Commentary: Ethics and Medical Judgment: Whose Values? What Process?

One in a series of commentaries on a case involving an African American man with congestive heart failure secondary to methamphetamine use. The cardiac team decided that, due to his methamphetamine use, the patient was not a transplant candidate. The cardiologist rejected a left ventricular assist device implant option on the basis of psychosocial reasons. An ethics consultation was requested by a member of the cardiac team for guidance on what the ethical obligations may be regarding treatment. Adapted from the source document.