Spiritual Care

Bioethics

Sometimes making the right decision in the face of serious illness can be complicated. When there is uncertainty or disagreement, the Bioethics Committee can help.

The Bioethics Committee is a group of physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, other staff members and members of the community who are available to help patients, families, doctors and other health care provides when they face difficult ethical decisions.

The Bioethics committee meets free of charge to provide a safe, supportive, confidential forum in which you and others can think through a problem, consider different points of view and sort through options. Every attempt is made to involve key members of the health care team as well as the patient and family, as appropriate, in the process. After discussing the ethical issues at stake, the Bioethics Committee offers advice in the form of a nonbinding recommendation. It is then up to those involved to decide what to do next. 

Before you contact the Bioethics committee, it is recommended that you first speak with those involved in your health care situation, and that you use all available resources in the hospital to try to resolve the problem.

Oftentimes, meeting with the patient, family members, physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, patient representative, and other members of the hospital staff can help those involved come to agreement.  If what should be done is still unclear, you may contact the Bioethics committee. A Bioethics request can be initiated by any hospital staff, patient or patient family member.

What are Ethical Dilemmas?

To reach the Bioethics committee you may ask any member of your health care team for help contacting the Methodist Hospital Bioethics committee. Or you may contact the Spiritual Care Department at 626-574-3433 and make your request.