Ethics in health care, Part I: The process of ethics committees

More than 60% of hospitals now have ethics committees, and this percentage will continue to grow. Based on personal experience as a member of several ethics committees, I suggest that ethics committees have at least 10 members and no more than 25; that active physician involvement is necessary for an effective committee; and that diversity of perspective will help a committee in performing its tasks. The functions of an ethics committee are education, policy formulation, retrospective case review, case consultation, and psychological support. Ethics committees should not have to enforce their policies, and they should not be legally liable if they do not attempt to practice medicine.