A Hospital Ethics Committee is a formal team comprised of a diverse group of professionals who convene within a healthcare facility to deliberate and provide guidance on ethical issues and dilemmas encountered in patient care. This interdisciplinary committee typically includes physicians, nurses, social workers, administrative personnel, ethicists, and sometimes legal experts.
The primary responsibility of a Hospital Ethics Committee is to facilitate ethical decision-making within the healthcare setting. This entails addressing complex ethical issues that may arise in patient care, such as end-of-life decisions, allocation of scarce resources, informed consent, confidentiality, and conflicts between patients, families, and healthcare providers. The committee serves as a resource, offering insight and recommendations based on ethical principles, organizational policies, legal considerations, and standards of care.
Hospital Ethics Committees may operate under various institutional guidelines, but they commonly engage in four key activities: education, consultation, policy development, and ongoing review. The committee educates hospital staff, patients, and families about ethical issues relevant to healthcare and advances in medical technology. They also offer consultation services, providing guidance to healthcare professionals and patients/families facing ethical dilemmas. Moreover, the committee establishes policies, protocols, and guidelines to guide ethical decision-making in the facility. Lastly, they conduct regular reviews to assess the effectiveness of their processes and address emerging ethical issues.
The Hospital Ethics Committee plays an essential role in ensuring patient-centered, ethical care and contributes to maintaining trust and integrity within healthcare institutions.
