Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Ethics, Institutional”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Professional ethics and institutional ethics: convergence or conflict?].

During the last decades, an important debate about professions in general, and particularly about the medical profession, has taken place. The classic idea that professionals do have a "special mora lity", different from the common morality, which among other things give them legal impunity, came to a head. This causes a great deal of confusion among the professionals, incapable of reacting and redefining precisely their own identity. Some new concepts, like that of "internal morality" of professional activities, made the debate more difficult and confusing. On the other hand, the everyday more powerful influence of free market forces in the health care economy, has made that some decisions taken by health care managers would be considered by physicians as opposed to their professional duties and incompatible with them. This has been the origin of a debate about what is called in North America "New Professionalism". This debate deals with basic questions about the health care professional's identity at the beginning of this new Century.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed2004

Error reduction, patient safety and institutional ethics committees.

Institutional ethics committees remain largely absent from the literature on error reduction and patient safety. In this paper, the author endeavors to fill the gap. As noted in the Hastings Center's recent report, "Promoting Patient Safety," the occurrence of medical error involves complex web of multiple factors. Human misstep is certainly one such factor, but not the only one. This paper builds on the Hastings Center's report in arguing that institutional ethics committees ought to play an integral role in the transformation of a "culture of blame" to a "culture of safety" in healthcare delivery.

Ethics Committees, Research↗
PubMed1989

Giving answers or raising questions?: the problematic role of institutional ethics committees.

Institutional ethics committees (IECs) are part of a growing phenomenon in the American health care system. Although a major force driving hospitals to establish IECs is the desire to resolve difficult clinical dilemmas in a quick and systematic way, in this paper we argue that such a goal is naive and, to some extent, misguided. We assess the growing trend of these committees, analyse the theoretical assumptions underlying their establishment, and evaluate their strengths and shortcomings. We show how the 'medical consultation' model is often inappropriately applied to IECs and suggest that IECs must operate under a different framework. Finally, we argue that IECs should be valued for the process they facilitate, and not for the product that they are, often unreasonably, expected to deliver.

Cultural Diversity↗
PubMed1990

Ethics of caring and the institutional ethics committee.

Institutional ethics committees (IECs) in health care facilities now create moral policy, provide moral education, and consult with physicians and other health care workers. After sketching reasons for the development of IECs, this paper first examines the predominant moral standards it is often assumed IECs are now using, these standards being neo-Kantian principles of justice and utilitarian principles of the greatest good. Then, it is argued that a feminine ethics of care, as posited by Carol Gilligan and Nel Noddings, is an unacknowledged basis for IEC discussions and decisions. Further, it is suggested that feminine ethics of care can and should provide underlying theoretical tools and standards for IECs.

Decision Making↗
PubMed2001

From a culture of blame to a culture of safety--the role of institutional ethics committees.

Institutional ethics committees are largely absent from the literature on patient safety, but if health service organizations are adequately to address medical error and patient safety, they must change internally from a "culture of blame" to a "culture of safety." This paper (1) looks at the concept of organizational culture as it currently exists and its components (jobs, people, and situations); (2) describes the safety culture in other high risk industries and (3) makes concrete suggestions to the health services industry. In particular, the author suggests that the functions and roles of ethics committees (ethics education, policy review and development, and case consultation) lend themselves perfectly to the development of those organizational characteristics that would support the creation and maintenance of patient safety culture in the healthcare industry.

Ethics Committees, Clinical↗
PubMed1986

The social worker's role on the institutional Ethics Committee.

As institutional Ethics Committees become more prevalent in hospitals, social workers will be serving as committee members. The evolution of IECs is reviewed; and their proposed functions of education, policy-development, case consultation and/or review are examined. Potential roles for social work in the implementation of each function are suggested.

Ethics↗
PubMed1985

Institutional ethics committees: what, how, and why.

Because institutional ethics committees can reduce the risk of tragic mistakes by clinical decision makers and provide interdisciplinary input into decisions, they may be a requirement for all hospitals by the end of this decade. Ethics committees should not in themselves be decision-making entities, however. Their proper functions are to advise physicians, patients, and families; facilitate communication; provide in-house education; assist in policy formulation; mediate between ethical theory and concrete medical judgments as well as between the institution's values and those of the larger community; provide support for those involved in painful decisions; and minimize the institution's vulnerability to litigation. Although ethics committees have been endorsed by federal agencies, a presidential commission, and numerous health care organizations, several obstacles remain. Physicians are afraid that their decisional prerogatives will be wrested from them; a committee could become a rubber-stamp organ for one powerful member, one special-interest group, or one perspective, confidentiality policies would have to be extended to nonhospital committee members; and medical personnel feel threatened by the exposure of errors or bad judgment. Nonetheless, ethics committees are a promising structural adjustment to ethical pressures exerted by new technology and the growing number of health care disciplines.

Ethical Review↗
PubMed1989

Institutional ethics committees: a survey of children's hospitals.

Institutional ethics committees first gained national prominence after the 1976 Karen Ann Quinlin decision by the New Jersey Supreme Court. However, it wasn't until the Federal Government promulgated the Baby Doe regulations in 1983 that significant movement occurred toward implementing such committees. Currently, statistics show that the number of ethics committees are increasing in health care institutions across the country. However, the majority of studies have focused on adult institutions. The membership of ethics committees and the objectives under which the committees function are usually addressed by the studies. Very little attention has been given to the nursing representation on the institutional ethics committee and the unique role played by nurses in the deliberation of ethical decision-making. It is the intent of this research to shed some light on the availability and functions of ethics committees within children's hospitals. Attention has also been given to the nurses' involvement on such committees. Additionally, the study takes a separate look at nursing ethics committees, their function within an institution, and the availability of ethics education for nurses. The study offers information not previously acknowledged in past studies of ethics committees. The study also opens up to consideration the unique concerns of nurses and their roles in ethical decision-making.

Child↗
PubMed1994

Institutional ethics committees and the shield of immunity.

Institutional ethics committees have been hailed as a good resource for physicians confronting complex ethical issues in patient care. Physicians may seek ethics committee consultations to receive impartial assistance in decision making, to resolve conflicts, and to avoid cumbersome court procedures and unwieldy litigation. The endorsement of ethics committees by the President's Commission, the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association, and the Department of Health and Human Services, along with recent state legislation governing committees in Maryland, New Jersey, and Hawaii, raises questions about the proper scope and authority of ethics committees. We examined the accountability of institutional ethics committees and argue against immunity-conferring statutes that shield physicians who follow a committee's advice from civil and criminal liability.

Decision Making, Organizational↗
PubMed1989

The neurologist as ethics consultant and as a member of the institutional ethics committee. The neuroethicist.

Because of the increasing number of neuroethical dilemmas in medicine, neurologists are becoming more involved with the activities of institutional ethics committees and also serving as ethics consultants. This article discusses the role and functions of a "neuroethicist" and gives common clinical examples that illustrate how a neurologist can be of value in these neuroethical dilemmas in the clinical setting.

Ethics, Medical↗
PubMed2005

Reuse of samples: ethical issues encountered by two institutional ethics review committees in Kenya.

There is growing concern about the reuse and exploitation of biological materials (human tissues) for use in research worldwide. Most discussions about samples have taken place in developed countries, where genetic manipulation techniques have greatly advanced in recent years. There is very little discussion in developing countries, although collaborative research with institutions from developed countries is on the increase. The study sought to identify and describe ethical issues arising in the storage, reuse and exportation of samples in a developing country. Research protocols presented to two Ethics Review Committees in Kenya during a period of two years were reviewed. A record was made of the protocol title, sample collected, request for storage, reuse or exportation and whether or not subject consent was sought. The findings indicated that about 25% out of the 388 protocols sought permission for reuse and only half of those actually informed subjects of the contemplated re-use. Less than 20% requested storage and again, about half of them sought consent from subjects. There is an indication that investigators do not see the need to seek consent for storage, reuse and exportation of samples. It is proposed that these issues should be addressed through policy interventions at both the national and global levels.

Beneficence↗