Pastoral Care in Ethics

---

According to the American College of Physicians (1998), the purposes of an ethics committee are to:

• provide support and guidance to patients, families, and the health care team in complex situations in which ethics, values, legal principles, and cultural and religious practice conflict, and potentially affect patient care;
• review cases as a consulting service when ethically complex cases arise;
• help clarify the issues;
• identify all potential courses of action and decisions;
• help weigh the possible options and make a recommendation;
• help the patient, family, and treatment team reach a consensus on a decision;
• review the outcome and implications of each case; and
• promote policies and practices that assure best ethical practices in the institution

Reverend Michael Lessard has been on a hospital ethics committee for over 10 years.  The complexities involved require a person with the knowledge to assist in realizing an ethical standard that ensures an ideal solution is presented for each and every case.  With PCA as part of your Ethics Committee, rest assured that policies created will be thoroughly discussed and appropriately designed.

If you have a need for reliable Ethics Committee representation, please contact us and we will be more than happy to discuss your needs and what we can do.