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety
The efficacy of mindfulness meditation in reducing chronic pain: A systematic review
The benefits and drawbacks of electronic health records in a developing country
The effects of environmental pollution on breast milk quality
The use of personalized medicine in treating genetic disorders
The impact of social determinants of health on chronic diseases in Asia
The role of high-intensity interval training in improving cardiovascular health
The efficacy of using probiotics for gut health in pregnant women
The impact of poor sleep on the treatment of chronic illnesses
The role of inflammation in the development of chronic diseases such as lupus
The effectiveness of physiotherapy in pain control post-surgery

Topics & Ideas: Alternative Medicine

The benefits of herbal medicine in treating young asthma patients
The use of acupuncture in treating infertility in women over 40 years of age
The effectiveness of homoeopathy in treating mental health disorders: A systematic review
The role of aromatherapy in reducing stress and anxiety post-surgery
The impact of mindfulness meditation on reducing high blood pressure
The use of chiropractic therapy in treating back pain of pregnant women
The efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine such as Shun-Qi-Tong-Xie (SQTX) in treating digestive disorders in China
The impact of yoga on physical and mental health in adolescents
The benefits of hydrotherapy in treating musculoskeletal disorders such as tendinitis
The role of Reiki in promoting healing and relaxation post birth
The effectiveness of naturopathy in treating skin conditions such as eczema
The use of deep tissue massage therapy in reducing chronic pain in amputees
The impact of tai chi on the treatment of anxiety and depression
The benefits of reflexology in treating stress, anxiety and chronic fatigue
The role of acupuncture in the prophylactic management of headaches and migraines

Topics & Ideas: Dentistry

The impact of sugar consumption on the oral health of infants
The use of digital dentistry in improving patient care: A systematic review
The efficacy of orthodontic treatments in correcting bite problems in adults
The role of dental hygiene in preventing gum disease in patients with dental bridges
The impact of smoking on oral health and tobacco cessation support from UK dentists
The benefits of dental implants in restoring missing teeth in adolescents
The use of lasers in dental procedures such as root canals
The efficacy of root canal treatment using high-frequency electric pulses in saving infected teeth
The role of fluoride in promoting remineralization and slowing down demineralization
The impact of stress-induced reflux on oral health
The benefits of dental crowns in restoring damaged teeth in elderly patients
The use of sedation dentistry in managing dental anxiety in children
The efficacy of teeth whitening treatments in improving dental aesthetics in patients with braces
The role of orthodontic appliances in improving well-being
The impact of periodontal disease on overall health and chronic illnesses

Free Webinar: How To Find A Dissertation Research Topic

Tops & Ideas: Veterinary Medicine

The impact of nutrition on broiler chicken production
The role of vaccines in disease prevention in horses
The importance of parasite control in animal health in piggeries
The impact of animal behaviour on welfare in the dairy industry
The effects of environmental pollution on the health of cattle
The role of veterinary technology such as MRI in animal care
The importance of pain management in post-surgery health outcomes
The impact of genetics on animal health and disease in layer chickens
The effectiveness of alternative therapies in veterinary medicine: A systematic review
The role of veterinary medicine in public health: A case study of the COVID-19 pandemic
The impact of climate change on animal health and infectious diseases in animals
The importance of animal welfare in veterinary medicine and sustainable agriculture
The effects of the human-animal bond on canine health
The role of veterinary medicine in conservation efforts: A case study of Rhinoceros poaching in Africa
The impact of veterinary research of new vaccines on animal health

Topics & Ideas: Physical Therapy/Rehab

The efficacy of aquatic therapy in improving joint mobility and strength in polio patients
The impact of telerehabilitation on patient outcomes in Germany
The effect of kinesiotaping on reducing knee pain and improving function in individuals with chronic pain
A comparison of manual therapy and yoga exercise therapy in the management of low back pain
The use of wearable technology in physical rehabilitation and the impact on patient adherence to a rehabilitation plan
The impact of mindfulness-based interventions in physical therapy in adolescents
The effects of resistance training on individuals with Parkinson’s disease
The role of hydrotherapy in the management of fibromyalgia
The impact of cognitive-behavioural therapy in physical rehabilitation for individuals with chronic pain
The use of virtual reality in physical rehabilitation of sports injuries
The effects of electrical stimulation on muscle function and strength in athletes
The role of physical therapy in the management of stroke recovery: A systematic review
The impact of pilates on mental health in individuals with depression
The use of thermal modalities in physical therapy and its effectiveness in reducing pain and inflammation
The effect of strength training on balance and gait in elderly patients

Topics & Ideas: Optometry & Opthalmology

The impact of screen time on the vision and ocular health of children under the age of 5
The effects of blue light exposure from digital devices on ocular health
The role of dietary interventions, such as the intake of whole grains, in the management of age-related macular degeneration
The use of telemedicine in optometry and ophthalmology in the UK
The impact of myopia control interventions on African American children’s vision
The use of contact lenses in the management of dry eye syndrome: different treatment options
The effects of visual rehabilitation in individuals with traumatic brain injury
The role of low vision rehabilitation in individuals with age-related vision loss: challenges and solutions
The impact of environmental air pollution on ocular health
The effectiveness of orthokeratology in myopia control compared to contact lenses
The role of dietary supplements, such as omega-3 fatty acids, in ocular health
The effects of ultraviolet radiation exposure from tanning beds on ocular health
The impact of computer vision syndrome on long-term visual function
The use of novel diagnostic tools in optometry and ophthalmology in developing countries
The effects of virtual reality on visual perception and ocular health: an examination of dry eye syndrome and neurologic symptoms

Topics & Ideas: Pharmacy & Pharmacology

The impact of medication adherence on patient outcomes in cystic fibrosis
The use of personalized medicine in the management of chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease
The effects of pharmacogenomics on drug response and toxicity in cancer patients
The role of pharmacists in the management of chronic pain in primary care
The impact of drug-drug interactions on patient mental health outcomes
The use of telepharmacy in healthcare: Present status and future potential
The effects of herbal and dietary supplements on drug efficacy and toxicity
The role of pharmacists in the management of type 1 diabetes
The impact of medication errors on patient outcomes and satisfaction
The use of technology in medication management in the USA
The effects of smoking on drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics: A case study of clozapine
Leveraging the role of pharmacists in preventing and managing opioid use disorder
The impact of the opioid epidemic on public health in a developing country
The use of biosimilars in the management of the skin condition psoriasis
The effects of the Affordable Care Act on medication utilization and patient outcomes in African Americans

Topics & Ideas: Public Health

The impact of the built environment and urbanisation on physical activity and obesity
The effects of food insecurity on health outcomes in Zimbabwe
The role of community-based participatory research in addressing health disparities
The impact of social determinants of health, such as racism, on population health
The effects of heat waves on public health
The role of telehealth in addressing healthcare access and equity in South America
The impact of gun violence on public health in South Africa
The effects of chlorofluorocarbons air pollution on respiratory health
The role of public health interventions in reducing health disparities in the USA
The impact of the United States Affordable Care Act on access to healthcare and health outcomes
The effects of water insecurity on health outcomes in the Middle East
The role of community health workers in addressing healthcare access and equity in low-income countries
The impact of mass incarceration on public health and behavioural health of a community
The effects of floods on public health and healthcare systems
The role of social media in public health communication and behaviour change in adolescents

Examples: Healthcare Dissertation & Theses

While the ideas we’ve presented above are a decent starting point for finding a healthcare-related research topic, they are fairly generic and non-specific. So, it helps to look at actual dissertations and theses to see how this all comes together.

Below, we’ve included a selection of research projects from various healthcare-related degree programs to help refine your thinking. These are actual dissertations and theses, written as part of Master’s and PhD-level programs, so they can provide some useful insight as to what a research topic looks like in practice.

Improving Follow-Up Care for Homeless Populations in North County San Diego (Sanchez, 2021)
On the Incentives of Medicare’s Hospital Reimbursement and an Examination of Exchangeability (Elzinga, 2016)
Managing the healthcare crisis: the career narratives of nurses (Krueger, 2021)
Methods for preventing central line-associated bloodstream infection in pediatric haematology-oncology patients: A systematic literature review (Balkan, 2020)
Farms in Healthcare: Enhancing Knowledge, Sharing, and Collaboration (Garramone, 2019)
When machine learning meets healthcare: towards knowledge incorporation in multimodal healthcare analytics (Yuan, 2020)
Integrated behavioural healthcare: The future of rural mental health (Fox, 2019)
Healthcare service use patterns among autistic adults: A systematic review with narrative synthesis (Gilmore, 2021)
Mindfulness-Based Interventions: Combatting Burnout and Compassionate Fatigue among Mental Health Caregivers (Lundquist, 2022)
Transgender and gender-diverse people’s perceptions of gender-inclusive healthcare access and associated hope for the future (Wille, 2021)
Efficient Neural Network Synthesis and Its Application in Smart Healthcare (Hassantabar, 2022)
The Experience of Female Veterans and Health-Seeking Behaviors (Switzer, 2022)
Machine learning applications towards risk prediction and cost forecasting in healthcare (Singh, 2022)
Does Variation in the Nursing Home Inspection Process Explain Disparity in Regulatory Outcomes? (Fox, 2020)

Looking at these titles, you can probably pick up that the research topics here are quite specific and narrowly-focused , compared to the generic ones presented earlier. This is an important thing to keep in mind as you develop your own research topic. That is to say, to create a top-notch research topic, you must be precise and target a specific context with specific variables of interest . In other words, you need to identify a clear, well-justified research gap.

Need more help?

If you’re still feeling a bit unsure about how to find a research topic for your healthcare dissertation or thesis, check out Topic Kickstarter service below.

Research Topic Kickstarter - Need Help Finding A Research Topic?

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15 Comments

I need topics that will match the Msc program am running in healthcare research please

Hello Mabel,

I can help you with a good topic, kindly provide your email let’s have a good discussion on this.

Can you provide some research topics and ideas on Immunology?

Thank you to create new knowledge on research problem verse research topic

Help on problem statement on teen pregnancy

This post might be useful: https://gradcoach.com/research-problem-statement/

can you provide me with a research topic on healthcare related topics to a qqi level 5 student

Please can someone help me with research topics in public health ?

Hello I have requirement of Health related latest research issue/topics for my social media speeches. If possible pls share health issues , diagnosis, treatment.

I would like a topic thought around first-line support for Gender-Based Violence for survivors or one related to prevention of Gender-Based Violence

Please can I be helped with a master’s research topic in either chemical pathology or hematology or immunology? thanks

Can u please provide me with a research topic on occupational health and safety at the health sector

Good day kindly help provide me with Ph.D. Public health topics on Reproductive and Maternal Health, interventional studies on Health Education

may you assist me with a good easy healthcare administration study topic

May you assist me in finding a research topic on nutrition,physical activity and obesity. On the impact on children

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Medical Research Paper Topics

This page provides a comprehensive list of medical research paper topics divided into 20 categories, each with 10 unique subjects. The categories span across various subfields, including anatomy and physiology, diseases, epidemiology, health and fitness, health disparities, healthcare, kinesiology, mental health, pharmacology, and veterinary medicine. Additionally, the page offers expert advice on choosing the right topic and crafting an impactful medical research paper. It also introduces iResearchNet’s writing services, which are designed to assist students in creating high-quality, custom medical research papers.

200 Medical Research Paper Topics:

Medical research is a vast and diverse field, offering a plethora of topics for students and researchers to explore. The choice of topic can significantly influence the direction of your research and the impact of your findings. Therefore, it’s crucial to choose a topic that not only interests you but also aligns with your academic and career goals. To assist you in this endeavor, we have compiled a comprehensive list of medical research paper topics, divided into 20 categories, each with 10 unique topics.

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1. Anatomy and Physiology:

The role of the lymphatic system in maintaining homeostasis.
The impact of aging on muscle function and structure.
The physiological effects of stress on the human body.
The role of the endocrine system in metabolism.
The impact of exercise on cardiovascular health.
The role of the nervous system in sensation and perception.
The physiological effects of sleep deprivation.
The role of the digestive system in nutrient absorption.
The impact of genetic factors on human physiology.
The role of the immune system in disease prevention.

2. Diseases:

The genetic and environmental factors contributing to the development of cancer.
The impact of lifestyle factors on the prevalence of heart disease.
The role of vaccination in the prevention of infectious diseases.
The challenges in the management and treatment of diabetes.
The impact of the human microbiome on disease development.
The role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.
The challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
The impact of antibiotic resistance on the treatment of bacterial infections.
The role of genetic mutations in the development of rare diseases.
The impact of viral evolution on the spread of infectious diseases.

3. Epidemiology:

The impact of socioeconomic factors on the prevalence of infectious diseases.
The role of vaccination in the prevention of disease outbreaks.
The impact of climate change on the spread of vector-borne diseases.
The role of epidemiological studies in the development of public health policies.
The impact of population density on the spread of infectious diseases.
The role of epidemiology in the identification of risk factors for chronic diseases.
The impact of global travel on the spread of infectious diseases.
The role of epidemiological data in the management of disease outbreaks.
The impact of demographic factors on disease prevalence.
The role of epidemiology in the study of health disparities.

4. Health and Fitness:

The impact of physical activity on mental health.
The role of diet in the prevention of chronic diseases.
The impact of sedentary lifestyle on health.
The role of physical fitness in the prevention of heart disease.
The impact of obesity on health and lifespan.
The role of exercise in the management of stress.
The impact of nutrition on cognitive function.
The role of physical activity in the management of chronic diseases.
The impact of sleep on health and wellbeing.
The role of lifestyle interventions in the prevention of diabetes.

5. Health Disparities:

The impact of socioeconomic status on health outcomes.
The role of healthcare access in health disparities.
The impact of racial and ethnic disparities on health outcomes.
The role of social determinants of health in health disparities.
The impact of health literacy on health outcomes.
The role of cultural competence in reducing health disparities.
The impact of gender disparities on health outcomes.
The role of health policy in addressing health disparities.
The impact of environmental factors on health disparities.
The role of education in reducing health disparities.

6. Healthcare:

The impact of healthcare reform on patient outcomes.
The role of telemedicine in improving healthcare access.
The impact of health information technology on patient care.
The role of healthcare quality in patient satisfaction.
The impact of healthcare costs on health outcomes.
The role of healthcare leadership in improving patient care.
The impact of health insurance on healthcare access.
The role of healthcare innovation in improving patient outcomes.
The impact of healthcare policy on patient care.
The role of healthcare management in improving healthcare quality.

7. Kinesiology:

The impact of physical activity on muscle function.
The role of biomechanics in injury prevention.
The impact of exercise on cognitive function.
The role of kinesiology in the prevention of chronic diseases.
The impact of physical fitness on health outcomes.
The role of kinesiology in the management of sports injuries.
The impact of exercise physiology on athletic performance.
The role of kinesiology in the promotion of physical activity.
The impact of motor control on athletic performance.
The role of kinesiology in the study of human movement.

8. Mental Health:

The impact of stress on mental health.
The role of psychotherapy in the treatment of mental disorders.
The impact of mental illness on quality of life.
The role of mental health promotion in the prevention of mental disorders.
The impact of stigma on mental health outcomes.
The role of mental health services in the treatment of mental disorders.
The impact of mental health policy on mental health services.
The role of mental health literacy in the prevention of mental disorders.
The impact of mental health disparities on mental health outcomes.
The role of mental health research in improving mental health care.

9. Pharmacology:

The impact of drug interactions on patient safety.
The role of pharmacokinetics in drug development.
The impact of pharmacogenomics on personalized medicine.
The role of pharmacology in the treatment of diseases.
The impact of drug resistance on the treatment of infectious diseases.
The role of pharmacology in the management of pain.
The impact of drug abuse on public health.
The role of pharmacology in the prevention of drug interactions.
The impact of drug development on patient care.
The role of pharmacology in the study of drug action.

10. Veterinary Medicine:

The impact of zoonotic diseases on public health.
The role of veterinary medicine in the prevention of animal diseases.
The impact of veterinary medicine on food safety.
The role of veterinary medicine in the treatment of animal diseases.
The impact of veterinary public health on human health.
The role of veterinary medicine in the prevention of zoonotic diseases.
The impact of animal health on public health.
The role of veterinary medicine in the promotion of animal welfare.
The impact of veterinary medicine on animal behavior.
The role of veterinary medicine in the study of animal physiology.

11. Neurology:

The impact of neurodegenerative diseases on public health.
The role of neurology in the treatment of neurological disorders.
The impact of neurological research on patient care.
The role of neurology in the study of the nervous system.
The impact of neurological disorders on quality of life.
The role of neurology in the diagnosis of neurological disorders.
The impact of neurological diseases on mental health.
The role of neurology in the prevention of neurological diseases.
The impact of neurological disorders on cognitive function.
The role of neurology in the study of brain function.

12. Oncology:

The impact of cancer on public health.
The role of oncology in the treatment of cancer.
The impact of oncological research on patient care.
The role of oncology in the study of cancer.
The impact of cancer on quality of life.
The role of oncology in the diagnosis of cancer.
The impact of cancer on mental health.
The role of oncology in the prevention of cancer.
The impact of cancer on physical health.
The role of oncology in the study of cancer biology.

13. Cardiology:

The impact of heart disease on public health.
The role of cardiology in the treatment of heart disease.
The impact of cardiological research on patient care.
The role of cardiology in the study of the cardiovascular system.
The impact of heart disease on quality of life.
The role of cardiology in the diagnosis of heart disease.
The impact of heart disease on mental health.
The role of cardiology in the prevention of heart disease.
The impact of heart disease on physical health.
The role of cardiology in the study of heart function.

14. Endocrinology:

The impact of endocrine disorders on public health.
The role of endocrinology in the treatment of endocrine disorders.
The impact of endocrinological research on patient care.
The role of endocrinology in the study of the endocrine system.
The impact of endocrine disorders on quality of life.
The role of endocrinology in the diagnosis of endocrine disorders.
The impact of endocrine disorders on mental health.
The role of endocrinology in the prevention of endocrine disorders.
The impact of endocrine disorders on physical health.
The role of endocrinology in the study of hormone function.

15. Gastroenterology:

The impact of gastrointestinal disorders on public health.
The role of gastroenterology in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders.
The impact of gastroenterological research on patient care.
The role of gastroenterology in the study of the gastrointestinal system.
The impact of gastrointestinal disorders on quality of life.
The role of gastroenterology in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal disorders.
The impact of gastrointestinal disorders on mental health.
The role of gastroenterology in the prevention of gastrointestinal disorders.
The impact of gastrointestinal disorders on physical health.
The role of gastroenterology in the study of digestive function.

16. Dermatology:

The impact of skin disorders on public health.
The role of dermatology in the treatment of skin disorders.
The impact of dermatological research on patient care.
The role of dermatology in the study of the skin.
The impact of skin disorders on quality of life.
The role of dermatology in the diagnosis of skin disorders.
The impact of skin disorders on mental health.
The role of dermatology in the prevention of skin disorders.
The impact of skin disorders on physical appearance.
The role of dermatology in the study of skin health.

17. Pulmonology:

The impact of respiratory disorders on public health.
The role of pulmonology in the treatment of respiratory disorders.
The impact of pulmonological research on patient care.
The role of pulmonology in the study of the respiratory system.
The impact of respiratory disorders on quality of life.
The role of pulmonology in the diagnosis of respiratory disorders.
The impact of respiratory disorders on mental health.
The role of pulmonology in the prevention of respiratory disorders.
The impact of respiratory disorders on physical health.
The role of pulmonology in the study of lung function.

18. Pediatrics:

The impact of childhood diseases on public health.
The role of pediatrics in the treatment of childhood diseases.
The impact of pediatric research on patient care.
The role of pediatrics in the study of childhood diseases.
The impact of childhood diseases on quality of life.
The role of pediatrics in the diagnosis of childhood diseases.
The impact of childhood diseases on mental health.
The role of pediatrics in the prevention of childhood diseases.
The impact of childhood diseases on physical health.
The role of pediatrics in the study of child health.

19. Geriatrics:

The impact of aging on public health.
The role of geriatrics in the treatment of age-related diseases.
The impact of geriatric research on patient care.
The role of geriatrics in the study of aging.
The impact of aging on quality of life.
The role of geriatrics in the diagnosis of age-related diseases.
The impact of aging on mental health.
The role of geriatrics in the prevention of age-related diseases.
The impact of aging on physical health.
The role of geriatrics in the study of the aging process.

20. Psychiatry:

The impact of mental disorders on public health.
The role of psychiatry in the treatment of mental disorders.
The impact of psychiatric research on patient care.
The role of psychiatry in the study of mental disorders.
The impact of mental disorders on quality of life.
The role of psychiatry in the diagnosis of mental disorders.
The impact of mental disorders on social interactions.
The role of psychiatry in the prevention of mental disorders.
The impact of mental disorders on physical health.
The role of psychiatry in the study of mental health.

The field of medical research is vast and diverse, offering a multitude of topics for exploration. The choice of a research topic is a critical step in the research process, and it can significantly influence the direction of your research and the impact of your findings. Therefore, it’s crucial to choose a topic that not only interests you but also aligns with your academic and career goals. This comprehensive list of medical research paper topics provides a starting point for your research journey. Remember, the best research topic is one that is original, manageable, and meaningful.

Introduction to Medical Research

Medical research is a broad and multifaceted field that encompasses a wide range of topics and disciplines. It is the backbone of modern healthcare and plays a crucial role in improving the quality of life for people around the world. Medical research is the driving force behind new discoveries, innovative treatments, and the development of policies that shape public health.

At its core, medical research seeks to understand the complexities of the human body, the diseases that afflict it, and the various external factors that influence health. It is a field that is constantly evolving, with new technologies and methodologies continually pushing the boundaries of what we know about health and disease.

One of the key aspects of medical research is its interdisciplinary nature. It draws upon a variety of fields, including biology, chemistry, physics, and even social sciences. This interdisciplinary approach allows for a more comprehensive understanding of health and disease, as it considers not only the biological aspects but also the social, environmental, and psychological factors that influence health.

For instance, research in anatomy and physiology delves into the structure and function of the human body, providing the foundation for understanding health and disease. Studies in diseases and epidemiology, on the other hand, focus on the patterns, causes, and effects of health and disease conditions in defined populations. Health and fitness research explores the impact of lifestyle choices on health, while health disparities research examines the inequalities in health outcomes and healthcare that exist among different population groups.

Research in healthcare and kinesiology often intersects, examining how healthcare services and physical activity can improve health outcomes. Mental health research is a rapidly growing field, addressing a wide range of mental health disorders and the impact they have on overall health. Pharmacology research is vital for the development of new drugs and therapies, while veterinary medicine research not only improves the health of animals but can also provide insights into human health through comparative medicine.

Choosing a topic for a medical research paper can be a daunting task given the breadth and depth of the field. However, it also offers a wealth of opportunities to delve into a topic that is not only interesting but can also contribute to the betterment of health and healthcare.

How to Choose Medical Research Paper Topics

Choosing a topic for your medical research paper is a critical step in your academic journey. The topic you select will guide your research direction, influence your motivation, and determine the depth of your understanding of the subject matter. Therefore, it’s essential to choose wisely and consider various factors before making a decision. Here are ten comprehensive tips to help you select the right medical research paper topic:

Identify Your Interests: The first step in choosing a research topic is to consider your interests within the field of medicine. Are you fascinated by neurology, passionate about public health, or intrigued by the complexities of surgery? Identifying your interests can help you narrow down potential topics. When you choose a topic you’re passionate about, the research process becomes less of a task and more of an exploration. You’ll find yourself more engaged, and the enthusiasm will reflect in the quality of your research.
Consider the Scope: The scope of your topic is an important factor to consider. A topic that’s too broad can make your research overwhelming, as you may have to sift through an enormous amount of information and struggle to cover all aspects within the constraints of your paper. On the other hand, a topic that’s too narrow might not provide enough material for a comprehensive study. Strive for a balance where your topic is specific enough to manage but broad enough to explore in depth.
Check for Resources: Before finalizing a topic, ensure there are sufficient resources available for your research. These resources could include books, scholarly articles, reputable online sources, and expert interviews. Conduct a preliminary literature review to gauge the availability of sources. A lack of resources can lead to a weak paper, while an abundance of resources can provide multiple perspectives and strengthen your research.
Relevance to Current Times: Choosing a topic that is relevant to current medical issues or ongoing research can make your paper more engaging and significant. It allows you to contribute to the existing body of knowledge and possibly influence future research or policy. Whether it’s a new treatment method, an emerging disease, or a controversial medical practice, current topics can spark interest and debate.
Consult with Your Instructor: Your instructor or advisor can be a valuable resource when choosing a topic. They can provide guidance, help you refine a broad topic, expand a narrow one, and provide feedback on your initial ideas. They can also point you towards resources or research areas you might not have considered.
Consider the Target Audience: Always keep your target audience in mind when choosing a research topic. The topic should be interesting and accessible to them. If you’re writing for a class, consider what you’ve already discussed and what themes your instructor has emphasized. If you’re writing for publication, consider the interests and level of expertise of the readers of the journal.
Practicality: Consider the practical aspects of your research. If your research involves primary data collection, consider the feasibility of the methods you plan to use. Do you have access to the necessary equipment or population? Is your study ethical and approved by an ethics committee? Practical considerations can significantly influence your choice of topic.
Originality: While it’s important to build upon existing research, strive to bring a unique perspective to your topic. This could involve studying a well-researched topic from a new angle, exploring a less-studied area of medical research, or proposing a new hypothesis. Originality can make your research stand out and contribute to the advancement of your field.
Alignment with Course Objectives: Your research topic should align with the objectives of your course or curriculum. This ensures that your research paper will not only be interesting but also academically beneficial. It can demonstrate your understanding ofthe course material and your ability to apply it in a real-world context.
Future Career Relevance: If you have a clear idea of your future career path, consider choosing a topic that could be beneficial in your professional life. This could mean researching a topic related to a field you’d like to specialize in, a current issue in your future profession, or a novel area of study that could give you a competitive edge in your career.

In addition to these tips, it’s also important to consider the timeline of your research. Some topics may require more time to research than others, especially if they involve complex experiments or hard-to-reach populations. Make sure you choose a topic that you can reasonably research and write about within your given timeframe.

Also, consider the potential impact of your research. While it’s not always possible to predict how influential a research paper will be, you can consider whether the topic has the potential to affect policy, influence clinical practice, or lead to new research questions. Choosing a topic with potential impact can be particularly important if you plan to pursue a career in academia or research.

Remember, choosing a research topic is not a decision to be taken lightly. It’s the foundation of your research paper and can significantly influence your enjoyment of the writing process, your grade, and even your future career. Take your time, consider your options, and choose a topic that you are passionate about, meets practical considerations, and has the potential to contribute to the field of medical science.

Finally, be flexible. Research is a dynamic process, and it’s okay to refine or even change your topic as you delve deeper into your research. The most important thing is to stay curious, open-minded, and dedicated to uncovering new knowledge. With the right topic, research can be a rewarding journey of discovery.

How to Write a Medical Research Paper

Writing a medical research paper is a comprehensive task that demands a profound understanding of the subject matter, a systematic approach, and a lucid writing style. This process can be quite daunting, especially for those who are new to it. However, with the right guidance and a well-structured plan, it can be a rewarding experience. Here are ten detailed tips to guide you through the process:

Understand the Assignment Thoroughly: The first step in writing a medical research paper is to fully comprehend the assignment. What is the specific question you’re being asked to address? What is the scope of the research paper? What are the formatting requirements? Are there any specific sources you need to use? Understanding the assignment in its entirety will help you focus your research and ensure you meet all the requirements. It’s crucial to clarify any doubts with your professor or advisor at this stage to avoid any misunderstandings later on.
Choose a Suitable Topic: If you have the freedom to choose your own topic, select one that genuinely interests you. Your passion for the subject will come through in your writing, making the process more enjoyable and less of a chore. Make sure the topic is relevant to your field of study and is something you can manage within the given timeframe and word limit. A well-chosen topic can make the difference between a paper that is a joy to research and write and one that is a burdensome chore.
Conduct Thorough Research: The next step is to conduct comprehensive research. Use reputable sources such as academic journals, textbooks, and government health websites to gather information. Make sure to use the most recent data and research available, as the medical field is constantly evolving and it’s important to stay up-to-date. Keep track of your sources as you go along for easy referencing later. This will also save you a lot of time when you are compiling your bibliography.
Create an Outline: An outline is a roadmap for your research paper. It should include an introduction, a body with several points or arguments, and a conclusion. Each point should be supported by evidence from your research. An outline will help structure your thoughts and ideas, making your writing process smoother and more organized. It also allows you to see the flow of your arguments and make sure that everything is in a logical order.
Write a Strong Thesis Statement: Your thesis statement is the backbone of your research paper. It should clearly state the main idea or argument of your paper. It should be concise, specific, and arguable. The thesis statement will guide your writing and keep your argument focused. Spend some time crafting a strong thesis statement. It’s worth the effort as it will give direction to your research and writing.
Start Writing: Once you have your outline and thesis statement, you can start writing. Begin with a draft. Don’t worry about making it perfect the first time around. Just get your ideas down on paper. You can revise and improve it later. Remember, writing is a process. It’s okay to have multiple drafts. The important thing is to start writing.
Use Clear, Concise Language: Medical research papers should be written in a clear, concise, and formal style. Avoid jargon and complex sentences. Make sure your ideas are expressed clearly and logically. Remember, your goal is to communicate your research and ideas, not to impress with big words or complex sentences.
Cite Your Sources: Always cite your sources. This gives credit to the original authors and allows readers to follow up on your research. Be sure to use the citation style required by your professor or the journal you are submitting to. Proper citation is not just about avoiding plagiarism. It also lends credibility to yourpaper and demonstrates the breadth of your research.
Revise and Edit: Once you’ve finished your draft, take the time to revise and edit. This is where you refine your arguments, clarify your thoughts, and polish your language. Look for any inconsistencies, grammatical errors, or areas that could be clarified or improved. Consider having a peer or mentor review your paper. They can provide valuable feedback and catch errors you might have missed. Remember, good writing is rewriting. Don’t be afraid to make changes, and don’t be discouraged if your first draft isn’t perfect.
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To debate or not to debate? Examining the contribution of debating when studying medical ethics in small groups

Nehora amar-gavrilman.

1 Tel Hai College, P.O.Box 1220800, Upper Galilee, Israel

Miriam Ethel Bentwich

2 Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, P.O. Box 1589, Safed, Israel

Associated Data

The datasets generated or analyzed during this study are not publically available since they use foreign language. However, the datasets are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Medical ethics is a significant learning topic for medical students, and often studied through small group learning (SGL) to encourage critical thinking (CT) and tolerance for ambiguity, both considered particularly important when coping with medical ethics dilemmas. However, a previous study about CT and tolerance for ambiguity in medical ethics SGL produced mixed results. Debating is a pedagogical tool known to enhance CT but never used before in medical ethics learning. This paper examines whether the use of debate may enhance medical ethics SGL by contributing to the CT of students and their tolerance of ambiguity.

Intervention study using the qualitative microanalysis research method, based on videotaped observations that were analyzed through Kamin’s model of CT and non-CT. The study was conducted at Bar-Ilan University’s Faculty of Medicine in the years 2017–2019. Forty-four students and 4 facilitators participated, equally split between 4 small groups. Twenty-four medical ethics SGL sessions at the beginning and end of the year were videotaped, 2 groups – with no intervention, 1 group included partial debate intervention and 1 group fully used debates. Results were compared for changes in CT and ambiguity before and during the intervention period.

The full intervention (debating) group had the highest increase in utterances reflecting CT, thus actually doubling the median number of CT utterances at the end of the year in comparison to the median number at the beginning of the year. In a similar manner, the debate group exhibited the only group in which there was an increase in the median utterances of tolerance to ambiguity. Nevertheless, the debate group also exhibited the largest increase in the median non-CT utterances and the lowest decrease of intolerance to ambiguity, when comparing the end of the year to the beginning of the year sessions.

Conclusions

Debating is an important enhancement to SGL in medical ethics; however, it does not guarantee a complete absence of non-CT.

Introduction

Ethical conduct is a fundamental keystone of contemporary medical professionalism and is an integral and mandatory part of the curriculum in most medical schools [ 1 – 3 ]. Acknowledging the challenges entailed in addressing ethical issues, in the last 20–30 years, medical ethics has been taught with an emphasis on critical thinking skills, tolerance for ambiguity, and openness to differing viewpoints [ 4 , 5 ].

Encouraging and enhancing critical thinking (CT) through small-group learning (SGL) is especially important when training medical students in medical ethics. According to a pivotal contemporary definition CT is “the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning or communication, as a guide to belief and action.” ([ 6 ], p. 90) Understanding ethical dilemmas and their related complexities clearly necessitates the ability to examine them thoroughly in a reflective and open-minded manner, while also making decisions regarding these dilemmas. Doing so ultimately entails action guided by a precise and critical examination of them.

Applying CT skills also encourages tolerance for ambiguity. Thus, broadly speaking, tolerance for ambiguity revolves around acknowledging the existence of multiple interpretations for the same situation. Applying CT, among else, is precisely based on creating an atmosphere that allows for different opinions, thereby also setting the foundations for tolerance of ambiguity [ 7 , 8 ].

Still, most of the studies conducted thus far to assess SGL use in learning medical ethics are less focused on any direct examination of the CT development process supposedly taking place in this particular type of learning. Instead, the previous studies were mainly based on students’ self-evaluation questionnaires or interviews with lecturers, most of which were not even focused on CT, but rather on the topic of medical ethics [ 9 , 10 ].

Indeed, in a previous and unique study, designed precisely to examine the extent to which CT actually takes place in SGL sessions of medical ethics, mixed results were observed [ 11 ]. While 2/3 of the examined videotaped SGL showed clear utterances of CT by the medical students participating in the study, 1/3 of their utterances reflected non-CT statements. In other words, simply learning medical ethics through SGL might not be sufficient enough to encourage students to employ CT in their own deliberation of actual medical ethics dilemmas.

Alternatively, debating has been used in different fields of education and is a method that, among other aspects, to assist and encourage the use of CT. While the concept of debate in the West dates back to the ancient Greeks, in its current modern form, debate has become a formal framework where two sides discuss a topic using different perspectives [ 12 ]. Dozens of studies have been conducted over the last decade on integrating debates into various disciplines [ 13 – 19 ]. These studies, supposedly, presented a long list of skills that debate promote, including: open-mindedness, speed of response, communication strategies, public speaking, argumentative ability, the distinction between opinion and fact, listening, meaningful and experiential learning, group work and collaboration, self-confidence, improving the spoken language, clarifying values, formulating ideology and CT. Still, in these studies, the participants answered knowledge and satisfaction questionnaires without any reference being made to the students’ thinking processes. Further, no research has been conducted thus far on how medical students can integrate debating into their study and practice of medical ethics.

Against this backdrop, our study aims to evaluate the possible contributions of using debating to encourage and develop critical thinking (CT) in the context of delivering medical ethics small group learning (SGL).

Research design

The current paper reports on the qualitative part of a larger mixed-method study, which aimed at examining debating in the context of SGL sessions on medical ethics, taking place at the Faculty of Medicine of Bar-Ilan University (Israel) in 2017–2019. The qualitative part is based on 24 videotaped observations of SGL sessions that covered 4 separate small groups, 2 of which underwent educational intervention (debating) as part of the videotaped observations. Additional details on the manner in which these observations and interventions were conducted are provided in the Procedure section below. Data analysis was conducted using the microanalysis approach, further detailed here in the Data Analysis section .

Participants and sampling

In the qualitative portion of the study reported herein, 44 first-year students in our graduate program and 4 facilitators participated and were equally split into 4 groups for the SGL sessions on medical ethics. We utilized a convenience sampling since all the groups were drawn from the mandatory course in medical ethics and medical humanities taught by the second author of the paper. However, it should be emphasized that the coordination, recruitment, observations. and interventions done got the study, were conducted solely by the first author who was at the time a PhD student, not responsible for any of the students’ grades.

The study took place during the “Medical Humanities and Medical Ethics” longitudinal pre-clinical mandatory course for the Graduate (4-year) program at our university. For this study, we focused on first-year students, and specifically, 4 groups (out of 7) were videotaped while conducting SGL sessions in medical ethics. As a baseline, these sessions employ Case-Based-Learning (CBL), whereby the teaching materials (in medical ethics) are learned and applied through discussing particular (fictional) case that is relevant to the topic of study (e.g., cultural competence, ethics in reproduction and genetics, etc.). 2 (of the 4 videotaped groups) did not employ any intervention, so that they simply used the baseline CBL (please see a brief description in the next paragraph). One group with partial intervention was using the same baseline CBL method of learning but did have at the beginning of the year a single introductory class to debating and the manner in which it might assist the students during the rest of the CBL sessions. The remaining group, constituting the full intervention group, 1 fully employed debating as part of its SGL sessions (as further described in the next paragraph). Overall, 6 sessions were videotaped; 2 at the beginning of the year, before the intervention and 4 at the end of the year, when debating was applied to the full intervention group and after the partial and full intervention groups had already received their introductory one-time session on debating.

In the SGL sessions that utilized CBL, the facilitator, together with the students, examined case studies that raised medical ethical dilemmas and analyzed them from various perspectives through guiding questions. In the full intervention (debating) group, the same cases as were reviewed in other groups’ sessions were used, but this group utilized a different procedure. The classroom was split into two areas, each signifying a general stance – either “for” or “against.” Students were then asked to assign themselves to either of these stances and sit accordingly in the designated area for such stance, without knowing yet the content of the case that they will be discussing. Then, the case that will be discussed was introduced and the students were asked to enumerate the considerations for the justification of the side that they represented “for” or “against”, regardless of their personal position and in accordance with the principles of medical ethics (autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice). Afterwards, the discussion of the case further proceeded, but without the assigned role that the students played previously, so that they could state their own opinion and the reasoning behind it.

The cases throughout the year dealt with ethical issues that were arising from a range of topics, such as cultural competence, allocation of public health goods, eugenics and genetic information law, termination of pregnancy and prenatal diagnosis, and ethical issues related to late-onset genetic syndromes and to designer babies.

Data analysis

All 24 videotaped sessions were transcribed ad verbatim by the first author. The data analysis used a microanalysis approach, informed by a model for critical thinking that was suggested by Carol Kamin and her colleagues [ 20 ]. This model was specifically designed for clinical medical education and inspired and based on two previously developed separate pivotal models by Garrison and Newman on critical thinking [ 21 , 22 ]. Kamin and her colleagues suggested five stages consisting of critical/CT (in their terms, “deep-level”) and non-critical/non-CT (in their terms, “surface-level”) thinking. These five stages are: (1) problem identification; (2) problem description; (3) problem exploration; (4) application; and (5) integration/critical assessment. Particular details regarding the various components of critical and non-critical thinking can be found in the article by Kamin and her colleagues [ 20 ]. In addition, we demonstrate how some of these components were applied using a short excerpt from our analysis in the “Results” section that follows.

Microanalysis is used in qualitative research in studies that are based and focused on detailed accounting for videotaped conversational episodes [ 23 – 26 ]. In such detailed account, the number of utterances of particular themes of interest per observed participant may be the focus and foundations of the analysis. For example, in our study, since the focus was set on evaluating the extent to which CT and non-CT utterances changed in the course medical ethics SGL among first-year students, the use of microanalysis fitted perfectly with the purpose of the study. Specifically, our data microanalysis consisted of three main stages. First, each transcribed sentence from the videotaped observations was analyzed using Kamin’s model. The purpose of this basic and fundamental qualitative analysis was to flush out all utterances of the relevant stages of thinking using Kamin’s model, as encapsulated within the transcribed observations. The second stage of the analysis revolved around counting the specific instances of CT] and non-CT thinkingin Kamin’s model per group per session. At this stage, multiple CT and non-CT (, expressed per a single utterance of a single student, were also counted. These utterances, similar to those expressing single CT or non-CT utterances, were also counted per session, per group. The purpose of counting these multiple CT and non-CT per student single expressions was to probe the nature of higher critical thinking utterances versus lower non-critical thinking utterances in each of the group sessions. We considered multiple CT expressions in a single student’s utterance as having 3 and above CT), The thought behind focusing on these multiple CT expressions was that they signify the most illustrious form of critical thinking, since these multiple CT expressions reflect not a single utterance but 3 utterances of critical thinking per a student’s single statement. Initially we also probed for 3 and more multiple non-CT, but since there were no such cases, we opted for 2 non-CT instances per student’s utterance. Finally, in the third stage of the data analysis process, the medians of the first part of the year (before the intervention program) and the second part of the year (after the intervention program) were calculated for all the utterances of CT and non-CT, as well as multiple CT and multiple non-CT. The use of medians rather than averages was chosen to avoid any misrepresentation due to outliers, whether in the direction of CT or non-CT [ 27 ].

To ensure the trustworthiness of the qualitative research, an ongoing discussion took place between the two authors about the coding of the various utterances of CT and non-CT. In any cases of disagreement, the particular codlings questioned were discussed, reverting to the relevant portions of the original transcripts of the videotaped observations, until an agreement was reached. a large number of observations were also done on the different groups rather than just a one-time observation, thereby further increasing the trustworthiness of the data analysis overall.

Ethical considerations

The study was approved by the University Ethics in Research Committee (Approval No 10–2016). At the beginning of the school year, students were given an explanation of the research and the opportunity to decide not to participate or request to withdraw their participation during the course of the research. Students who felt uncomfortable exposing their faces to the camera were allowed to sit in places where the camera would not entirely catch their faces. The videotaped observations were also stored on a password-protected personal computer available only to the first author, and removed from the cameras used for recording the sessions once those videotaped observations were uploaded to that computer.

The transcriptions of the recorded observations also did not include any personally identifiable information. Individual students were identified only through assigned numbers in ascending order (1,2,3, etc.) per group, together with an indication for whether the student was male or female.

Demonstration of the first-step (fundamental) microanalysis

Table 1 shows examples for the first-stage data analysis, where the relevant stages of CT and non-CT according to Kamin’s model are assigned to each of the expressions made by the students and facilitators. The first example is taken from the one of the sessions taking place before any intervention was conducted, where the students discussed a case in cultural competence. The second excerpt is from the same session about cultural competence, but this time, the focus is set on multiple CT and non-CT expressions in students’ single utterances. This latter example also includes expressions showing (in our analysis) instances of tolerance and intolerance to ambiguity (AD and AIS, respectively).

Example for the first-step microanalysis a

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a Ad = discuss ambiguities or facts to clear them up (stage 2 – problem identification [CT]); Ld = linking ideas and facts (stage 3 – problem exploration [CT]); LVd = Interpretation of data (on video) (stage 3 – problem exploration [CT]; JSd = justifying hypotheses or order / action by providing examples or explaining (as part of stage 3 – problem exploration [CT]; AIs = ignoring or exhibiting impatience with ambiguities (stage 2 – problem identification [non-CT]); JHs = Unwilling to explore other possible solutions/explanations for problem (stage 3 – problem exploration [non-CT])

Overall trends of multiple CT and non-CT expressions – start vs. end of year

The trends of change in multiple CT expressions as well as in multiple non-CT expressions throughout the year were examined in the four groups by comparing the median values of the sessions at the beginning of the year (before the intervention) to the median values in sessions at the end of the year, per group. All these trends are presented, side-by-side in Fig. Fig.1 1 below.

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Trends of Multiple Critical Thinking and non-Critical Thinking

Here we can see that most of the groups had a similar baseline at the beginning of the year (median of 15–20 multiple CT expressions per single student’s utterance). Yet, the largest increase in deep (or high) CT is exhibited in the full intervention group (i.e., the exercised debate group), where the median value doubled itself at the end of the year (14.5 vs. 29). However, there is also a slight increase in expressions that manifested non-CT compared with all the other groups that showed actually a decrease in multiple non-CT expressions. Similarly, the trends of the change in tolerance to ambiguity (AD) and intolerance to it (AIS) throughout the year were examined in the four groups. These trends are presented in Fig. Fig.2 2 below. We can thus see that the debate group is the only one showing an upward trend in the tolerance of ambiguity. However, for expressions that manifested intolerance to ambiguity throughout the year, while there was a decline in the full intervention (debate) group, other groups showed a steeper decline in the use of such expressions.

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Trends of Tolerance and Intolerance to Ambiguity

Trends in the distribution of participants’ expressing multiple CT

We also wanted to examine the distribution (or dispersion) of the participants who expressed higher levels of CT (multiple CT per a single statement/expression of a student), when comparing the beginning of the year sessions to sessions at the end of the year, per participant (student) in each group. Table 2 presents these findings. To clarify the trends per student, different cell colors were used. Green - represents an upward trend (beginning ➔end of the year); orange - represents an unchanged trend; and red - represented a downward trend.

Multiple CT and non-CT per student, per group, at start and end of the year

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It was observed that the upward trend (marked in green) stands out in the full intervention (debate) group, compared to the rest of the groups. In the debate team as many as 9 (out of 11) students showed an upward trend in their expression of complex (multiple) CT per student utterance. In contrast, other groups showed merely half the number of participants with upward trends (4–5 students per groups). Hence, the debate group showed a more equal distribution of participation among its members.

Our study demonstrated that debating produced mixed results insofar as CT was concerned. On the one hand, the use of debate improved the students’ CT throughout the year, including a more equal distribution of CT among the students in this group, compared to the other groups. On the other hand, the use of debate also increased the number of superficial or non-critical thinking utterances.

These findings are novel, since previous studies did not examine the possible contribution of the debating tool to the study of medical ethics in a SGL format, and the majority of these studies only measured medical ethics teaching using quantitative indices, mainly self-reported questionnaires by the students [ 28 – 30 ].

Our positive finding on the contribution of debating to the CT of students during the SGL sessions in medical ethics did resonate with and further corroborated existing literature. For instance, it was shown that debating offers key principles in the development of critical thinking, namely, the distinction between opinion and fact and a structured encounter with different opinions [ 7 , 8 , 31 ]. Other studies have showed that debates provide a clear framework for discourse; the participants take a stand and are asked to represent and argue them without fear of personal attack [ 32 , 33 ]. There is also an active listening behavior aspect since each participant should explain why the other side is wrong and thus needs to listen and relate to their claims [ 34 ].

In terms of a more equal distribution of CT among the students in the debating intervention group, the current result makes sense. Hence, the debate method gives instructors clear rules of the game and there is a strict rotation, allowing all opinions to be heard equally and fairly as they are being debated, without breaking the line of thought [ 15 ].

Furthermore, previous studies highlighted the possible insignificance that students may attribute to any medical ethics studies [ 35 , 36 ]. In contrast, the use of debate in the context of educational programs has been associated with a learner’s positive experience and greater participation in the learning process [ 37 , 38 ]. Against this backdrop, our findings revealed a clear increase in CT during the employment of debating and thus are particularly important, as these findings highlight the positive potential for using debating to increasing actual interest in medical ethics and those classes.

Similarly, the issue of ambiguity is an important prerequisite for a physician’s professionalism, yet studies show that medical students have difficulty accepting ambiguities, as they tend to perceive medical knowledge as being only “clear cut.” [ 39 , 40 ] “Intolerance toward ambiguity” was first identified more than 70 years ago, and later been described as either a personal trait or a situational judgment where new, complex, or unresolved situations are only seen as “sources of threat.” [ 41 ] Therefore, our study’s results, which indicated that the use of debate increased the expression of tolerance toward ambiguity, highlights yet again the potential that debating offers for further enhancing an important key aspect of the medical profession. At the same time, this finding is not surprising, since previous studies on the integration of debate for different subjects found that students did change their opinions during discussions, and that change was based on understanding and acknowledging the existence of multiple interpretations of the same situation [ 42 , 43 ].

On the other hand, the current study also shows the limits of debating, at least in the context of medical ethics SGL. Hence, the group using debates in their discussions of cases in medical ethics also showed either an increase in multiple non-CT expressions or only a lesser decrease in their intolerance to ambiguity. These limitations of the use of debating in the current examined context also resonated with known critiques about the use of debates as an educational tool. There have been claims made that debates put more emphasis on form than on content. Also, due to the clear framework of the arguments “for” and “against” a certain point of view, learners do not necessarily formulate a self-identity, but rather present arguments only, thereby damaging their present and future internal integrity [ 44 ].

That being said, the results of our study do show that debating may still offer an important enhancement or “upgrade” to SGL in medical ethics classes. The increase in CT expressions was more clearly demonstrated in the group that employed debating in the current study.

Study limitations and future research

This study’s population included medical students who were attending a particular program at a specific Faculty of Medicine. Therefore, undertaking this research in another country, in other medical faculties, or in other programs, might yield other results. In addition, the main research tool of observation is naturally limited in the number of participants that can be included easily. This qualitative research method allows for in-depth understanding of the thinking processes that the participants go through, but it cannot be generalized because of the usual small number of participants and the non-statistical nature of this research process.

Future research might benefit from being conducted in more venues around the world and examining additional groups that will allow for gender-relevant comparisons, cultural backgrounds, ages, etc. In addition, interviews with students and facilitators might shed additional light on other or different dimensions and characteristics of the individual or group processes that our videotaped observations did uncover in this study.

The study reported on in this paper sought to examine the possible contributions of debating to CT in the context of SGL of medical ethics. Using an observation-based qualitative research method that utilized a 3-step microanalysis, the study revealed that CT substantially increased when debating was used. However, these findings do have their limitations, since it was also observed that when debating was used, there was also an increase in non-CT measurements. Hence, the employment of debating does not guarantee the use of only CT. Still, the results of this study do show that debating may indeed offer an important enhancement or “upgrade” to SGL in medical ethics classes.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to express their sincere gratitude to all the students who participated in the study.

Compatibility with study reporting standards

The current study conforms with the COREQ study reporting standards for qualitative research, where applicable.

Abbreviations

Authors’ contributions.

MEB conceptualized the framing of the paper, was involved actively in the anonymized data analysis and wrote the final draft. NAG was responsible for collecting the data, performing the main analysis and wr draft. Both authors have read and approved the manuscript.

No external funding received for this study.

Availability of data and materials

Declarations.

The study received an ethical approval from the Ethics in Research Committee at Bar-Ilan University (#10–2016), and all methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations. The approval was granted for a non-written implied consent rather than a written/verbal consent due to the anonymized nature of the data analysis. Specifically, the consent procedure that was approved by the aforementioned ethics committees utilized a combination of written information sheet and an oral explanation. The information sheet stated clearly the purpose of the study, its duration and the voluntary nature of the study as well as the names of the researchers. The relevant researcher (NAG) provided an oral explanation about the study to the first-year class at each of these institutes, while re-stressing the study’s voluntary nature of being included in the research analysis and the option not to sit in front of the camera where the participant’s face is seen clearly.

Not applicable.

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

1 Please keep in mind, that the larger research project included a quantitative portion based on questionnaires, in which the attitudes and perceptions of SGL of medical ethics were explored, and since we thought that the filming/videotaping of sessions might be an intervening factor, 3 groups of SGLs (approx. Half of the students) were purposely not filmed/videotaped.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Nehora Amar-Gavrilman and Miriam Ethel Bentwich contributed equally to this work.

Contributor Information

Nehora Amar-Gavrilman, Email: moc.liamg@ramaroheN .

Miriam Ethel Bentwich, Email: [email protected] .

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As healthcare continues to evolve, nursing debate topics have become increasingly important. Nurses have to make tough decisions every day, and discussing these topics can provide guidance and support. In this article, we will explore some of the nursing debate topics that are being discussed and debated by the nursing community.

Certification and Education

One of the ongoing debates in nursing is the benefits of obtaining certification in specialty areas such as wound care , oncology, or palliative care . Nurses who obtain certification in these areas are better equipped to provide better patient care. Another debate is about requiring nurses to obtain a master’s degree in nursing before practicing as a nurse practitioner. Advocates argue that a master’s degree better prepare nurses for the complexities of the role. Additionally, requiring certification in basic life support (BLS) and advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) can help improve patient outcomes.

Debate Topics on Certification and Education in Nursing:

Are certification exams a reliable measure of nurses’ competency in specialty areas?
Should continuing education be mandatory for all nurses to maintain licensure?
Should certification be required for nurses who administer chemotherapy?
Is it necessary for nurses to obtain certification in wound care?
Should nurses be required to obtain certification in critical care before working in an ICU?
Should nurses be required to obtain certification in geriatric care before working in a nursing home?
Is certification in oncology nursing necessary to provide quality care to cancer patients?
Should certification in palliative care be required for hospice and end-of-life care nurses?
Should nurses be required to obtain certification in pediatric care before working in a pediatric unit?
Should certification in pain management be required for nurses who administer pain medication?
Should nurses be required to obtain certification in mental health before working in a psychiatric unit?
Should certification in infection control be mandatory for all nurses?
Is certification in IV therapy necessary for all nurses?
Should certification in neonatal care be required for nurses who work in a neonatal ICU?
Should certification in cardiac care be required for nurses who work in a cardiac ICU?
Should nurses be required to obtain certification in public health nursing?
Government responsibility in balancing public and private healthcare
Is certification in occupational health nursing necessary?
Should certification in forensic nursing be required for nurses who work in a correctional facility?
Should certification in emergency nursing be required for nurses who work in an emergency department?
Should certification in hospice and palliative care nursing be required for nurses who work in a hospice facility?
Should nurses be required to obtain certification in informatics before working in an electronic health record (EHR) system?
Should certification in nursing administration be required for nurse managers?
Should certification in nursing education be required for nurse educators?
Should nurses be required to obtain certification in case of management before working in a case management role?
Should certification in rehabilitation nursing be required for nurses who work in a rehabilitation center?
Should certification in diabetes nursing be required for nurses who work with diabetic patients?
Should certification in home health nursing be required for nurses who provide home health care?
Should certification in community health nursing be required for nurses who work in community health settings?
Should certification in nursing informatics be required for nurses who work in telehealth?
Should certification in wound, ostomy, and continence nursing be required for nurses who work with patients with chronic wounds?
Should certification in gastroenterology nursing be required for nurses who work in a gastroenterology unit?
Should certification in orthopedic nursing be required for nurses who work in an orthopedic unit?
Should certification in perianesthesia nursing be required for nurses who work in a post-anesthesia care unit?
Should certification in transplant nursing be required for nurses who work with transplant patients?
Should certification in urologic nursing be required for nurses who work in a urology unit?
Should certification in dermatology nursing be required for nurses who work with patients with skin conditions?
Healthcare management: career paths and requirements
Should certification in oncology nursing be required for nurses who work with patients receiving chemotherapy?
Should certification in rheumatology nursing be required for nurses who work with patients with rheumatic conditions?
Should certification in infectious disease nursing be required for nurses who work with patients with infectious diseases?
Should certification in plastic surgery nursing be required for nurses who work with plastic surgery patients?

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Scope of Practice

Nursing scope of practice is another area of debate. One of the debates is whether to allow nurses to perform certain surgical procedures without physician supervision. Advocates argue that this would improve patient access to care and reduce costs. Another debate is whether to allow nurses to prescribe and administer medical cannabis. Advocates argue that this would provide patients with alternative treatments for chronic pain, anxiety, and other conditions. Additionally, allowing nurses to assist with physician-assisted suicide is a controversial debate.

Exploring the Boundaries: Controversial Issues in Nursing Scope of Practice

Is it appropriate for nurses to delegate certain tasks to unlicensed assistive personnel?
Should advanced practice registered nurses be allowed to practice independently without physician oversight?
Is it within a nurse’s scope of practice to prescribe medication?
Should registered nurses be allowed to perform certain medical procedures, such as intubation?
Is it appropriate for nurses to provide mental health counseling to patients?
Should nurses be allowed to initiate treatment plans without a physician’s order?
The debate over nurse practitioners operating independent clinics
The role of nurses in prescribing medications: Overstepping boundaries?
Should nurses be trained in minor surgical procedures?
The debate over nurses providing anesthesia without doctor supervision
The pros and cons of expanding the scope of practice for nurse midwives
Is it appropriate for nurses to diagnose certain medical conditions?
Should registered nurses be allowed to perform certain surgical procedures, such as wound debridement?
Is it appropriate for nurses to administer anesthesia?
Should nurses be allowed to perform certain radiologic procedures, such as taking x-rays?
Is it appropriate for nurses to provide palliative sedation to patients?
Should nurses be allowed to perform certain diagnostic procedures, such as ultrasound?
Is it appropriate for nurses to perform end-of-life care tasks, such as pronouncing death?
Should nurses be allowed to prescribe medical marijuana for certain conditions?
Is it appropriate for nurses to perform certain complementary and alternative medicine therapies, such as acupuncture?
Should nurses be allowed to participate in assisted suicide procedures?
Is it appropriate for nurses to perform certain reproductive health procedures, such as intrauterine device insertion?
Should nurses be allowed to perform certain cosmetic procedures, such as Botox injections?
Is it appropriate for nurses to perform certain infectious disease control procedures, such as isolation orders?
Should nurses be allowed to perform certain genetic testing procedures?
Is it appropriate for nurses to perform certain therapeutic procedures, such as physical therapy?
Should nurses be allowed to perform certain invasive procedures, such as lumbar punctures?
Is it appropriate for nurses to perform certain diagnostic imaging procedures, such as MRI scans?
Should nurses be allowed to perform certain mental health assessments, such as suicide risk assessments?
Is it appropriate for nurses to perform certain pediatric procedures, such as circumcision?
Should nurses be allowed to perform certain procedures related to sexual health, such as Pap smears?
Is it appropriate for nurses to perform certain emergency medical procedures, such as chest tube placement?
Should nurses be allowed to perform certain medical procedures, such as colonoscopies?
Is it appropriate for nurses to perform certain cardiac procedures, such as defibrillation?
Should nurses be allowed to perform certain respiratory procedures, such as mechanical ventilation?
Is it appropriate for nurses to perform certain procedures related to substance abuse treatment, such as medication-assisted treatment?
Should nurses be allowed to perform certain ophthalmologic procedures, such as eye exams?
Is it appropriate for nurses to perform certain procedures related to sleep medicine, such as sleep studies?
Should nurses be allowed to perform certain gastroenterological procedures, such as endoscopy?
Is it appropriate for nurses to perform certain procedures related to pain management, such as nerve blocks?
Should nurses be allowed to perform certain procedures related to occupational health, such as hearing tests?
Is it appropriate for nurses to perform certain procedures related to addiction treatment, such as suboxone administration?
Should nurses be allowed to perform certain procedures related to neurology, such as lumbar punctures?
Is it appropriate for nurses to perform certain procedures related to cardiology, such as echocardiograms?
Should nurses be allowed to perform certain procedures related to dermatology, such as skin biopsies?

Ethical Considerations

Ethical considerations are vital in nursing debate topics. One of the debates is whether nurses should participate in medical assistance in dying (MAID). Advocates argue that nurses should be allowed to participate in MAID because it is part of their role in providing patient-centered care. Another debate is whether nurses should be allowed to refuse care to patients who exhibit violent or aggressive behavior. Advocates argue that nurses should be allowed to refuse care to protect themselves and other patients. Additionally, allowing nurses to administer medical cannabis raises ethical concerns.

Exploring Controversial Ethical Issues: Debating Topics and Perspectives

Is it ethical to use animals for scientific experimentation?
Should the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports be allowed?
Should parents be allowed to choose the genetic traits of their future children?
Should medical professionals be allowed to refuse treatment based on personal beliefs?
Is it ethical to use genetic engineering to create “designer babies”?
Should assisted suicide be legalized for terminally ill patients?
Should individuals be allowed to sell their organs for transplant?
Should healthcare be considered a basic human right?
Comparing faith practices in healthcare: Sikhism, Judaism, Bahaism, and Christianity
Is it ethical to use social media data for psychological research?
The ethical implications of nurses participating in assisted suicide
Debate over nurses’ right to conscientiously object to certain medical procedures
The ethical challenges of nursing care in correctional facilities
Nurses’ role in advocating for patient rights vs. hospital policies
The debate over mandatory vaccinations for nurses
Should there be limits on how much information tech companies can collect about individuals?
Should the death penalty be abolished?
Is it ethical for companies to use sweatshop labor?
Should individuals be allowed to choose their own gender identity?
Should there be limits on the use of artificial intelligence in military operations?
Is it ethical to use AI algorithms to make decisions that affect people’s lives?
Should doctors be allowed to prescribe placebos without informing the patient?
Should pharmaceutical companies be allowed to charge exorbitant prices for life-saving drugs?
Is it ethical to use drones for targeted killings?
Should individuals be allowed to use deadly force in self-defense?
Should countries be allowed to use torture as a means of obtaining information from suspected terrorists?
Should whistleblowers be protected from legal action for revealing confidential information?
Is it ethical to use big data to predict and prevent crimes?
Should countries be allowed to conduct surveillance on their citizens in the interest of national security?
Should genetic testing be mandatory for certain diseases?
Should individuals be allowed to own exotic animals as pets?
Should individuals be allowed to sell their own data to companies?
Should individuals have the right to refuse medical treatment on religious grounds?
Should medical professionals be allowed to disclose confidential patient information in certain circumstances?
Is it ethical to use data mining techniques to target advertising to specific demographics?
Should parents be allowed to refuse medical treatment for their children on religious grounds?
Should medical professionals be allowed to conduct research on their own patients?
Should individuals be allowed to sue for emotional damages?
Is it ethical to use autonomous weapons systems in warfare?
Should companies be held liable for the actions of their autonomous robots?
Should individuals be allowed to modify their own genes for non-medical reasons?
Should individuals be allowed to opt out of vaccinations for personal or religious beliefs?
Should there be limits on the use of gene editing technology for animals?
Should individuals be allowed to opt out of certain medical procedures for personal or religious beliefs?
Should medical professionals be allowed to refuse to provide care to patients who have made lifestyle choices they disagree with?
Should individuals be allowed to refuse medical treatment for mental illness on religious grounds?

Patient Care

Patient care is a crucial aspect of nursing. One of the debates is maintaining minimum staffing ratios for registered nurses in nursing homes. Advocates argue that this would improve patient outcomes and reduce errors. Another debate is about providing care for patients with different cultural beliefs and practices. Advocates argue that nurses need to be aware of cultural differences to provide culturally sensitive care. Additionally, administering medications through non-traditional routes, such as intranasal or transdermal, is a topic of debate.

Exploring Controversies in Patient Care: Topics Up for Debate

Is it ethical to deny medical treatment to undocumented immigrants?
Should patients have the right to refuse life-saving medical treatment?
Should healthcare providers be allowed to use restraints on patients who are a danger to themselves or others?
Euthanasia: an analysis of utilitarian approach
Should healthcare providers be allowed to administer involuntary psychiatric treatment to patients who are a danger to themselves or others?
Should healthcare providers be required to provide care to patients with communicable diseases even if they have personal objections?
Should patients have the right to assisted suicide or euthanasia?
Should healthcare providers be allowed to refuse to provide care to patients based on personal or religious beliefs?
Should healthcare providers be allowed to disclose a patient’s medical information without their consent in emergency situations?
The debate over rationing care in resource-limited settings
The ethical challenges of providing care to non-compliant patients
The pros and cons of alternative medicine in nursing care
Debate over the use of restraints in patient care
The challenges of providing care to patients with controversial lifestyles
Should healthcare providers be required to disclose medical errors to patients and their families?
Should healthcare providers be allowed to engage in romantic or sexual relationships with their patients?
Should healthcare providers be allowed to perform unnecessary medical procedures for financial gain?
Should healthcare providers be allowed to withhold treatment from patients who are noncompliant with their medical advice?
Combating health care-associated infections: a community-based approach
Should healthcare providers be allowed to prescribe opioids for chronic pain management?
Should healthcare providers be allowed to use placebos in medical treatment?
Should healthcare providers be allowed to participate in medical research without informed consent from patients?
Should healthcare providers be required to provide culturally competent care to patients from diverse backgrounds?
Should patients have access to alternative and complementary medicine treatments?
Should healthcare providers be allowed to deny care to patients who engage in risky behaviors, such as smoking or drinking alcohol?
Should healthcare providers be required to provide interpreters for patients who do not speak the same language as their healthcare provider?
Should healthcare providers be required to provide care to patients regardless of their ability to pay?
Should patients be allowed to sue their healthcare providers for medical malpractice?
Should healthcare providers be allowed to provide medical treatment to minors without parental consent?
Should healthcare providers be allowed to use physical restraints on patients with dementia or other cognitive impairments?
Should healthcare providers be allowed to participate in lethal injection executions?
Should healthcare providers be allowed to prescribe medical marijuana to patients?
Should healthcare providers be allowed to provide medical treatment to patients against their religious beliefs?
Should healthcare providers be allowed to use genetic testing to diagnose medical conditions in patients without their consent?
Should healthcare providers be allowed to use telemedicine to diagnose and treat patients remotely?
Should healthcare providers be allowed to prescribe off-label medication use?
Should healthcare providers be required to report suspected cases of child abuse or neglect?
Should healthcare providers be allowed to refuse to provide care to patients who are overweight or obese?
Should healthcare providers be allowed to use restraints on patients with developmental disabilities?
Should healthcare providers be allowed to provide medical treatment to prisoners?
Should healthcare providers be required to provide palliative care to patients with terminal illnesses?
Should healthcare providers be allowed to refuse to provide care to patients with mental health conditions?
Should healthcare providers be allowed to use mechanical ventilation on patients who are brain-dead?
Should healthcare providers be required to report suspected cases of elder abuse or neglect?
Should healthcare providers be allowed to prescribe medication for conditions that do not have FDA approval?
Should healthcare providers be required to provide patients with complete and accurate medical information?
Should healthcare providers be allowed to participate in clinical trials without informed consent from patients?

Nursing Workforce

The nursing workforce is another area of debate. One of the debates is preventing nurse burnout and fatigue resulting from working 12-hour shifts. Advocates argue that this would improve the working environment for nurses and provide better care for patients. Another debate is requiring nurses to undergo regular mental health evaluations. Advocates argue that this would help identify mental health issues early and provide appropriate treatment. Additionally, allowing nurses to refuse care to patients with a history of substance abuse or addiction is a topic of debate.

Debate Topics for Nursing Workforce

What impact does the nursing shortage have on patient care?
Is mandatory overtime ethical for nurses?
Should there be a minimum staffing ratio for nurses in healthcare facilities?
Should nurse practitioners be allowed to practice independently without physician oversight?
Should nurse practitioners be allowed to prescribe controlled substances?
Should foreign-trained nurses be allowed to work in the US without additional certification?
Should nurses be allowed to unionize?
Should nurses be required to have a BSN degree to practice?
Should nurses be required to complete a residency program after graduation?
Is it ethical to require nurses to work rotating shifts?
Should nurses be allowed to refuse to care for certain patients based on personal beliefs?
Should nurses be required to take on-call shifts?
Should nurses be required to work holidays?
Should nurses be allowed to work remotely?
Should there be a minimum wage for nurses?
Should nursing programs be required to teach cultural competency?
Should nurses be allowed to self-schedule their shifts?
Should nurses be required to work a certain number of hours per week?
Should nurses be required to complete continuing education to maintain their license?
Workplace violence in healthcare: causes, regulations, and prevention strategies
Should there be a cap on the number of patients a nurse can care for at one time?
Should nurses be allowed to refuse to work in certain specialties?
Should nurses be allowed to refuse to perform certain tasks?
The debate over mandatory nurse-to-patient ratios in hospitals
The impact of unionization on the nursing profession
The challenges and benefits of travel nursing
Debate over the role of nurse managers vs. bedside nurses
The future of nursing in the era of AI and automation
Should nursing schools be required to teach about the social determinants of health?
Should there be a standard nurse-to-patient ratio for home health care?
Should nurses be required to complete a certain number of clinical hours before graduation?
Should nurses be allowed to perform certain medical procedures without physician supervision?
Should nurses be allowed to administer anesthesia?
Should nursing programs be required to teach about environmental health?
Should nurses be required to have a certain amount of experience before working in certain specialties?
Combating workplace violence in nursing: the impact of policies, legislation, and organizational culture
Should nurses be required to undergo periodic drug testing?
Should nurses be allowed to work while pregnant?
Should nursing programs be required to teach about disaster preparedness?
Should nurses be allowed to refuse to work during a pandemic?
Should nurses be allowed to refuse to work in unsafe conditions?
Should nurses be required to wear body cameras to prevent workplace violence?
Should nurses be allowed to refuse to work in facilities that do not have adequate PPE?
Should nursing programs be required to teach about healthcare policy?
Should nurses be allowed to refuse to administer experimental treatments?
Should nurses be required to have a certain amount of experience before working as a charge nurse?
Should nurses be allowed to refuse to work in facilities that do not provide mental health support?

Harnessing the Power of Debate in Nursing Education

The art of debate is not just for politicians or lawyers. For nursing students and professionals, engaging in structured, informed debates can offer a multitude of benefits. Debates foster critical thinking, enhance communication skills, and expose participants to diverse perspectives, all of which are crucial in the dynamic world of healthcare.

Why Debates Matter in Nursing Education

Critical Thinking

Debating allows nursing students to analyze complex issues, evaluate evidence, and construct well-informed arguments. This skill is vital when making split-second decisions in clinical settings.

Effective Communication

Through debates, students learn to articulate their points clearly and persuasively, a skill essential for patient education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and advocacy.

Ethical Reasoning

Many debates in nursing revolve around ethical dilemmas. Engaging in these discussions helps students navigate the gray areas of healthcare, ensuring they provide care that aligns with their professional and personal values.

Exposure to Diverse Perspectives

Debates bring to light varied viewpoints, helping students appreciate the diversity of thought in healthcare. This exposure prepares them to provide culturally competent care and collaborate effectively with a diverse team.

Tips for Effective Debating in Nursing:

Stay Informed

The foundation of a compelling argument is knowledge. Regularly review the latest research, guidelines, and best practices in nursing.

Practice Active Listening

Before rebutting an argument, ensure you understand it. Active listening promotes mutual respect and often leads to more productive discussions.

Be Open-minded

While it’s essential to defend your position, remain open to changing your perspective based on new information or insights. Flexibility in thinking is a valuable trait in healthcare, where evidence and best practices continuously evolve.

Structure Your Argument

A well-structured argument is more persuasive. Start with your main point, provide evidence or examples, and conclude with a summary or implication of your argument.

Stay Calm and Respectful

Debates can become heated, especially when discussing deeply personal or controversial topics. It’s crucial to maintain professionalism, respect opposing views, and avoid personal attacks.

Benefits of Integrating Debates into Nursing Curriculum

Incorporating debates into the nursing curriculum can provide students with a platform to apply theoretical knowledge in practical scenarios. Here are some advantages:

Enhanced Engagement

Debates are interactive and dynamic, leading to increased student participation and engagement.

Skill Development

Apart from critical thinking and communication, debates also foster skills like research, teamwork, and public speaking.

Preparation for Real-world Scenarios

The topics debated often mirror real-world challenges in healthcare. Engaging in these discussions prepares students for the complexities they’ll face in their careers.

Promotion of Lifelong Learning

Debates often spark curiosity, leading students to delve deeper into topics, read more, and become lifelong learners.

In conclusion, debates are more than just academic exercises. They’re powerful tools that hone essential skills, promote critical thinking, and prepare nursing students for the multifaceted world of healthcare. As the nursing field continues to evolve, fostering a culture of discussion and debate will ensure that nurses remain at the forefront of patient care, advocating for best practices and optimal patient outcomes.

📎 Related Articles

1. Key EBP Nursing Topics: Enhancing Patient Results through Evidence-Based Practice 2. Top Nursing Research Topics for Students and Professionals 3. Mental Health Nursing Research Topics: Inspiring Ideas for Students 4. Top Nursing Argumentative Essay Topics: Engage in Thought-Provoking Debates 5. Top Nursing Topics for Discussion: Engaging Conversations for Healthcare Professionals 6. Exploring Controversial Issues in Nursing: Key Topics and Examples 7. Pediatric Nursing Research Topics for Students: A Comprehensive Guide 8. Top Nursing Research Topics for Students and Professionals

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Health Care

What's at stake in the u.s. health care debate.

NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Kaiser Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner about where health care policy stands today.

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

We're going to go back now to one of this country's major challenges - its health. Coronavirus cases continue to surge across the country. On Friday, the U.S. set a new single-day record of at least 83,000 confirmed infections - that according to Johns Hopkins University. Some of the worst outbreaks are happening now in the West and Midwest. And on Saturday, six states - Alaska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico and Illinois - reported their highest-ever number of infections.

And this latest spike in cases comes only nine days ahead of the election. And it also comes just over two weeks before the Supreme Court is set to hear a case that could repeal all or part of the Affordable Care Act. So we wanted to take a closer look at the debate over health care policy in this country. And to do that, we've called Julie Rovner once again. She is the chief Washington correspondent for Kaiser Health News and host of the podcast "What The Health?"

Julie Rovner, thanks so much for being with us once again.

JULIE ROVNER: Anytime.

MARTIN: So, as we mentioned, we're in the middle of a surge of cases in the U.S., but the economic downturn caused by efforts to deal with the coronavirus has also meant that millions of people have lost their jobs, and with that, they've lost their private health care coverage. So we were wondering if the pandemic has shifted or changed public opinion about health care policy. Has it elevated it in some way?

ROVNER: You know, not that we've seen. And, in fact, what we've seen from opinion polls is that sort of health care in general has dropped on the public's list of things there they really want and expect from the government, even as coronavirus and dealing with the coronavirus has risen. It's now the No. 1 health topic that voters want addressed. I believe it's the No. 1 topic that voters want addressed.

MARTIN: Going to the presidential candidates now, can you just give us a sense of what each candidate's health care policy platforms are? I mean, recognizing that the Republicans didn't really adopt a platform this year - but just - can you just sort of enumerate what each party's stance is based on their record and based on their platform, if it exists?

ROVNER: So former Vice President Biden came out with his health care plan in the summer of 2019. He has a plan that would build on the Affordable Care Act. It would expand it in a fairly dramatic way. It's just it looks very moderate compared to "Medicare for All." And he's been running on that, and he has not really wavered from that.

President Trump, of course, has been promising us a health care plan since before he was elected. We have yet to see it. In September, the president did come out with what he was calling the America First Health Plan. But it really isn't a plan. It's kind of a press release of some of the sort of smaller health care things that he has done and kind of vague promises for what he might do in the future. So we still don't know exactly what President Trump would do if the court strikes down the Affordable Care Act.

MARTIN: Former Vice President Joe Biden says he would build on the Affordable Care Act. Has he said how? Like, what are some of the innovations or tweaks that he would hope to present?

ROVNER: Yes, he wants to create a public option. This would be sort of Medicare for all who want it that people could buy. If they buy their own insurance on the individual market, they could buy a Medicare-like government-sponsored plan. For people in states that have not expanded the Medicaid program, those - some of those people would be automatically enrolled. And even people who have employer insurance but don't like it or feel like they can't afford it would be able to buy into this public option, at least as Joe Biden envisions it.

He would also make financial subsidies available to more people who buy their own insurance on the marketplaces under the ACA. People wouldn't have as many out-of-pocket costs that go with their insurance. That's a big problem with the current Affordable Care Act plans, is that you can buy insurance, but then you have a $7,000 deductible, which most people can't possibly pay.

MARTIN: And on November 10, as we said, the Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in a case seeking to overturn the Affordable Care Act. What exactly is at stake here? And how has Judge Amy Coney Barrett's nomination to the Supreme Court affected possible outcomes of the case? Because certainly, that is another argument that people on both sides are making.

ROVNER: Yes, it very much is. This is a lawsuit that was brought in 2018 by a group of Republican attorneys general and a couple of governors, charging that by eliminating the tax penalty for not having insurance in the 2017 tax bill, Republicans either inadvertently or on purpose made the entire Affordable Care Act unconstitutional.

Most Supreme Court and health experts think it's not a very strong case, that it's not nearly as strong as two previous cases before the court that the court said, no, the Affordable Care Act really is constitutional. And Chief Justice Roberts was part of the majority in both those cases. So the theory was, yeah, this case was going to get to the Supreme Court, but the Supreme Court was going to shoot it down.

Well, now if Amy Coney Barrett gets onto the bench, Chief Justice Roberts' vote might not matter. So there is some more concern that the entire law could be struck down, although most people still think that's not entirely likely to happen.

MARTIN: And if the law is overturned, you know, what does that mean for those who depend on the ACA? I mean, do people immediately lose their insurance? What would happen?

ROVNER: Nothing good. I mean, it's more than just - there's about 20 million people who get their insurance directly as a result of the Affordable Care Act. They wouldn't technically lose their insurance, but the money would immediately stop. So they would probably lose their subsidies if they're buying their own insurance, which would make their insurance unaffordable.

And on Medicaid, the states would then have to pick up the 90% of the cost that the federal government is now providing. And most states and clearly in the middle of a pandemic wouldn't have the wherewithal to do that. Plus, the Affordable Care Act is much broader than just sort of those two pieces of it, and it could really wreak havoc on the rest of the health care system.

MARTIN: That is Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent for Kaiser Health News and host of the What The Health?" Podcast.

Julie Rovner, thank you so much for talking with us.

ROVNER: Thank you for having me.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

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Research: More People Use Mental Health Benefits When They Hear That Colleagues Use Them Too

Laura M. Giurge,
Lauren C. Howe,
Zsofia Belovai,
Guusje Lindemann,
Sharon O’Connor

A study of 2,400 Novartis employees around the world found that simply hearing about others’ struggles can normalize accessing support at work.

Novartis has trained more than 1,000 employees as Mental Health First Aiders to offer peer-to-peer support for their colleagues. While employees were eager for the training, uptake of the program remains low. To understand why, a team of researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial with 2,400 Novartis employees who worked in the UK, Ireland, India, and Malaysia. Employees were shown one of six framings that were designed to overcome two key barriers: privacy concerns and usage concerns. They found that employees who read a story about their colleague using the service were more likely to sign up to learn more about the program, and that emphasizing the anonymity of the program did not seem to have an impact. Their findings suggest that one way to encourage employees to make use of existing mental health resources is by creating a supportive culture that embraces sharing about mental health challenges at work.

“I almost scheduled an appointment about a dozen times. But no, in the end I never went. I just wasn’t sure if my problems were big enough to warrant help and I didn’t want to take up someone else’s time unnecessarily.”

Laura M. Giurge is an assistant professor at the London School of Economics, and a faculty affiliate at London Business School. Her research focuses on time and boundaries in organizations, workplace well-being, and the future of work. She is also passionate about translating research to the broader public through interactive and creative keynote talks, workshops, and coaching. Follow her on LinkedIn here .
Lauren C. Howe is an assistant professor in management at the University of Zurich. As head of research at the Center for Leadership in the Future of Work , she focuses on how human aspects, such as mindsets, socioemotional skills, and leadership, play a role in the changing world of work.
Zsofia Belovai is a behavioral science lead for the organizational performance research practice at MoreThanNow, focusing on exploring how employee welfare can drive KPIs.
Guusje Lindemann is a senior behavioral scientist at MoreThanNow, in the social impact and organizational performance practices, working on making the workplace better for all.
Sharon O’Connor is the global employee wellbeing lead at Novartis. She is a founding member of the Wellbeing Executives Council of The Conference Board, and a guest lecturer on the Workplace Wellness postgraduate certificate at Trinity College Dublin.

Partner Center

Genetics studies have a diversity problem that researchers struggle to fix

Lack of diversity in genetics research has real health care implications, by lauren sausser.

This article originally appeared on KFF Health News .

CHARLESTON, S.C. — When he recently walked into the dental clinic at the Medical University of South Carolina donning a bright-blue pullover with “In Our DNA SC” embroidered prominently on the front, Lee Moultrie said, two Black women stopped him to ask questions.

“It’s a walking billboard,” said Moultrie, a health care advocate who serves on the community advisory board for In Our DNA SC, a study underway at the university that aims to enroll 100,000 South Carolinians — including a representative percentage of Black people — in genetics research. The goal is to better understand how genes affect health risks such as cancer and heart disease.

Moultrie, who is Black and has participated in the research project himself, used the opportunity at the dental clinic to encourage the women to sign up and contribute their DNA. He keeps brochures about the study in his car and at the barbershop he visits weekly for this reason. It’s one way he wants to help solve a problem that has plagued the field of genetics research for decades: The data is based mostly on DNA from white people.

Project leaders in Charleston told KFF Health News in 2022 that they hoped to enroll participants who reflect the demographic diversity of South Carolina, where just under 27% of residents identify as Black or African American. To date, though, they’ve failed to hit that mark. Only about 12% of the project’s participants who provided sociodemographic data identify as Black, while an additional 5% have identified as belonging to another racial minority group.

“We’d like to be a lot more diverse,” acknowledged Daniel Judge, principal investigator for the study and a cardiovascular genetics specialist at the Medical University of South Carolina.

"We need to be even more creative in how we obtain people to help contribute to studies,” she said."

Lack of diversity in genetics research has real health care implications. Since the completion more than 20 years ago of the Human Genome Project, which mapped most human genes for the first time, close to 90% of genomics studies have been conducted using DNA from participants of European descent, research shows . And while human beings of all races and ancestries are more than 99% genetically identical, even small differences in genes can spell big differences in health outcomes.

“Precision medicine” is a term used to describe how genetics can improve the way diseases are diagnosed and treated by considering a person’s DNA, environment, and lifestyle. But if this emerging field of health care is based on research involving mostly white people, “it could lead to mistakes, unknowingly,” said Misa Graff, an associate professor in epidemiology at the University of North Carolina and a genetics researcher.

In fact, that’s already happening. In 2016, for example, research found that some Black patients had been misdiagnosed with a potentially fatal heart condition because they’d tested positive for a genetic variant thought to be harmful. That variant is much more common among Black Americans than white Americans, the research found, and is considered likely harmless among Black people. Misclassifications can be avoided if “even modest numbers of people from diverse populations are included in sequence databases,” the authors wrote.

The genetics research project in Charleston requires participants to complete an online consent form and submit a saliva sample, either in person at a designated lab or collection event or by mail. They are not paid to participate, but they do receive a report outlining their DNA results. Those who test positive for a genetic marker linked to cancer or high cholesterol are offered a virtual appointment with a genetics counselor free of charge.

Some research projects require more time from their volunteers, which can skew the pool of participants, Graff said, because not everyone has the luxury of free time. “We need to be even more creative in how we obtain people to help contribute to studies,” she said.

Moultrie said he recently asked project leaders to reach out to African American media outlets throughout the Palmetto State to explain how the genetics research project works and to encourage Black people to participate. He also suggested that when researchers talk to Black community leaders, such as church pastors, they ought to persuade those leaders to enroll in the study instead of simply passing the message along to their congregations.

“We have new ideas. We have ways we can do this,” Moultrie said. “We’ll get there.”

Other ongoing efforts are already improving diversity in genetics research. At the National Institutes of Health, a program called “All of Us” aims to analyze the DNA of more than 1 million people across the country to build a diverse health database. So far, that program has enrolled more than 790,000 participants. Of these, more than 560,000 have provided DNA samples and about 45% identify as being part of a racial or ethnic minority group.

“Diversity is so important,” said Karriem Watson, chief engagement officer for the All of Us research program . “When you think about groups that carry the greatest burden of disease, we know that those groups are often from minoritized populations.”

Diverse participation in All of Us hasn’t come about by accident. NIH researchers strategically partnered with community health centers, faith-based groups, and Black fraternities and sororities to recruit people who have been historically underrepresented in biomedical research.

In South Carolina, for example, the NIH works with Cooperative Health, a network of federally qualified health centers near the state capital that serve many patients who are uninsured and Black, to recruit patients for All of Us. Eric Schlueter, chief medical officer of Cooperative Health, said the partnership works because their patients trust them.

“We have a strong history of being integrated into the community. Many of our employees grew up and still live in the same communities that we serve,” Schlueter said. “That is what is part of our secret sauce.”

So far, Cooperative Health has enrolled almost 3,000 people in the research program, about 70% of whom are Black.

“Our patients are just like other patients,” Schlueter said. “They want to be able to provide an opportunity for their children and their children’s children to have better health, and they realize this is an opportunity to do that.”

Theoretically, researchers at the NIH and the Medical University of South Carolina may be trying to recruit some of the same people for their separate genetics studies, although nothing would prevent a patient from participating in both efforts.

The researchers in Charleston acknowledge they still have work to do. To date, In Our DNA SC has recruited about half of the 100,000 people it hopes for, and of those, about three-quarters have submitted DNA samples.

Caitlin Allen, a program investigator and a public health researcher at the medical university, acknowledged that some of the program’s tactics haven’t succeeded in recruiting many Black participants.

For example, some patients scheduled to see providers at the Medical University of South Carolina receive an electronic message through their patient portal before an appointment, which includes information about participating in the research project. But studies show that racial and ethnic minorities are less likely to engage with their electronic health records than white patients, Allen said.

“We see low uptake” with that strategy, she said, because many of the people researchers are trying to engage likely aren’t receiving the message.

The study involves four research coordinators trained to take DNA samples, but there’s a limit to how many people they can talk to face-to-face. “We’re not necessarily able to go into every single room,” Allen said.

That said, in-person community events seem to work well for enrolling diverse participants. In March, In Our DNA SC research coordinators collected more than 30 DNA samples at a bicentennial event in Orangeburg, South Carolina, where more than 60% of residents identify as Black. Between the first and second year of the research project, Allen said, In Our DNA SC doubled the number of these community events that research coordinators attended.

“I would love to see it ramp up even more,” she said.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF .

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Medical debate topics | example & outline, rachel r.n..

September 7, 2022
Essay Topics and Ideas

It can be difficult to choose a medical debate topic because there are so many options. You want to pick a topic that is interesting and engaging, but also one that you feel knowledgeable about. way to allocate scarce medical resources?

List of Thirty Medical Debate Topics

Is healthcare a fundamental human right?
Should medical care be rationed based on need or ability to pay?
How can we provide access to quality medical care for everyone?
What is the role of government in providing medical care?
How can we improve the quality of medical care in the United States?
What are the best ways to prevent medical errors?
How can we address the problem of rising healthcare costs?
What are the best ways to promote healthy living?
What is the role of technology in improving medical care?
How can we better coordinate care between different providers?
Should patients have more control over their own health care decisions?
What are the best ways to ensure that all people have access to quality medical care?
Are there any ethical considerations when it comes to providing medical care?
Who should pay for medical research?
What are the best ways to encourage people to donate organs and tissues for transplantation?
Should there be limits on how much money people can spend on their own health care?
What is the most effectiveway to allocate scarce medical resources?
What are the best ways to reduce the spread of infectious diseases?
What are the best ways to manage chronic diseases?
What is the role of alternative medicine in treating illness?
Should people be required to get vaccinated?
Do genetic tests have a place in routine medical care?
Should people be allowed to choose their own end-of-life care?
How can we provide adequate pain relief for everyone?
Is it ever ethical to withhold information from a patient?
How do we balance the need for privacy with the need for public health information?
Can we ration medical care based on social value judgments?
Is it possible to create a completely “safe” medical environment?
Who should make decisions about experimental medical treatments?
How can we deal with the problem of antibiotic resistance?

List of Thirty Medical Debate Ideas

The following is a list of thirty medical debate ideas that can be used for educational or entertainment purposes. These ideas are meant to stimulate thought and discussion on a variety of medical topics .

Is healthcare a human right?
Is the current model of healthcare sustainable?
Are there ethical implications to rationing healthcare?
How should we fund healthcare?
How do we define quality of life?
Should government regulate the food and drug industries more strictly?
Should we legalize physician-assisted suicide?
How do we balance the rights of the patient with the rights of the physician?
Is it ethical to conduct clinical trials on humans?
When is it appropriate to use placebo treatments?
Should parents have the right to refuse medical treatment for their children?
Should end-of-life care be provided by the government?
What role should religion play in healthcare decisions?
Should insurance companies be allowed to deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions?
How do we ensure that everyone has access to quality healthcare?
What are the ethical implications of genetic testing?
Should we allow reproductive cloning?
Should people be allowed to sell their organs?
Is it ethical to experiment on animals?
How do we balance the need for medical research with the rights of patients?
Should people be required to vaccinate their children?
How do we ensure that new medical treatments are safe and effective?
What are the ethical implications of using stem cells?
What role should the government play in regulating the healthcare industry?
How do we deal with the problem of antibiotic resistance?
What are the ethical implications of using gene therapy?
Should parents be allowed to choose the sex of their child?
Are there any circumstances under which it is ethical to terminate a pregnancy?
What are the consequences of an ageing population on healthcare systems?
What are the best ways to reduce the number of preventable deaths?
How can we improve palliative care for terminally ill patients?
What are the most effective treatments for chronic diseases?
Should people with pre-existing conditions be excluded from health insurance coverage?
How can we better manage end-of-life care decisions?
What are the best ways to reduce healthcare costs while still maintaining quality of care?
Should there be a single payer healthcare system in the United States?
How can we provide medical care for everyone without bankrupting the country?
Is it ethical to ration medical care based on factors such as age or severity of illness?
How should clinical trials be conducted in order to ensure ethical and scientific standards?
How can we best encourage people to participate in clinical trials?
How can we ensure that new medical treatments are safe and effective before they are released to the public?
What are the most effective ways to prevent and treat infectious diseases?

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 55 great debate topics for any project.

General Education

A debate is a formal discussion about a topic where two sides present opposing viewpoints. Debates follow a specific structure: each side is given time to speak either for or against the topic at hand.

Many students study debate in high school to improve their speaking skills. As a debater, you learn how to clearly structure and present an argument. The skills you develop as a debater will help you on everything from a college admissions interview to a job presentation.

Selecting debate topics is one of the most important parts of debating. In this article, we’ll explain how to select a good debate topic and give suggestions for debate topics you can use.

How to Select Good Debate Topics

A good debate topic is one that lets the participants and the audience learn about both sides of an issue. Consider the following factors when selecting a debate topic:

Interest: Are you interested in the topic? Would the topic be interesting to your fellow classmates, as well as to the audience listening to the debate? Selecting a topic that you’re interested in makes the preparation part of the debate more exciting , as well as the debate more lively.

Argument Potential: You want to choose a debate topic that has solid argument potential. If one side is clearly right, or if there isn’t a lot of available information, you’ll have a hard time crafting a solid debate.

Availability of Data: Data points make an argument more robust. You’ll want to select a topic with lots of empirical data that you can pull from to bolster your argument.

Now that we know how to select a debate topic, let’s look at a list of good debate topics.

Debate Topics Master List

If you’re searching for your next debate topic, here are some suggestions.

Social and Political Issues Debate Topics

All people should have the right to own guns.
The death penalty should be abolished.
Human cloning should be legalized.
All drugs should be legalized.
Animal testing should be banned.
Juveniles should be tried and treated as adults.
Climate change is the greatest threat facing humanity today.
Violent video games should be banned.
The minimum wage should be $15 per hour.
All people should have Universal Basic Income.
Sex work should be legal.
Countries should be isolationist.
Abortion should be banned.
Every citizen should be mandated to perform national public service.
Bottled water should be banned.
Plastic bags should be banned.

Education Debate Topics

Homework should be banned.
Public prayer should not be allowed in schools.
Schools should block sites like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram on their computers.
School uniforms should be required.
Standardized testing should be abolished.
All students should have an after-school job or internship.
School should be in session year-round.
All high school athletes should be drug tested.
Detention should be abolished.
All student loan debt should be eliminated.
Homeschooling is better than traditional schooling.
All schools should have armed security guards.
Religion should be taught in schools.
All schools should be private schools.
All students should go to boarding schools.
Sexual education should be mandatory in schools.
Public college should be tuition free.
All teachers should get tenure.
All school districts should offer school vouchers.

Health Debate Topics

Healthcare should be universal.
Cosmetic procedures should be covered by health insurance.
All people should be vegetarians.
Euthanasia should be banned.
The drinking age should be 18.
Vaping should be banned.
Smoking should be banned in all public places.
People should be legally required to get vaccines.
Obesity should be labeled a disease.
Sexual orientation is determined at birth.
The sale of human organs should be legalized.
Birth control should be for sale over the counter.

Technology Debate Topics

Social media has improved human communication.
The development of artificial intelligence will help humanity.
Individuals should own their own DNA.
Humans should invest in technology to explore and colonize other planets.
Governments should invest in alternative energy sources.
Net neutrality should be restored.
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies should be encouraged or banned.
Alternative energy can effectively replace fossil fuels.
Cell phone radiation is dangerous and should be limited.

How to Prepare for a Debate

Once you’ve selected your debate topic, the next step is to prepare for your debate. Follow these steps as you get ready to take the podium.

Read Your Evidence

The most important step to building your debate confidence is to familiarize yourself with the evidence available. You’ll want to select reputable sources and use empirical data effectively.

The more well read on your topic you are, the better you’ll be able to defend your position and anticipate the other side’s arguments.

Anticipate the Other Side’s Arguments

As part of your debate, you’ll need to rebut the other side’s arguments. It’s important to prepare ahead of time to guess what they’ll be talking about. You’ll bolster your own side’s argument if you’re able to effectively dismantle what the other side is saying.

Plan to Fill Your Speech Time

Each speaker at a debate is limited to a certain amount of time. You should plan to use every second of the time that you’re allotted. Make sure you practice your talking points so that you know you’re within the time frame. If you’re short, add in more evidence.

Practice to Build Confidence

It can be scary to take the stage for a debate! Practicing ahead of time will help you build confidence. Remember to speak slowly and clearly. Even if your argument is great, it won’t matter if no one can understand it.

Final Thoughts

Debate is a great way to hone your public speaking skills and get practice crafting and defending an argument. Use these debate topics if you're searching for a focus for your next debate.

What's Next?

Looking for ways to keep the debate going in non-academic life? Then you'll love our list of 101 "this or that" questions to argue over with your friends.

Thinking about how you can use your argumentative skills in a future career? Read up on the five steps to becoming a lawyer to see if that's a path you want to pursue.

Getting ready to take an AP test? Here’s a list of practice tests for every AP exam, including the AP literature exam .

It can be hard to schedule time to study for an AP test on top of your extracurriculars and normal classwork. Check out this article on when you need to start studying for your AP tests to make sure you’re staying on track.

Hayley Milliman is a former teacher turned writer who blogs about education, history, and technology. When she was a teacher, Hayley's students regularly scored in the 99th percentile thanks to her passion for making topics digestible and accessible. In addition to her work for PrepScholar, Hayley is the author of Museum Hack's Guide to History's Fiercest Females.

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Research in Context: Treating depression

Finding better approaches.

While effective treatments for major depression are available, there is still room for improvement. This special Research in Context feature explores the development of more effective ways to treat depression, including personalized treatment approaches and both old and new drugs.

Woman standing on a road between a bleak, desolate area and a lush, green area.

Everyone has a bad day sometimes. People experience various types of stress in the course of everyday life. These stressors can cause sadness, anxiety, hopelessness, frustration, or guilt. You may not enjoy the activities you usually do. These feelings tend to be only temporary. Once circumstances change, and the source of stress goes away, your mood usually improves. But sometimes, these feelings don’t go away. When these feelings stick around for at least two weeks and interfere with your daily activities, it’s called major depression, or clinical depression.

In 2021, 8.3% of U.S. adults experienced major depression. That’s about 21 million people. Among adolescents, the prevalence was much greater—more than 20%. Major depression can bring decreased energy, difficulty thinking straight, sleep problems, loss of appetite, and even physical pain. People with major depression may become unable to meet their responsibilities at work or home. Depression can also lead people to use alcohol or drugs or engage in high-risk activities. In the most extreme cases, depression can drive people to self-harm or even suicide.

The good news is that effective treatments are available. But current treatments have limitations. That’s why NIH-funded researchers have been working to develop more effective ways to treat depression. These include finding ways to predict whether certain treatments will help a given patient. They're also trying to develop more effective drugs or, in some cases, find new uses for existing drugs.

Finding the right treatments

The most common treatments for depression include psychotherapy, medications, or a combination. Mild depression may be treated with psychotherapy. Moderate to severe depression often requires the addition of medication.

Several types of psychotherapy have been shown to help relieve depression symptoms. For example, cognitive behavioral therapy helps people to recognize harmful ways of thinking and teaches them how to change these. Some researchers are working to develop new therapies to enhance people’s positive emotions. But good psychotherapy can be hard to access due to the cost, scheduling difficulties, or lack of available providers. The recent growth of telehealth services for mental health has improved access in some cases.

There are many antidepressant drugs on the market. Different drugs will work best on different patients. But it can be challenging to predict which drugs will work for a given patient. And it can take anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks to know whether a drug is working. Finding an effective drug can involve a long period of trial and error, with no guarantee of results.

If depression doesn’t improve with psychotherapy or medications, brain stimulation therapies could be used. Electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT, uses electrodes to send electric current into the brain. A newer technique, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), stimulates the brain using magnetic fields. These treatments must be administered by specially trained health professionals.

“A lot of patients, they kind of muddle along, treatment after treatment, with little idea whether something’s going to work,” says psychiatric researcher Dr. Amit Etkin.

One reason it’s difficult to know which antidepressant medications will work is that there are likely different biological mechanisms that can cause depression. Two people with similar symptoms may both be diagnosed with depression, but the causes of their symptoms could be different. As NIH depression researcher Dr. Carlos Zarate explains, “we believe that there’s not one depression, but hundreds of depressions.”

Depression may be due to many factors. Genetics can put certain people at risk for depression. Stressful situations, physical health conditions, and medications may contribute. And depression can also be part of a more complicated mental disorder, such as bipolar disorder. All of these can affect which treatment would be best to use.

Etkin has been developing methods to distinguish patients with different types of depression based on measurable biological features, or biomarkers. The idea is that different types of patients would respond differently to various treatments. Etkin calls this approach “precision psychiatry.”

One such type of biomarker is electrical activity in the brain. A technique called electroencephalography, or EEG, measures electrical activity using electrodes placed on the scalp. When Etkin was at Stanford University, he led a research team that developed a machine-learning algorithm to predict treatment response based on EEG signals. The team applied the algorithm to data from a clinical trial of the antidepressant sertraline (Zoloft) involving more than 300 people.

Young woman undergoing electroencephalography.

EEG data for the participants were collected at the outset. Participants were then randomly assigned to take either sertraline or an inactive placebo for eight weeks. The team found a specific set of signals that predicted the participants’ responses to sertraline. The same neural “signature” also predicted which patients with depression responded to medication in a separate group.

Etkin’s team also examined this neural signature in a set of patients who were treated with TMS and psychotherapy. People who were predicted to respond less to sertraline had a greater response to the TMS/psychotherapy combination.

Etkin continues to develop methods for personalized depression treatment through his company, Alto Neuroscience. He notes that EEG has the advantage of being low-cost and accessible; data can even be collected in a patient’s home. That’s important for being able to get personalized treatments to the large number of people they could help. He’s also working on developing antidepressant drugs targeted to specific EEG profiles. Candidate drugs are in clinical trials now.

“It’s not like a pie-in-the-sky future thing, 20-30 years from now,” Etkin explains. “This is something that could be in people's hands within the next five years.”

New tricks for old drugs

While some researchers focus on matching patients with their optimal treatments, others aim to find treatments that can work for many different patients. It turns out that some drugs we’ve known about for decades might be very effective antidepressants, but we didn’t recognize their antidepressant properties until recently.

One such drug is ketamine. Ketamine has been used as an anesthetic for more than 50 years. Around the turn of this century, researchers started to discover its potential as an antidepressant. Zarate and others have found that, unlike traditional antidepressants that can take weeks to take effect, ketamine can improve depression in as little as one day. And a single dose can have an effect for a week or more. In 2019, the FDA approved a form of ketamine for treating depression that is resistant to other treatments.

But ketamine has drawbacks of its own. It’s a dissociative drug, meaning that it can make people feel disconnected from their body and environment. It also has the potential for addiction and misuse. For these reasons, it’s a controlled substance and can only be administered in a doctor’s office or clinic.

Another class of drugs being studied as possible antidepressants are psychedelics. These include lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms. These drugs can temporarily alter a person’s mood, thoughts, and perceptions of reality. Some have historically been used for religious rituals, but they are also used recreationally.

In clinical studies, psychedelics are typically administered in combination with psychotherapy. This includes several preparatory sessions with a therapist in the weeks before getting the drug, and several sessions in the weeks following to help people process their experiences. The drugs are administered in a controlled setting.

Dr. Stephen Ross, co-director of the New York University Langone Health Center for Psychedelic Medicine, describes a typical session: “It takes place in a living room-like setting. The person is prepared, and they state their intention. They take the drug, they lie supine, they put on eye shades and preselected music, and two therapists monitor them.” Sessions last for as long as the acute effects of the drug last, which is typically several hours. This is a healthcare-intensive intervention given the time and personnel needed.

In 2016, Ross led a clinical trial examining whether psilocybin-assisted therapy could reduce depression and anxiety in people with cancer. According to Ross, as many as 40% of people with cancer have clinically significant anxiety and depression. The study showed that a single psilocybin session led to substantial reductions in anxiety and depression compared with a placebo. These reductions were evident as soon as one day after psilocybin administration. Six months later, 60-80% of participants still had reduced depression and anxiety.

Psychedelic drugs frequently trigger mystical experiences in the people who take them. “People can feel a sense…that their consciousness is part of a greater consciousness or that all energy is one,” Ross explains. “People can have an experience that for them feels more ‘real’ than regular reality. They can feel transported to a different dimension of reality.”

About three out of four participants in Ross’s study said it was among the most meaningful experiences of their lives. And the degree of mystical experience correlated with the drug’s therapeutic effect. A long-term follow-up study found that the effects of the treatment continued more than four years later.

If these results seem too good to be true, Ross is quick to point out that it was a small study, with only 29 participants, although similar studies from other groups have yielded similar results. Psychedelics haven’t yet been shown to be effective in a large, controlled clinical trial. Ross is now conducting a trial with 200 people to see if the results of his earlier study pan out in this larger group. For now, though, psychedelics remain experimental drugs—approved for testing, but not for routine medical use.

Unlike ketamine, psychedelics aren’t considered addictive. But they, too, carry risks, which certain conditions may increase. Psychedelics can cause cardiovascular complications. They can cause psychosis in people who are predisposed to it. In uncontrolled settings, they have the risk of causing anxiety, confusion, and paranoia—a so-called “bad trip”—that can lead the person taking the drug to harm themself or others. This is why psychedelic-assisted therapy takes place in such tightly controlled settings. That increases the cost and complexity of the therapy, which may prevent many people from having access to it.

Better, safer drugs

Despite the promise of ketamine or psychedelics, their drawbacks have led some researchers to look for drugs that work like them but with fewer side effects.

Depression is thought to be caused by the loss of connections between nerve cells, or neurons, in certain regions of the brain. Ketamine and psychedelics both promote the brain’s ability to repair these connections, a quality called plasticity. If we could understand how these drugs encourage plasticity, we might be able to design drugs that can do so without the side effects.

Dr. David Olson at the University of California, Davis studies how psychedelics work at the cellular and molecular levels. The drugs appear to promote plasticity by binding to a receptor in cells called the 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptor (5-HT2AR). But many other compounds also bind 5-HT2AR without promoting plasticity. In a recent NIH-funded study, Olson showed that 5-HT2AR can be found both inside and on the surface of the cell. Only compounds that bound to the receptor inside the cells promoted plasticity. This suggests that a drug has to be able to get into the cell to promote plasticity.

Moreover, not all drugs that bind 5-HT2AR have psychedelic effects. Olson’s team has developed a molecular sensor, called psychLight, that can identify which compounds that bind 5-HT2AR have psychedelic effects. Using psychLight, they identified compounds that are not psychedelic but still have rapid and long-lasting antidepressant effects in animal models. He’s founded a company, Delix Therapeutics, to further develop drugs that promote plasticity.

Meanwhile, Zarate and his colleagues have been investigating a compound related to ketamine called hydroxynorketamine (HNK). Ketamine is converted to HNK in the body, and this process appears to be required for ketamine’s antidepressant effects. Administering HNK directly produced antidepressant-like effects in mice. At the same time, it did not cause the dissociative side effects and addiction caused by ketamine. Zarate’s team has already completed phase I trials of HNK in people showing that it’s safe. Phase II trials to find out whether it’s effective are scheduled to begin soon.

“What [ketamine and psychedelics] are doing for the field is they’re helping us realize that it is possible to move toward a repair model versus a symptom mitigation model,” Olson says. Unlike existing antidepressants, which just relieve the symptoms of depression, these drugs appear to fix the underlying causes. That’s likely why they work faster and produce longer-lasting effects. This research is bringing us closer to having safer antidepressants that only need to be taken once in a while, instead of every day.

—by Brian Doctrow, Ph.D.

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New research shows 'profound' link between dietary choices and brain health

New research has highlighted the profound link between dietary choices and brain health.

Published in Nature , the research showed that a healthy, balanced diet was linked to superior brain health, cognitive function and mental wellbeing. The study, involving researchers at the University of Warwick, sheds light on how our food preferences not only influence physical health but also significantly impact brain health.

The dietary choices of a large sample of 181,990 participants from the UK Biobank were analysed against and a range of physical evaluations, including cognitive function, blood metabolic biomarkers, brain imaging, and genetics -- unveiling new insights into the relationship between nutrition and overall wellbeing.

The food preferences of each participant were collected via an online questionnaire, which the team catagorised into 10 groups (such as alcohol, fruits and meats). A type of AI called machine learning helped the researchers analyse the large dataset.

A balanced diet was associated with better mental health, superior cognitive functions and even higher amounts of grey matter in the brain -- linked to intelligence -- compared with those with a less varied diet.

The study also highlighted the need for gradual dietary modifications, particularly for individuals accustomed to highly palatable but nutritionally deficient foods. By slowly reducing sugar and fat intake over time, individuals may find themselves naturally gravitating towards healthier food choices.

Genetic factors may also contribute to the association between diet and brain health, the scientists believe, showing how a combination of genetic predispositions and lifestyle choices shape wellbeing.

Lead Author Professor Jianfeng Feng, University of Warwick, emphasised the importance of establishing healthy food preferences early in life. He said: "Developing a healthy balanced diet from an early age is crucial for healthy growth. To foster the development of a healthy balanced diet, both families and schools should offer a diverse range of nutritious meals and cultivate an environment that supports their physical and mental health."

Addressing the broader implications of the research, Prof Feng emphasized the role of public policy in promoting accessible and affordable healthy eating options. "Since dietary choices can be influenced by socioeconomic status, it's crucial to ensure that this does not hinder individuals from adopting a healthy balanced dietary profile," he stated. "Implementing affordable nutritious food policies is essential for governments to empower the general public to make informed and healthier dietary choices, thereby promoting overall public health."

Co-Auhtor Wei Cheng, Fudan University, added: "Our findings underscore the associations between dietary patterns and brain health, urging for concerted efforts in promoting nutritional awareness and fostering healthier eating habits across diverse populations."

Dr Richard Pemberton, Certified Lifestyle Physician and GP, Hexagon Health, who was not involved in the stud, commented: "This exciting research further demonstrates that a poor diet detrimentally impacts not only our physical health but also our mental and brain health. This study supports the need for urgent government action to optimise health in our children, protecting future generations. We also hope this provides further evidence to motivate us all to make better lifestyle choices, to improve our health and reduce the risk of developing chronic disease."

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Ruohan Zhang, Bei Zhang, Chun Shen, Barbara J. Sahakian, Zeyu Li, Wei Zhang, Yujie Zhao, Yuzhu Li, Jianfeng Feng, Wei Cheng. Associations of dietary patterns with brain health from behavioral, neuroimaging, biochemical and genetic analyses . Nature Mental Health , 2024; DOI: 10.1038/s44220-024-00226-0

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3 Questions: A shared vocabulary for how infectious diseases spread

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MIT Associate Professor Lydia Bourouiba describes how her fluid dynamics research influenced new guidance from the World Health Organization, which will shape how health agencies respond to infectious diseases.

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On April 18, the World Health Organization (WHO) released new guidance on airborne disease transmission that seeks to create a consensus around the terminology used to describe the transmission of infectious pathogens through the air.

Lydia Bourouiba, the director of the MIT Fluid Dynamics of Disease Transmission Laboratory and the Fluids and Health Network, an associate professor in the MIT departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, and a core member of the Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, served on the WHO expert team that developed the guidance. For more than a decade, Bourouiba’s laboratory has been researching fundamental physical processes underlying how infectious diseases spread from person to person.

The new WHO guidance puts forth new definitions of key terminology pertaining to respiratory infectious disease transmission. This reflects a new, shared understanding of how respiratory infectious pathogens move from one person to the next: through the exhalations of turbulent “puff clouds” that carry infectious contaminants in a continuum of droplet sizes and can lead to exposure at a range of distances.

Bourouiba’s lab has pioneered this physical picture and worked closely with a range of stakeholders over the years to ensure that public health guidance incorporates the latest science, improving preparedness for emerging respiratory pathogens. Bourouiba spoke with MIT News about the new WHO guidance.

Q: How did you become involved in creating these new guidelines?

A: I have been researching exhalation emissions for more than a decade. After the first SARS outbreak in 2003, I realized that the mechanisms by which respiratory pathogens are transmitted from one host to the next were essentially considered too random and too brief to be amenable to systematic investigation. Hence, the physical act of pathogen transmission was relegated to a black box. However, I also realized the fundamental importance of understanding these events mechanistically, to ultimately be able to mitigate such transmission events in a rational and principled manner. For this, we needed to understand the fluid physics and biophysics of respiratory emissions.

In the Fluid Dynamics of Disease Transmission Laboratory at MIT, we have been investigating these respiratory emissions. Our work showed that prior guidelines — specifically, the dichotomy of “large” versus “small” drops and isolated droplet emissions (essentially from spray bottles) — were not at all what we actually see and quantify when investigating respiratory emissions. We focused on establishing the full physics of such processes, from emission physiology to the fluid dynamics and biophysics of the exhalation flows and the interaction of the exhaled turbulent multiphase flow with the conditions of the ambient environment (air currents, temperature, and humidity).

Since 2015, I have also been working with the MIT Policy Lab at the Center for International Studies to disseminate our findings to public health officials and various agencies. We organized multiple conferences where we brought in scientists, clinicians, virologists, epidemiologists, microbiologists, and representatives from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other groups, both before and during the pandemic.

In 2022, I was asked to serve on the World Health Organization’s technical consultation expert team, which was tasked with reaching a consensus on a new framework on respiratory infectious disease transmission. That process lasted about two years and culminated so far in the publication of the new guidelines. The process was obviously accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the issues it brought to the fore regarding the inadequate old definitions. The goal of convening the consultation group was to bring together leading experts from around the globe and from very diverse fields — ranging from fluid physics to clinical medicine and epidemiology — to think through how best to redefine terms related to respiratory infectious disease transmission in light of the latest science. These new guidelines are very much a first step in a series of important consultations and efforts.

Q: How did your research change the WHO’s description of how diseases are transmitted through the air?

A: Our research established that these isolated droplets are not just exhaled as isolated droplets moving semiballistically [that will settle out of the air relatively near to the person who released them]. Instead, they are part of a multiphase turbulent puff gas cloud that contains a continuum of droplet sizes, where the cloud provides a comparatively warm and moist — and hence protective — environment for these droplets and the pathogens they contain, with respect to ambient air. One of our first papers establishing this concept was published in 2014. And we have showed since that models that do not include the proper physics of these turbulent puff clouds can dramatically underestimate the ranges of propagation and also completely shift estimates of risk and pathogen persistence in an indoor space.

These turbulent puff clouds are inhomogeneous, with potential for highly concentrated pathogen-bearing droplet load regions that can persist for a comparatively long time while moving very quickly across an indoor space in some of the most violent exhalations. Their dynamics enable potential effective inhalation exposure at a range of distances, long and short. This continuum and physical picture of concentrated packets of droplets and their impact on persistence of pathogen infectivity and exposure are in complete contrast with the notion of homogeneous mixing indoors, and the prior false dichotomy of “large” droplets that fall ballistically and “small” droplets that essentially evaporate immediately to form aerosols assumed to be deactivated. The prior picture led to the belief that only very few infectious diseases are airborne or requiring air management. This dichotomy, with other misconceptions, rooted in science from the 1930s, has surprisingly persisted in guidelines for decades.

The new guideline is a major milestone, not only because these guidelines do not change very often — every 10 or 15 years at best — but also because in addition to the WHO, five national or transnational health agencies have already endorsed the findings, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which also acknowledged the importance of the shift.

Q: What are the biggest implications of these changes?

A: An agreed-upon common terminology is critical in infectious disease research and mitigation. The new guidelines set the foundation for such a common understanding and process. One might think it is just semantics or a small, incremental change in our understanding. However, risk calculations actually vary tremendously based on the framework one uses. We used mathematical models and physical experiments and found that the physical picture change has dramatic implications on risk estimations.

Another major implication was discussed in one of our publications from the very early stages of the pandemic, which stressed the urgent need for health care workers to have N95 masks because of these cloud dynamics and the associated importance of paying attention to indoor air management. Here again, risk calculations without the puff cloud dynamics would suggest that a typical hospital room or emergency department would dilute sufficiently the pathogen load so as to not pose a high risk. But with the puff cloud and dynamic of the droplets of a continuum of sizes within it, and coupled with it, it becomes clear that health care workers could still be exposed via inhalation to significant viral loads. Thus, they should have been provided N95 masks, in most conditions, when entering the space hosting a Covid-19 patient, even if they were not in their immediate vicinity. That article was the first to call attention to the importance of masking of health care workers due to the actual exhalation puff cloud and continuum of droplet sizes, shaping airborne transmission.

It took public health agencies more than six months to start considering shifting their masking guidelines during Covid-19. But this WHO document is broader than Covid-19. It redefines the basic definitions surrounding all respiratory infectious diseases — those that we know and those yet to come. That means there will be a different risk assessment and thereby different decision trees and policies, trickling down to different choices of protective equipment and mitigation protocols, and different parts of health agencies or facilities that might be activated or deployed.

The new guidelines are also a major acknowledgement that infectious disease transmission is truly an interdisciplinary area where scientists, clinicians, and public health officials of different backgrounds need to communicate with each other efficiently and clearly and share their insights, be it fundamental physics or clinical infectious diseases. So, it is not just the content of these guidelines, but also the way this update unfolded. Hopefully it changes the mindset for responding to such public health threats.

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IU researchers receive $4.8 million grant to study the role of misfolded protein TDP-43 in neurodegenerative diseases

IU School of Medicine Apr 23, 2024

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INDIANAPOLIS—A new $4.8 million grant will support researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine and the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology to study how human neurodegenerative diseases are affected by the misfolding of the protein TDP-43. Misfolding occurs when a protein adopts a conformation which differs from the native one.

The researchers, funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, have developed an innovative approach to deciphering the role of TDP-43 misfolding in the pathology of frontotemporal dementias, limbic predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy and Alzheimer’s disease.

“The presence of misfolded proteins in the central nervous system is the hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases,” said Kathy Newell, MD , Jay C. and Lucile L. Kahn Professor of Alzheimer's Disease Research and Education at IU School of Medicine and a principal investigator of the project. “The argument for the pathogenic significance of various misfolded proteins results from the fact that mutations in the various genes encoding those proteins cause distinct genetically determined neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, misfolding of those proteins also occurs in sporadic neurodegenerative diseases.”

An international, multidisciplinary team has been assembled with expertise in neuropathology, digital pathology, molecular genetics, biochemistry, protein misfolding, proteomics, structural biology and cryogenic electron microscopy. The team is supported by experts in clinical neurology, protein misfolding and biostatistics, as well as by the Dementia Laboratory’s Brain Library.

“The protein TDP-43 is central to the pathogenesis of half of all frontotemporal lobar degeneration cases. Finding out how TDP-43, when misfolded, gives rise to multiple proteinopathies is extremely important for the design of diagnostic and therapeutic compounds that will target pathologic TDP-43,” Newell said.

The project is called “Investigating the role of TDP-43 mislocalization, structure, and post-translational modifications in the neuropathologically heterogeneous TDP-43 proteinopathies.”

In addition to Newell, the other principal investigators are Laura Cracco, PhD, MS , assistant research professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at IU School of Medicine and Benjamin Ryskeldi-Falcon, PhD , group leader at the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology in the United Kingdom. This project is the first National Institutes of Health funded research for all three investigators as principal investigators.

About IU School of Medicine

The IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability. According to the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, the IU School of Medicine ranks No. 13 in 2023 National Institutes of Health funding among all public medical schools in the country.

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An Open Comparative Study of the Effectiveness and Incomparable Study of the Immunogenicity and Safety of the Vaccine (CoviVac) for Adults Aged 60 Years and Older

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Volunteers must meet the following inclusion criteria:

Type of participants

• Healthy volunteers or volunteers with a history of stable diseases that do not meet any of the criteria for non-inclusion in the study.

Other inclusion criteria

Written informed consent of volunteers to participate in a clinical trial
Volunteers who are able to fulfill the Protocol requirements (i.e., fill out a self-observation Diary, come to control visits).

Exclusion Criteria:

SARS-CoV-2 infection • A case of established COVID-19 disease confirmed by PCR and/or ELISA in the last 6 months.

Diseases or medical conditions

Serious post-vaccination reaction (temperature above 40 C, hyperemia or edema more than 8 cm in diameter) or complication (collapse or shock-like condition that developed within 48 hours after vaccination; convulsions, accompanied or not accompanied by a feverish state) to any previous vaccination.
Burdened allergic history (anaphylactic shock, Quincke's edema, polymorphic exudative eczema, serum sickness in the anamnesis, hypersensitivity or allergic reactions to the introduction of any vaccines in the anamnesis, known allergic reactions to vaccine components, etc.).
Guillain-Barre syndrome (acute polyradiculitis) in the anamnesis.
The axillary temperature at the time of vaccination is more than 37.0 ° C.
Acute infectious diseases (recovery earlier than 4 weeks before vaccination) according to anamnesis.
Donation of blood or plasma (in the amount of 450 ml or more) less than 2 months before inclusion in the study.
Severe and/or uncontrolled diseases of the cardiovascular, bronchopulmonary, neuroendocrine systems, gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidneys, hematopoietic, immune systems.
Is registered at the dispensary for tuberculosis, leukemia, oncological diseases, autoimmune diseases.
Any confirmed or suspected immunosuppressive or immunodeficiency condition in the anamnesis.
Splenectomy in the anamnesis.
Neutropenia (decrease in the absolute number of neutrophils less than 1000/mm3), agranulocytosis, significant blood loss, severe anemia (hemoglobin less than 80 g/l) according to anamnesis.
Anorexia according to anamnesis.

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Vaccination with any vaccine carried out within 30 days before vaccination / the first dose of the studied vaccine or planned administration within 30 days after vaccination / the last dose of the studied vaccine.
Prior vaccination with an experimental or registered vaccine that may affect the interpretation of the study data (any coronavirus or SARS vaccines).
Long-term use (more than 14 days) of immunosuppressants or other immunomodulatory drugs (immunoregulatory peptides, cytokines, interferons, immune system effector proteins (immunoglobulins), interferon inducers (cycloferon) during the six months preceding the study, according to anamnesis.
Treatment with systemic glucocorticosteroids (≥ 20 mg of prednisone, or an analog, for more than 15 days during the last month).
Volunteers who received immunoglobulin preparations or blood transfusion during the last 3 months prior to the start of the study according to anamnesis.

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• Participation in any other clinical trial within the last 3 months.

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Withdrawal of Informed consent by a volunteer;
The volunteer was included in violation of the inclusion/non-inclusion criteria of the Protocol;
Any condition of a volunteer that requires, in the reasoned opinion of a medical researcher, the withdrawal of a volunteer from the study;
Taking unauthorized medications (see section 6.2);
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University of Chicago Medicine research study finds medical misinformation on TikTok

CHICAGO (WLS) -- There are countless videos on topics ranging from sinus infections to diabetes, but some of the most popular TikToks may be filled with medical misinformation.

The findings come from new research conducted by a team at the University of Chicago

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

"The researchers focused on a specific health condition and performed their search during a single 24-hour period to limit the effects of TikTok's ever-shifting algorithm... around 44% of the videos contained non-factual information," the study reads in part.

A full report on the study can be found on the University of Chicago Biological Sciences Division website .

The lead author of the study, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine M.D. candidate Rose Dimitroyannis, joined ABC7 Friday to speak more about the research.

Dimitroyannis spoke about how common it is to find medical misinformation on TikTok, some of the falsehoods they found, the approach used for the research and some of the benefits and dangers of sharing medical information on TikTok.

The full interview can be viewed in the player above.

SEE ALSO | TikTok's Chinese parent company ByteDance denies it's willing to sell platform as US ban looms

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Key facts about the abortion debate in America

A woman receives medication to terminate her pregnancy at a reproductive health clinic in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on June 23, 2022, the day before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which had guaranteed a constitutional right to an abortion for nearly 50 years.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s June 2022 ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade – the decision that had guaranteed a constitutional right to an abortion for nearly 50 years – has shifted the legal battle over abortion to the states, with some prohibiting the procedure and others moving to safeguard it.

As the nation’s post-Roe chapter begins, here are key facts about Americans’ views on abortion, based on two Pew Research Center polls: one conducted from June 25-July 4 , just after this year’s high court ruling, and one conducted in March , before an earlier leaked draft of the opinion became public.

This analysis primarily draws from two Pew Research Center surveys, one surveying 10,441 U.S. adults conducted March 7-13, 2022, and another surveying 6,174 U.S. adults conducted June 27-July 4, 2022. Here are the questions used for the March survey , along with responses, and the questions used for the survey from June and July , along with responses.

Everyone who took part in these surveys is a member of the Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel that is recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. This way nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other categories. Read more about the ATP’s methodology .

A majority of the U.S. public disapproves of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe. About six-in-ten adults (57%) disapprove of the court’s decision that the U.S. Constitution does not guarantee a right to abortion and that abortion laws can be set by states, including 43% who strongly disapprove, according to the summer survey. About four-in-ten (41%) approve, including 25% who strongly approve.

A bar chart showing that the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade draws more strong disapproval among Democrats than strong approval among Republicans

About eight-in-ten Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents (82%) disapprove of the court’s decision, including nearly two-thirds (66%) who strongly disapprove. Most Republicans and GOP leaners (70%) approve , including 48% who strongly approve.

Most women (62%) disapprove of the decision to end the federal right to an abortion. More than twice as many women strongly disapprove of the court’s decision (47%) as strongly approve of it (21%). Opinion among men is more divided: 52% disapprove (37% strongly), while 47% approve (28% strongly).

About six-in-ten Americans (62%) say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, according to the summer survey – little changed since the March survey conducted just before the ruling. That includes 29% of Americans who say it should be legal in all cases and 33% who say it should be legal in most cases. About a third of U.S. adults (36%) say abortion should be illegal in all (8%) or most (28%) cases.

A line graph showing public views of abortion from 1995-2022

Generally, Americans’ views of whether abortion should be legal remained relatively unchanged in the past few years , though support fluctuated somewhat in previous decades.

Relatively few Americans take an absolutist view on the legality of abortion – either supporting or opposing it at all times, regardless of circumstances. The March survey found that support or opposition to abortion varies substantially depending on such circumstances as when an abortion takes place during a pregnancy, whether the pregnancy is life-threatening or whether a baby would have severe health problems.

While Republicans’ and Democrats’ views on the legality of abortion have long differed, the 46 percentage point partisan gap today is considerably larger than it was in the recent past, according to the survey conducted after the court’s ruling. The wider gap has been largely driven by Democrats: Today, 84% of Democrats say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, up from 72% in 2016 and 63% in 2007. Republicans’ views have shown far less change over time: Currently, 38% of Republicans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, nearly identical to the 39% who said this in 2007.

A line graph showing that the partisan gap in views of whether abortion should be legal remains wide

However, the partisan divisions over whether abortion should generally be legal tell only part of the story. According to the March survey, sizable shares of Democrats favor restrictions on abortion under certain circumstances, while majorities of Republicans favor abortion being legal in some situations , such as in cases of rape or when the pregnancy is life-threatening.

There are wide religious divides in views of whether abortion should be legal , the summer survey found. An overwhelming share of religiously unaffiliated adults (83%) say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, as do six-in-ten Catholics. Protestants are divided in their views: 48% say it should be legal in all or most cases, while 50% say it should be illegal in all or most cases. Majorities of Black Protestants (71%) and White non-evangelical Protestants (61%) take the position that abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while about three-quarters of White evangelicals (73%) say it should be illegal in all (20%) or most cases (53%).

A bar chart showing that there are deep religious divisions in views of abortion

In the March survey, 72% of White evangelicals said that the statement “human life begins at conception, so a fetus is a person with rights” reflected their views extremely or very well . That’s much greater than the share of White non-evangelical Protestants (32%), Black Protestants (38%) and Catholics (44%) who said the same. Overall, 38% of Americans said that statement matched their views extremely or very well.

Catholics, meanwhile, are divided along religious and political lines in their attitudes about abortion, according to the same survey. Catholics who attend Mass regularly are among the country’s strongest opponents of abortion being legal, and they are also more likely than those who attend less frequently to believe that life begins at conception and that a fetus has rights. Catholic Republicans, meanwhile, are far more conservative on a range of abortion questions than are Catholic Democrats.

Women (66%) are more likely than men (57%) to say abortion should be legal in most or all cases, according to the survey conducted after the court’s ruling.

More than half of U.S. adults – including 60% of women and 51% of men – said in March that women should have a greater say than men in setting abortion policy . Just 3% of U.S. adults said men should have more influence over abortion policy than women, with the remainder (39%) saying women and men should have equal say.

The March survey also found that by some measures, women report being closer to the abortion issue than men . For example, women were more likely than men to say they had given “a lot” of thought to issues around abortion prior to taking the survey (40% vs. 30%). They were also considerably more likely than men to say they personally knew someone (such as a close friend, family member or themselves) who had had an abortion (66% vs. 51%) – a gender gap that was evident across age groups, political parties and religious groups.

Relatively few Americans view the morality of abortion in stark terms , the March survey found. Overall, just 7% of all U.S. adults say having an abortion is morally acceptable in all cases, and 13% say it is morally wrong in all cases. A third say that having an abortion is morally wrong in most cases, while about a quarter (24%) say it is morally acceptable in most cases. An additional 21% do not consider having an abortion a moral issue.

A table showing that there are wide religious and partisan differences in views of the morality of abortion

Among Republicans, most (68%) say that having an abortion is morally wrong either in most (48%) or all cases (20%). Only about three-in-ten Democrats (29%) hold a similar view. Instead, about four-in-ten Democrats say having an abortion is morally acceptable in most (32%) or all (11%) cases, while an additional 28% say it is not a moral issue.

White evangelical Protestants overwhelmingly say having an abortion is morally wrong in most (51%) or all cases (30%). A slim majority of Catholics (53%) also view having an abortion as morally wrong, but many also say it is morally acceptable in most (24%) or all cases (4%), or that it is not a moral issue (17%). Among religiously unaffiliated Americans, about three-quarters see having an abortion as morally acceptable (45%) or not a moral issue (32%).

Religion & Abortion

Jane Doe is a a research analyst focusing on social and demographic research at Pew Research Center

What the data says about abortion in the U.S.

Support for legal abortion is widespread in many countries, especially in europe, nearly a year after roe’s demise, americans’ views of abortion access increasingly vary by where they live, by more than two-to-one, americans say medication abortion should be legal in their state, most latinos say democrats care about them and work hard for their vote, far fewer say so of gop, most popular.

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