Clinical ethics committees

Abstract

<h2>Abstract</h2> The contribution describes the current status of clinical ethics committees in the UK, charting their development and showing the extent of their current distribution. The situation in the UK is compared to the status of clinical ethics in the North American health-care system. The differences between clinical ethics committees and research ethics committees are explained, with the structure and functions of clinical ethics committees described in more detail. The future of clinical ethics committees in the UK is discussed, as is the support provided by the UK Clinical Ethics Network.