Do Ethical Issues Regarding Medical Care Cause Concern?
What is a Medical Ethics Committee?
The Medical Ethics Committee at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano is a multidisciplinary team of health care and support hospital staff, along with physicians on the Texas Health Plano medical staff. The committee, which has been in existence since the 1991 opening of Texas Health Plano, is chaired by Nancy Donachie, M.D., psychiatrist on the Texas Health Plano medical staff.
What is our purpose?
The Medical Ethics Committee is dedicated to providing information on important ethical issues in health care to caregivers, patients and families and the community. The committee also participates in the discussion and resolution of ethical issues that may arise in the daily provision of medical care, which may include:
- A patient's medical care.
- End-of-life issues.
- Barriers to treatment (i.e., cultural, religious, or language differences).
- Disagreements that may arise regarding patient care.
The Medical Ethics Committee does not serve as a forum for:
- Peer review.
- Written/verbal protests from staff regarding physicians on the medical staff.
- Written/verbal protests from patients' families about hospital staff or physicians on the medical staff.
What is an "ethics consultation"?
The consultation provides a forum for a multidisciplinary discussion of ethical questions that may arise during the course of patient care; however, it does not serve as a directive to the treatment team or physician on the medical staff.
What happens during a consultation?
Each consultation request is reviewed by the consultation team leader to see if a complete consultation is necessary. Often, the concern may be a breakdown in communication among various groups. A complete consultation involves a small consultation team of three to four members from the Medical Ethics Committee meeting with all interested parties.
How do you request a consultation?
Patients, family members of patients or members of the health care team may request a consult. To initiate an ethics consultation, please contact the hospital's house supervisor at 972-981-8933.
Requests for consultations by the Medical Ethics Committee at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano may be made by calling the number mentioned above. No fees are charged for this service, and all consultations are kept confidential and adhere to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 Privacy Rule.
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