Journal Article

The Clinical Ethics Committee at the Royal United Hospital — Bath, England

Rudd, Peter T.

2002

Overview

The Bath Clinical Ethics Committee (CEC) was launched in the autumn of 1999. The chairman, with a pre-existing interest in bioethics and aware of committees in Nottingham, Oxford, and the US, arranged a grand round to discuss two cases where particularly difficult ethical problems had arisen, and it was proposed that a CEC be established. One aspect of clinical governance with which the CEC is involved relates to do-not-attempt-resuscitation orders (DNAR), ensuring that they are implemented and are adhered to by all members of medical staff. The committee meets on a quarterly basis but other meetings have been held to discuss particular cases. The committee has three main roles: 1. to provide expert advice for particularly difficult ethical problems, 2. to ensure that policies within the hospital are sensitive to the needs of patients, and 3. to provide education in ethics to those working in the hospital. Examples illustrating the range of cases or issues recently referred to the committee are presented.

• Publisher: Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Case studies / Children & youth / Committees / Consultants / Corporate governance / Cysts / England / Ethics / Ethics Committees, Clinical - organization & administration / Guidelines as Topic / Hospitals / Hospitals, Public - standards / Humans / Informed consent / Medical ethics / Mental Competency / Nursing / Organizational Case Studies / Organizational Policy / Ovaries / Parents & parenting / Psychologists / Referral and Consultation / Right to die / State Medicine - standards / Surgery / Treatment refusal / Ultrasonic imaging