Here to Help
Patients, families, and caregivers sometimes face complex situations that require making difficult decisions. These moments can feel overwhelming. Our Ethics Consultation Service is here to guide you through these challenges with compassion and clarity.
What We Do
The Ethics Consultation Service is an advisory team of trained clinical ethics specialists. We partner with patients, families, and caregivers to address uncertainty and resolve ethical questions in the medical setting.
Their role is to assist and support - not make decisions for patients, families, and caregivers. The team advocates for the best interests of the patient and often help clarify what those interests are. The options presented by the Ethics Consultation Service are advisory only and not binding. All services are confidential.
Common Questions We Address
- Who is the most appropriate decision-maker when a patient cannot make choices?
- How do we help patients and families choose between treatment options?
- Is it ethical to permit a patient to refuse treatment or an intervention?
- How can we best support vulnerable patients and their caregivers?
Who Can Request a Consultation?
Anyone involved in a patient’s care can request a consultation, including:
- Patients
- Family members or caregivers
- Legal representatives
- Members of the care team
What to Expect
An ethics consultant will:
- Clarify the core ethical and moral dilemmas, such as patient values, family disagreements, or moral distress.
- Guide you through a decision-making process aimed at consensus.
- Support the emotional needs of those involved.
- Connect you with appropriate resources.
There is no cost for this service.
When to Request a Consultation
You can request a consultation at any stage of care whenever moral or ethical uncertainty arises - big or small. We encourage patients and families to reach out as soon as they sense a need.
How to Request a Consultation
Notify any member of the patient’s healthcare team that you would like an ethics consult with. They will use a standard process through our system to make the request to the appropriate Ethics Consultation team.
