Ethics
What Is Ethics in a Healthcare Setting?
Ethics involves helping patients, families, and those who work in healthcare when they are facing challenging values-based choices about the best course of action. The goal is not to impose values on others, but to support individuals and groups in addressing complex problems. This helps them to make informed decisions about treatment.
All patients at NHH, their families, volunteers and staff have access to our ethicist.
How Do I Know It Is an Ethical Issue?
You May Have an Ethical Issue if You:
- Disagree with others about a care decision
- Think about an issue or decision long after it is made
- Wonder how someone’s cultural, religious, professional or other beliefs are impacting a care decision
- Worry what is the “right” thing to do
Topics in Health Care That Might Present an Ethical Challenge Could Include:
- Goals for treatment
- Value differences and conflicts
- End-of-life decision-making
- Allocation of resources
How Can Ethics Help?
The Ethicist Can Help By:
- Making the time and space to talk
- Helping to be clear about what we know, what we are assuming, and what we need to find out
- Figuring out who the stakeholders are and trying to see things from multiple perspectives
- Better understanding the values of those involved
- Using the Ethics Framework to balance competing values/interests
What Is an Ethicist, and How Can They Help Me?
An Ethicist is a resource person, with advanced training in ethics, who can help clarify ethical issues. An Ethicist can offer other perspectives, review options and assist patients, families and healthcare teams with the process of decision-making.
What Will the Ethicist Do?
- Provide confidential consultation
- Ensure all relevant facts, values and options are explored
- Help people understand and explore available treatment options
- Identify and provide information to help people make decisions about ethical issues
- Mediate to assist individuals and/or groups when there is a difference of opinion about a particular patient care situation
- Provide education to patients, families and professionals on ethical issues in health care
For help with an ethical issue or using the Ethics Framework, please contact our Ethics Consultation Service at ethics@nhh.ca and your email or phone message will be answered within two business days.