Guidelines for ethics committees in health care institutions. Judicial Council

Abstract

THESE guidelines have been developed to aid in the establishment and functioning of ethics committees in hospitals and other health care institutions that may choose to form such committees, recognizing that the functions may vary depending on the type of institution. Ethics committees in health care institutions should be voluntary, educational, and advisory in purpose so as not to interfere with the primary responsibility and relationship between physicians and their patients. Generally, the function of the ethics committee is to consider and assist in resolving unusual, complicated ethical problems involving issues that affect the care and treatment of patients within the health care institution and concern those persons who are responsible for their care and treatment. Typical are issues involving quality of life, terminal illness, and utilization of scarce, limited health resources. The size of the ethics committee should be consistent with the needs of the institution but not so