Aims and Functions of Clinical Ethics Committees
Clinical Ethics Committees (CECs) typically have the following main functions:
Case consultation
CECs can assist in individual cases, by offering analysis and advice. Some CECs offer a rapid response service for urgent cases
Education
CECs help to raise awareness of ethical issues and aid in the development of the skills and knowledge needed to identify and analyse ethical issues in clinical practice
Policy & guidance
CECs develop and provide input into policies and guidance, sometimes identifying areas where a written policy or guidance would be useful, and sometimes reviewing existing policies and guidance from an ethical perspective
Organisational ethics
Some CECs additionally consider the ethical aspects of such issues as resource allocation, working rotas, eligibility for treatment and the management of waiting lists
You can find further information about these functions, including downloadable resources, in Clinical Ethics Resources and Downloads.