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BioEthics Committee BioEthics Committee Healthcare decisions are very complext today. Advances in technology have given us so many new choices that sometimes the decisions we face are difficult to make. In addition, the people involved in our care may not always agree about what steps to take. That's when the Bioethics Committee can help. Why does Munroe have a Bioethics Committee? What is the Bioethics Committee’s Mission? Who Serves on the Bioethics Committee? Who to Call to Request a Consult? When to consider a Bioethics Consult What types of information/options can a Bioethics Consult produce? Education, Help for Decision Makers, and Support for Care Providers Bioethics Committee Responsibility Why does Munroe have a Bioethics Committee? Medical bioethics is the process of applying legal and ethical principles to concrete, real-world situations. It’s a way of looking at “hard choices” that take into account what the law says, what our values are, and how similar issues have been resolved in the past. Every person has the right to control the healthcare he or she receives. You exercise this right by making your own decisions. If you are not able to act for yourself, you can still be in charge through your advance directives, or through another person you designate to act in your behalf. But if your wishes are not clearly understood, or if those involved in your care disagree over what should be done, you or your family may need help. That’s where the Bioethics Committee comes in. It offers special expertise and experience in medical bioethics. Whenever it gets involved, it does so with respect to patient’s rights, family privacy, and the personal nature of the healthcare decisions. What is the Bioethics Committee's Mission? The Bioethics Committee mission is to assure patients and staff of an environment conducive to the ethical practice of medicine. This will be accomplished through the formation of a multi-disciplinary committee that will commit to remain up-to-date regarding medical bioethics principles. The function of this committee will focus on review of hospital policies as they relate to medical bioethics. The committee shall also provide ongoing education and serve as an independent advisory resource for hospital and medical staff. The committee will be available to assist on an informal basis with the management of cases involving difficult medical bioethical issues. Who serves on the Bioethics Committee? The Bioethics Committee includes people from many different backgrounds. Members may include:
What is a Bioethics Consult? A bioethics consult can serve a variety of functions, but basically serves to assist the healthcare provider in analyzing difficult bioethical issues that arise in patient care. A bioethics consult team consists of healthcare professionals, typically a physician, nurse, social worker and chaplain, who have expertise in consulting on bioethical problems which arise in patient care. A bioethics committee consult is not binding on the physician or family. The consult is intended to help clarify the situation, and delineate options, provide information, and increase communication between family, patient, physician, and other involved parties. Who can request a consult? Physicians, Nurses, Social Workers, Patient/Family, or any member of the healthcare team. Who to call to request a consult?
Vicki Audrain, Risk Management, (352) 351-7200 x7101 When to consider a Bioethics Consult: A Bioethics consult may be indicated when there is a disagreement between the physician and patient/family as to what is in the patient’s best interest. The more serious the disagreement, or the more serious the possible medical consequences, the greater the indication for a consult. It is often appropriate when there is no apparent conflict between the parties, but there are significant bioethical issues involved, (i.e. withdrawal and withholding of life-sustaining treatment, Do Not Attempt Resuscitation – DNAR – orders, etc.) In these cases, a bioethics consult may validate the decision, or make sure all the relevant issues and facts have been addressed. A bioethics consult often can help clarify who should be the primary decision maker, who should be informed of the patient’s condition, or who is the appropriate surrogate or proxy. The situations sometimes have legal ramifications and may require additional consultation with legal services. What types of information/options can a Bioethics Consult produce? Specific advice on the ethical ramifications of a particular treatment decision or the range of ethically acceptable alternatives. The consult may recommend a forum of the entire Bioethics Committee and other interested parties so that healthcare providers can discuss a case or issue. A consult may reveal that education is indicated on a particular issue. The consult team/Bioethics Committee can assist with education. Education, Help for Decision Makers and Support for Care Providers: The Bioethics Committee has many important responsibilities; it stays up-to-date on changes in the law, advances in medical technology and developments in medical bioethics. It helps the rest of us understand the basics of healthcare decision making. And it plays a key role by reviewing and commenting on proposed new guidelines, helping to keep existing policies current, and identifying issues or situations that may need to be addressed in the future. Bioethics Committee Responsibility: It’s good to know the Bioethics Committee is available to help, if you or your family needs it. It has an important role to play, but the rest of us can help too. We can replace confusion with direction if we:
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