Starting an organizational ethics committee. An ethicist suggests some practical and concrete steps

• Published in: Health progress (Saint Louis, Mo.) Vol. 87; no. 6; pp. 34 - 37
• Main Author: Talone, P A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Catholic Health Association of the United States 01.11.2006
• Subjects: Catholicism; Ethics Committees - organization & administration; Ethics, Institutional; Guidelines as Topic; Health administration; Hospitals, Religious - ethics; Hospitals, Religious - organization & administration; Organizational Innovation; Organizational Objectives; Program Development; United States; United States
• ISSN: 0882-1577; 1943-3417

Establishing an organizational ethics committee (OEC) involves careful reflection on the needs of the organization and on the people who will serve on the committee. With concern for the "community of care" (the women and men who carry out the organization's mission), a comprehensive needs assessment will reveal areas of the organization where more education and policy analyses are needed. Volunteer members of the OEC are typically chosen according to a set of characteristics that include their knowledge and experience, ability to take on this added responsibility, familiarity with the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services and Catholic social justice teaching, and their honesty and integrity. Part of the success of an OEC can be attributed to how well it is supported by the organization. This includes administrative and financial support, use of public relations and educational services, and cooperation and active involvement of key managers in the organization. Once formed, the next important step is educating OEC members.