Module 17 Ethics in Health Care

Module Objectives Upon completion of this module, the employee will be able to: Determine how to contact the Ethics Committee. Discuss what is the purpose of the Ethics Committee. Describe the role of the Ethics Committee in making ethical decisions. Identify who can call the Ethics Hotline. Identify how to call the Ethics Hotline.

What is ethics and Why Have an Ethics Committee? Health care ethics is a thoughtful exploration of how to act well and make morally good choices, based on beliefs and values about life, health, suffering, and death. Patients, families, and health care professionals sometimes face difficult decisions about medical treatments that involve moral principles, religious beliefs, or professional guidelines.

What are some common ethical questions? When should life-sustaining treatments such as CPR and feeding tubes be started, continued, or stopped? What if the patient wants to stop treatment but family wants “everything” done to prolong the patient’s life? Who should speak for the patient when the patient can’t speak for themselves?

CHSB Ethics Committee CHSB’s Ethics Committee can assist the patient, family, or hospital staff when dealing with a serious or complicated issue. Anyone concerned about the care of a patient can contact the committee, whether it is the patient themselves, a patient’s representative, or hospital staff. The Ethics committee may arrange to meet with key people involved in the issue so that the patient or representative will fully understand the healthcare choices for the patient and have the ability to make informed decisions

Contacting the Ethics Committee The Ethics Committee has a private recorded telephone line open to everyone; messages are checked Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm. Please call (909)806-ISAY (1729) and leave a message with the following information: Name Phone number Your concern Best time to return call If someone has an emergency situation, please contact the house supervisor after hours or on the weekends

Resources Ethics Committee Brochure Ethics Desk Manual Given to all patients upon admission Ethics Desk Manual Available in all units at staff work stations Directs the reader to hospital policies and legal provisions that can help direct solutions for many common perceived problems.

Remember… The Ethics Committee is a group of caring people and professionals which may include doctors, nurses, chaplains, social workers and other healthcare professionals who are ready to assist anyone with an ethical issue. The Ethics Committee can only make recommendations. If a patient or family doesn’t agree with recommendations, the recommendations do not have to be followed. All matters are kept strictly confidential.