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Embedding clinical ethics in a health care system: The experience of the UK clinical ethics network

2008; Linguagem: Inglês

10.24894/bf.2008.01007

1662-6001

Anne‐Marie Slowther,

Ethics and Legal Issues in Pediatric Healthcare

German and French abstracts see p. 43 & 44 The development of clinical ethics committees in European countries has been increasing in momen- tum over the past ten years. The health care systems and regulatory frameworks in which these committees are developing vary widely shaping their specific structure and procedural role but the committees share many similar challenges. These include isolation within their institution, ambiguities in standard setting, and engaging with the wider health care system. In the UK a national Network of clinical ethics committees was established in 2001 in part to address some of these challenges. The Network provides opportunities for clinical ethics committees to share experience and to access educa- tional and other resource materials, and has developed a critical mass which can engage with policy making organisations to raise the profile of clinical ethics within health care. The Network has been successful in achieving some of its aims but less so in achieving others. The experience of the UK Clinical Ethics Network can be helpful to those seeking to develop the field of clinical ethics, and specifically support developing clinical ethics committees in other countries.