Hartford Hospital established its Ethics Committee in 1982, one of the first hospitals in the state to do so. Its mission is threefold:
- To serve as a resource for families, patients, hospital staff and physicians in addressing the often difficult medical-ethical issues in health care
- To provide education of committee members and hospital staff in such areas as end-of-life decision making, advance directives, and related medical-ethical issues; and
- To assist the hospital and medical staff in formulating policy statements and guidelines involving ethical issues in health care. Physicians, staff, patients and families may request ethics committee consultation.
The committee includes medical staff as well as individuals representing nursing, social services, spiritual care and the community. It meets monthly and as necessary to assist with specific requests.
The Ethics Consultation Service is available 24/7 to clarify and resolve ethical dilemmas arising in the course of patient care.
Any employee or patient (or their family member or representative) of Hartford Hospital may contact the Ethics Consultation Service for a formal consultation.
Please ask a nurse, physician, or advance practice practitioner (PA or APRN) to contact the Ethics Consultation Service via Tiger Text at: "HH Ethics Committee" or they can place an order for a consult in the patient's electronic medical record.