title: Ethics consultation: an update on accountability issues.
abstract: Nurses in a community hospital pediatric unit are struggling with the issue of how to care for a severely handicapped newborn. The parents are confused and cannot decide whether to approve a series of operations that will extend the infant's life or to request only palliative care. Where can the nursing staff go for help with these issues? Does the hospital have a bioethics service? What should nurses expect if they avail themselves of this service? Would members of the bioethics service decide what should be done? How would the family be involved?
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fry-Revere
mesh_terms: D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D026822:Ethicists; D017041:Ethics Committees; D028741:Ethics Committees, Clinical; D033061:Ethics Consultation; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010371:Pediatric Nursing; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012941:Social Responsibility