ClinicalEthics

Catalog description

This course is designed to be a gateway into the challenging ethical dilemmas that healthcare professionals encounter in their daily practice. In the rapidly evolving landscape of healthcare in the United States, the role of ethics consultation services has become increasingly critical. The complex and often morally fraught decisions that healthcare professionals, patients, and their families face demand a level of ethical guidance and expertise that extends beyond traditional medical expertise. Ethics consultation services have emerged as a vital resource to address these complex dilemmas and ensure that healthcare decisions are not only medically sound but also ethically defensible. The field of clinical ethics has witnessed a substantial transformation over the years, with institutions across the country increasingly integrating ethics consultation services into their healthcare systems. The establishment of professional standards, guidelines, and certification programs for clinical ethics consultants has further advanced the quality of services provided. By examining real-world cases, this class will provide the tools to offer clinical ethical consultations. The issues covered in this class are not exhaustive, but are designed to be an introduction to the current methods for approaching clinical ethics cases.