About Ethics Support Service
What Is The Ethics Support Service?
The BIDMC Ethics Support Service offers assistance to any BIDMC patient, family member, or clinical staff facing an ethical issue related to clinical care for which outside assistance may be useful. Assistance with a specific case may range from an informal telephone consultation to the involvement of a three- to four-person multidisciplinary consult team that meets with staff, patients and family to help resolve a conflict.
Why Would I Request An Ethics Consult?
Ethics involves the concerns people have about what is morally good, right, or fair. An ethics consult should be considered to explore the ethical aspects of a case when morally troubling or complex problems occur, and the usual routes of discussion do not bring resolution. Ethical dilemmas may exist when known facts and information do not make clear what should be done.
What Issues Does the Service Address?
Any clinical ethics issue. By definition, an ethics issue exists when two or more important values seem to be in conflict.
Some examples:
- A patient's welfare versus a patient's right to decide about his/her treatment
- The goal of extending life versus the goal of ensuring comfort
- The request of family members that information be withheld from a patient versus a patient's right to know
- Providing the best possible treatment for a patient versus pressures to contain costs
What Decision Making Authority Does This Service Have?
None! The authority for clinical decisions in the care of any individual BIDMC patient lies with the attending physician and the patient (or the patient's surrogate). The role of the Ethics Support Service is to help the attending physician, patient/surrogate, and other members of the clinical team develop a plan of action that most appropriately serves that patient's needs within the framework of values BIDMC stands for and the policies we have adopted. Following any formal consult, the Service will leave a note in the medical record that includes an assessment of the clinical-ethical issues and suggestions about how staff may proceed. These are non-binding. Any unresolvable disagreements within the clinical team must be addressed according to procedures established by each clinical department and by BIDMC administration.
Who Can Request An Ethics Consult?
An ethics consult can be initiated by any member of the BIDMC community, including but not limited to the care team, the patient, and the family.
How Do I Contact the Ethics Support Service?
- Via Pager: Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. From portal please select Page option, then see our On-Call schedule and page the clinician on-call or call 617-667-4700 (page operator) and request the clinician on-call
- Via POE: Consults can be initiated online via the Provider Order Entry system (for BIDMC employees only)
- Via telephone: For all requests during our normal business hours please feel free to contact our Administrative staff at 617-667-3095
- Office Hours: Staff are available on-site and to see new consults Monday-Friday between the hours of 8a-5p
The Ethics Support Service Team includes:
- Lachlan Forrow, MD, Director
- Steve O'Neill, LICSW, JD, Associate Director
- Wendy McHugh, RN, MS, Clinical Nurse Ethicist
- Chanel Bryant-Alexander, Program Coordinator
