Clinical ethics committees: a practical response to ethical problems in clinical practice.
This article describes a recent development in the way in which ethical problems in clinical practice are being dealt with. The development of a network of Clinical Ethics Committees (CECs) across the UK is described, and the rationale for their emergence is explored. With the aid of a case example, two of the main methods available to CECs for analysis of cases referred to them are illustrated. A contrast is drawn between psychological and 'medical ethical' responses to the case example.
Edwards
Steven D
SD
Centre for Philosophy and Healthcare, School of Health Scinece, University of Wales, Swansea, UK. s.d.edwards@swansea.ac.uk
Street
Eddy
E
D002648:Child; D017041:Ethics Committees; D004995:Ethics, Professional; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000941:ethics*; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011586:Psychology, Clinical / Q000941:ethics* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D006113:United Kingdom