What were the three reasons that prompted the development of ethics committees from Karen Teel, MD?
Physicians had:
What were the baby doe rules?
Establishment of 1-800 numbers to address ethical concerns in the NICU
What are the roles of ethics committees? (6)
What are the four goals of ethics committees?
True or false: well functioning ethics committees should have an educational plan for themselves and others
True
True or false: well functioning ethics committees are about developing an advocacy model
False
True or false: well functioning ethics committees are about having ethics experts
False
True or false: well functioning ethics committees utilizes a good record keeping system
True
True or false: well functioning ethics committees commits to regular self evaluations, and meet regularly
True
Who usually comprises ethics committees? (6)
True or false: well functioning ethics committees are a forum for discussion, but not advice
True
True or false: well functioning ethics committees make clinical decisions
False
What is the role of ethics committees in ethical cases?
Mediation–resource for discussion, not a determining body
What are the three competencies for health care ethics consultation?
What is the most common underlying issue that comes to ethics committees?
Communication issues (90%)
What percent of questions that ethical committees have an actual ethical issue underlying them?
5%
What is an ethics consultant?
an expert in clinical ethics who provides either ethics consultation services or serves as an educational consultant to the ethics committee
What are the downsides of having an ethics consultant as opposed to a committee?
- Reliance on that person
What are the negatives of an ethics subcommittee?
- May lack sufficient expertise
Who can order an ethics consult?
Anyone–pts, family member, or any member of health care team
True or false: it is appropriate to consult an ethics committee on a non-active pt case
True
What has been the progression of issues presented to ethics committees?
From moral dilemmas to moral distress/dissonance
What is a moral dilemma?
A situation involving choices between equally (un)satisfactory alternatives
What is moral distress?
Painful feelings or psychological disequilibrium caused by a situation where there are some sort of social/institutional barriers