A national study of ethics committees

Area of Science:

• Healthcare ethics
• Hospital administration
• Clinical policy development

Background:

• Ethics committees are crucial for resolving clinical dilemmas and meeting accreditation standards.
• Previous research on healthcare ethics committees (HECs) has been limited to small-scale studies.
• The widespread use and diverse roles of HECs necessitate comprehensive investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct the first national survey on the presence, composition, and activities of U.S. healthcare ethics committees.
• To understand the operational status and functional scope of HECs nationwide.

Main Methods:

• A national survey was conducted in 1999 by the University of Pennsylvania Ethics Committee Research Group (ECRG).
• The survey assessed the presence, composition, and activities of healthcare ethics committees across U.S. healthcare institutions.

Main Results:

• HECs are relatively new, with an average of seven years in operation.
• Eighty-six percent of HECs are involved in ongoing clinical decision-making via ethics consultations.
• All surveyed HECs engage in developing institutional clinical policy.
• Despite policy development, 50% of HEC chairs feel unprepared to address managed care issues, though only 4.5% write managed care policy.

Conclusions:

• The national role of HECs in clinical policy development is more significant than previously understood.
• HEC influence and activity correlate with committee composition and member institutional relationships.
• HECs are poised to remain central to resolving clinical cases and shaping healthcare policies.