Parent-requested treatment

The decision about EPO was referred to and made by the Drug Committee, a committee of physicians, nurses and pharmacists. This committee has perforce to make decisions about drugs and vaccines, decisions which sometimes have a significant ethical component due to concerns about cost, safety and efficacy. Our hospital is considering developing a Clinical Ethics Advisory Committee, to assist with difficult ethical decisions such as this one. Should such a committee be asked to make acute ethical judgements on patient management? Larcher describes his ideal Hospital Ethics Committee as nonprescriptive, and suggests a more appropriate role is retrospective analysis and reflective discussion of clinical ethical problems. Such discussion may help with future rather than current management issues, and can help support clinicians in their decisions and hospital staff in their management of patients.