Ethical considerations in screening head and neck cancer patients for psychosocial distress.

Rationale: Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients and survivors are a particularly vulnerable group with disproportionately high levels of psychosocial distress. Untreated psychosocial distress among HNC patients has consistently been associated with poorer health and psychosocial outcomes. Screening for distress (SFD) allows health care providers to identify and monitor patient's distress, and when needed, to subsequently provide appropriate psychosocial supports that aim to reduce suffering and improve patients' overall well-being.

Ethical issues in the psychosocial assessment of bariatric surgery candidates.

Psychosocial evaluation is recommended prior to bariatric surgery. Practice guidelines have been published on assessment methods for bariatric surgery candidates, but they have not emphasized ethical issues with this population. This review outlines ethical and professional considerations for behavioral healthcare providers who conduct pre-surgical assessments of bariatric surgery candidates by merging ethical principles for mental health professionals with current practices in pre-surgical assessments.