DEALING WITH ETHICAL CONCERNS - ETHICS COMMITTEE If I or my family members disagree among ourselves or with the healthcare team regarding elements of my care, what action can I take?
Sometimes patients, families, and staff have very difficult choices to make. They may face moral dilemmas and may need to review ethical questions and concerns.
Doctors and families each have the best interests of the patient at heart. However, sometimes patients or family members may differ with each other or with doctors in how they see and understand the patient’s illness and options for treatment or care. An Ethics Committee consultation may prove helpful at times of such disagreement. An independent review of the case focusing on ethical issues can serve to clarify matters for everyone involved.
The role of the Ethics Committee is to support families and healthcare staff in the resolution of ethical issues that may occur in the course of hospitalization or other care provided by the Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital.
The Committee reviews the specific, individual patient-care situations and dilemmas. After the review, the Committee will provide an opinion about the situation from an ethical point of view. The consultation process aims to assist all those involved in having an open discussion about the patient’s care. The outcome of the consultation is an honest and thoughtful recommendation to the patient, family and medical team. All involved members of the health care team, as well as the patient and family, are invited to attend the meeting, if possible. Decisions resulting from the consultation are advisory and are not institutionally or legally binding.
HOW TO ACCESS THE ETHICS COMMITTEE Patients, family members or other involved persons, all have the right to request an Ethics consultation. They can do so by speaking with the Nurse Supervisor on duty. Be sure to provide a contact phone number and/or email, as well as the name and location of the patient involved. Once a request is made, the consultation will occur within a few days. An emergency consultation will take place as soon as possible, within 24 hours.
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