Collaborative ethics: a standing renal dialysis ethics committee

We describe a unique, award-winning, multidisciplinary, standing committee focused on ethical issues associated with chronic dialysis. The committee was formed as a collaboration between the National Kidney Foundation of Kansas and Western MO affiliate and the Midwest Bioethics Center, Kansas City, MO in June 1995 to serve the local nephrology community. The committee is comprised of experienced nephrologists, dialysis nurses, and social workers, as well as clergy, medical ethicists, and patient representatives. Committee membership has remained relatively stable over the 4 years of its existence, creating a collaborative spirit among members, which is noteworthy because members are otherwise competing with each other for patients. The committee provides education in a variety of forms, from case consultations to organized seminars. We believe this committee is valuable to the care of patients on dialysis in our local community and that similar committees can be created in other affiliates. We can envision a national network of such committees that together could work on issues in ways that serve both the local and national level.