Clinical Ethics Consultation

If you are unsure about choosing the best treatment for yourself or a family member, or if you need help in resolving a disagreement about patient care, a consultation with the Ethics Consultation Service is available.

The Ethics Consultation Service (ECS) is provided by the Medical Ethics Advisory Committee to assist patients, families, surrogates, health care providers or other parties in addressing uncertainty or conflict regarding ethical issues that emerge in healthcare.

When ethical questions arise or when support is needed in making difficult choices, any patient, family member or guardian, health professional or others with a legitimate interest in a patient is encouraged to request the assistance of an ethics consultation. This service is provided by UAMS at no charge.

This is an advisory service. The options presented by the consultation service are neither institutionally nor legally binding. The ECS follows a strict confidentiality code in its consultation process. Read more on the kind of help the ECS can provide.

 To Request an Ethics Consultation

• Please dial our pager at 501-405-8134 or call the hospital operator at 501-686-7000
• Email –  ethicsconsult@uams.edu

What Happens When A Consult is Requested

•  The person requesting the consult will be contacted by the ECS. The requestors name can be kept confidential.
• An ECS member reviews each request to see what type of consultation is best suited to a particular situation. Frequently a family meeting is held to clarify concerns, questions or goals of care. The consultant does not judge the quality of patient care or make decisions. They help to facilitate a discussion of the situation and clarify the issues from an ethical perspective. Read more on detailed procedures.