Is Withholding Moderate Wine Intake Recommendations as a Secondary Treatment for Patients with Cardiovascular Disease Ethical?

摘要

Alcohol has been used as a medicine for centuries. In many studies, alcohol, specifically wine, has been shown effective in reducing mortality rates for patients with cardiovascular disease. With this in mind, one might question if it is ethical for physicians to withhold moderate wine intake recommendations for patients with cardiovascular disease. This paper discusses the ethical obligations a physician should meet in selecting patient treatment, health benefits of moderate alcohol intake for cardiovascular disease patients, as well as harmful effects of alcohol consumption. Further, risk factors and screening questionnaires for alcohol dependency are presented in relationship to physician liabilities for alcohol abuse neglect in their patients.