Work

Two Approaches of ‘Proactive Consultation’: Towards Well-Functioning Clinical Ethics Consultation

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: In recent years, the global need for clinical ethics consultation services (CECS) has increased to address ethical challenges, dilemmas, and moral distress in clinical environments. In Japan, many hospitals have introduced CECS over the past decade, but few such services work effectively because of the small number of consultations. To address this, we propose two proactive ethics consultation methods: inter-professional ethics rounds and patient note reviews. This paper provides a detailed explanation of these methods, complete with scenarios based on actual cases. These methods can make CECS 'well-functioning' by shifting the starting points of consultation from consultees to CECS providers. We then examine the impact and value of proactive ethics consultation as well as four critical factors for its success including attitude, positioning, and competency of proactive consultation teams. We believe our suggestions will provide valuable insights for future clinical ethics consultations and stimulate academic debate about what constitutes a 'well-functioning' CECS.

Source: Asian Bioethics Review

DOI: 10.1007/s41649-024-00302-8

Authors: Atsushi Kogetsu, Jungen Koimizu

Institutions: The University of Osaka, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japanese Red Cross Society Kyoto Daini Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Ethics in medical practice

Subfield: General Health Professions

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,390