Initiating and maintaining an ethics committee

Ethics committees are an evolving approach to conflict resolution. They provide education and set Institutional policy. They are an exciting and sometimes frightening reflection of changing health care, as issues involving allocation of scarce resources, withholding or withdrawing treatment, autonomy and the patient's right to refuse treatment, and access to care arise in clinical care. This article has described how to initiate and maintain an ethics committee, as well as the nurse's pivotal role in identifying conflict and assisting in conflict resolution. Cranford and Roberts offer a few timeless tips for the beginning committee. They advise forming the committee with three or four people who have expressed interest, rather than recruiting those who may lose interest. More than three or four people may be needed to conduct committee business, so if recruiting is necessary, select compassionate people who are not likely to monopolize the meetings. Likewise, the chair should be affable yet assertive. Recognize that ethics committees will function differently from institution to institution, so comparisons may not be helpful. Proceed toward goals, but pay attention to the process of committee function and modify the process as needed. Finally, proceed at a pace most comfortable to members of the committee and to the institution. The pace may seem slow, but attitudes toward the committee, which may be negative at first, are slow to change. The end result is a viable body of caring people to address the needs of its institution, its staff, and most importantly, its patients and families. That is the goal we all seek.