The nurse's role in bioethics

Hospital ethics committees consist of representatives from multiple disciplines who discuss potential issues and real-life ethical dilemmas that confront patients, their family members, and the health care professionals involved in patient care. Bioethical issues may provoke strong emotional responses from ethics committee members. Recognizing the difficulty of resolving issues that address moral beliefs is imperative. Nurses are in key positions to help health care professionals navigate these troublesome ethical waters.