Clinical Ethics Consultations
During times of great stress, it can be confused, frightened, or pained at the weight of making choices about your health care options.
At Copley, we want you to feel informed and supported when making health care decisions for yourself or for a loved one.
Copley Hospital Provides Assistance on Ethical Decision Making to:
- Patients and families
- Physicians
- Hospital staff
This assistance is provided through a consultation process with our Ethics Committee which is made up of physicians, nurses, clergy, administrators, trustees and interested community members. Anyone may request a completely confidential meeting with the Ethics Committee at any time, day or night. And we strive to hold the ethics consultation within 24 hours of your request.
During an ethics consultation, a subcommittee of the Ethics Committee will meet with you.
Downloadable Resources
What is an Ethics Consult like?
During an ethics consultation, a subcommittee of the Ethics Committee will meet with you. Acting as advisors, they’ll provide guidance and perspective by listening to you, offering more information, and improving understanding among all involved including patients, families, and health care providers.
Your doctor will be fully informed and invited to attend any and all subsequent meetings.
Please note, the committee does not make decisions on individual patient care. Only you can make the final decision that is best for your situation.
Examples of Situations Where Ethics Consultations have been used
- Decisions about how long to continue major treatments for a patient who is doing poorly
- Decisions to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment
- Questions about patient privacy or confidentiality
- Issues about consent for, or refusal of, treatment
- Interpretation/application of a patient’s advanced directive
- Uncertainty regarding who should help with decisions for someone who is too ill to make his or her wishes known
To Request an Ethics Consults
- There are three ways to request an ethics consult:
- Ask your doctor or nurse, or
- Contact Patient and Family Services at 888-8311, or
- Contact Copley’s Chaplain at 888-8112.