Clinical Ethics Consultation Service
The University of Missouri Health Care’s Clinical Ethics Consultation Service is staffed by experts from the Center for Health Ethics, including faculty and staff with specialized training in bioethics. These professionals are available 24/7, providing prompt consultations to patients, families, surrogates, and healthcare providers who need assistance with difficult decision-making.
When to Call the Ethics Consultation Service
In today’s complex healthcare environment, questions like "What is the right course of action?" are increasingly common. Ethical dilemmas and conflicts may arise when patients, family members, healthcare professionals, or hospitals have differing views on values, responsibilities, and priorities. If you are facing such a situation, our ethics consultation service is available to provide guidance and support.
The Consultation Process
Upon receiving a consultation request, a representative from the ethics consultation service will contact the individual who requested assistance. If further discussion is needed, a meeting will be scheduled with the patient and/or their family or representatives, healthcare providers, and other members of the healthcare team.
During this private meeting, we encourage open and honest dialogue about the clinical circumstances and ethical concerns, aiming to resolve any conflicts. The ethics consultant will facilitate the discussion, clarify ethical issues, and suggest reasonable courses of action. Ultimately, the final decisions will be made by the patient and their representatives, in collaboration with the patient's physician and healthcare team.
Making Informed Decisions
University of Missouri Health Care is dedicated to supporting patients' rights to make informed treatment decisions and provides a compassionate environment to assist in this process. If you have questions or concerns and would like to speak with an ethics consultant, please ask your doctor, nurse, social worker, or chaplain to contact the hospital operator at 573-882-4141 and request the on-call ethics consultant.
Consultation Services
Since its inception in 2004, the University of Missouri Health Care's Clinical Ethics Consultation Service has played a pivotal role in providing timely and efficient support to patients, families, and healthcare providers facing challenging treatment decisions or ethical dilemmas. The service is available 24/7 to University Hospital, Children's Hospital, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, Missouri Orthopedic Institute, Missouri Psychiatric Center, Birthing Center-Columbia, and Capital Region Medical Center.
Additionally, we offer consultations to institutions and healthcare professionals statewide through phone, email, and tele-ethics. For more information or to request a consultation, please call 573-882-2738 or email healthethics@missouri.edu.
