ethics committee

Ethics Committee

A multidisciplinary hospital body composed of a broad spectrum of personnel—e.g., physicians, nurses, social workers, priests, and others—which addresses the moral and ethical issues within the hospital

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committee [kŏ-mit´e]

a body of people delegated to perform some function.

ethics committee a group of individuals formed to protect the interests of patients and address moral issues. It normally includes a board member of the institution, a lay person, and an administrator. A member of the clergy may also be included, as well as an ethicist if one is available. Most ethics committees work in an advisory capacity; they can help patients and families reach informed decisions and work with health care providers in order to make complex and difficult decisions. The ethics committee often reviews hospital policies and procedures for potential problems and may also reduce the potential for litigation against the institution.

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ethics committee

A multidisciplinary hospital body composed of a broad spectrum of personnel–eg, physicians, nurses, social workers, priests, and others, which addresses the moral and ethical issues within the hospital. See DNR, Institutional review board.