Ethics by Committee was developed for the tens of thousands of people across the United States serve on hospital and other healthcare ethics committees (HECs). Experts in bioethics, clinical consultation, health law, and social psychology from across the country have contributed chapters on ethics consultation, education, and policy development. The chapters discuss important considerations for HEC members such as promoting just and ethical organizations, developing cultural and s...

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and is a leading cause of adult disability and discharge from hospitals to chronic care facilities. Despite the frequency and morbidity of stroke, there is a relative paucity of “stroke experts,” such as vascular neurologists and neurocritical care physicians, to care for these patients. Clinical research in the diagnosis and treatment of stroke has grown exponentially over the past two decades resulting in a great deal of new...

Every accredited American hospital is required to have a process for handling ethical concerns within the institution. For the most part, hospitals satisfy this requirement by constituting an institutional healthcare ethics committee (HEC). However, many of these individuals, while well intentioned, have neither the training in ethics, nor the tools at their disposal to address properly the ethical considerations brought to them. Yet healthcare providers and patients turn to these committe...

Every accredited American hospital is required to have a mechanism for handling ethical concerns; most hospitals satisfy this requirement by constituting an institutional healthcare ethics committee (HEC), a pattern which is repeated in most western countries. This text provides definitive, comprehensive guidance for members of healthcare ethics committees who find themselves confronted with ethically challenging situations. Each chapter includes learning objectives, clinical case studies ...