Emotional Responses in Clinical Ethics Consultation Decision-Making: An Exploratory Study

Area of Science:

• Bioethics
• Medical Ethics
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Clinical Ethics Consultants (CECs) are integral to healthcare, applying bioethical knowledge to complex cases.
• Ethical consultations frequently involve strong emotions, yet their influence on decision-making is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the emotional responses of CECs during and after ethical deliberations.
• To understand the impact of these emotions on decision-making and well-being.

Main Methods:

• A semi-structured survey was administered to 52 CECs from the US and 10 European countries.
• Participants described their emotional reactions to a real ethical case they had managed.

Main Results:

• Nearly 77% of CECs reported negative emotions during deliberations; 21% reported neutral or positive feelings.
• Negative emotions often persisted post-deliberation, with 45% experiencing inadequacy or remorse.
• Some CECs expressed uncertainty (12%) or a desire to change decisions in hindsight (5%).

Conclusions:

• The accumulation of negative emotions can affect CECs' well-being and judgment.
• Effective management of cognitive and emotional demands is crucial for CECs' effectiveness.
• Targeted training and support strategies are needed to enhance ethical decision-making and resilience.