Asking the right and, often difficult, questions is the mandate of the Caritas Ethics Service. Comprised of clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals, the service works through tough issues in a forum where opinions are discussed and consensus reached.

“Everyday in health care there are ethical issues to consider,” says Joanne Ostepchuck, Patient Services Coordinator and member of the Ethics Committee at the Grey Nuns Community Hospital. “And the majority of health care decisions are made at the bedside by the patient, their families and their caregivers.”

However, with some choices, the variables are so complex that further discussion is required. Using a framework of key questions, members of the ethics team discuss such aspects as benefits and negative impacts and the moral and ethical implications of a decision. In some cases, the service is asked to conduct a formal ethics consult, including interviews with patients, family members and the care team. Members examine all possible options and develop recommendations for the care team.

“Having a service where you can fully discuss issues that impact a person’s quality of life is invaluable,” says Joanne. “While the issues can be heart-wrenching, it is comforting to know we provide an avenue for everyone involved—patient, family, caregivers and health professionals—to voice their opinions and consider them from all angles in a way that makes sense.”