Quality AttestationforClinical Ethics Consultants:A Two-Step Model from the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities

Abstract

Given the importance of clinical ethics consultation to patient care, the people doing it should be asked to show that they do it well. An ASbH task force proposes a method for assessing them.

The “Ethics” Expertise in Clinical Ethics Consultation

“…Discussion of bioethics expertise has become particularly important, given the growing presence of bioethicists in the clinical setting (Fox, Myers, and Pearlman, 2007), as well as efforts to professionalize bioethics through codes of ethics and certification (or quasi-certification) efforts (Kodish et al, 2013).…”

Health Care Ethics Consultation via Telemedicine: Linking Expert Clinical Ethicists and Local Consultants

“…There is growing interest in the professionalization of HCEC, and ASBH is moving toward development of a national certification process for trained and qualified HCEC consultants [10]. As tele-HCEC support is increasingly deployed, it will be essential to perform well-designed research to help clarify how such services can be enhanced to meet the needs of health care professionals and the patients and families they serve.…”

A Code of Ethics for Health Care Ethics Consultants: Journey to the Present and Implications for the Field

“…This element of the Code does not address how HCE consultants are to achieve the required competencies or how such competencies are to be evaluated. The latter is being explored by the Quality Attestation Presidential Task Force (Kodish et al 2013). The former is being explored by the U.S.…”