title: Living in limbo: ethics and experience in a conversation about persistent oral lesions.
abstract: This case report presents a conversation that the authors had with a patient who is suffering from oral lichen planus and oral cancer. The reason that the authors approached the patient for an interview was to find out why he decided to enroll in an experimental study related to his oral cancer. The patient reported that it was "the waiting" that led him to enroll in this study--that is, the pressure of waiting for oral cancer to re-emerge was simply unbearable, and enrolling in this experimental study enabled him to take a more proactive approach to his illness. The authors view this "waiting" as a "limbo experience" and reflect on the implications of this limbo experience for dental ethics and research ethics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Sciences, The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston, 6516 M.D. Anderson Blvd., Room 3.094H, Houston, TX 77030-3402, USA. catherine.m.flaitz@uth.tmc.edu
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Flaitz
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Carlin
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D026688:Bioethical Issues; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000473:pathology; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations / Q000941:ethics; D018450:Disease Progression; D004990:Ethics, Dental; D006801:Humans; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000473:pathology; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology; D014342:Truth Disclosure / Q000941:ethics