• Skip to main content
  • Skip to main content
Choose which site to search.
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Logo University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
College of Medicine: Department of Medical Humanities and Bioethics
  • UAMS Health
  • Jobs
  • Giving
  • About Us
  • Faculty and Staff
    • D. Micah Hester, Ph.D.
    • Lauren Bunch, Ph.D.
    • Brandy M. Fox, Ph.D.
    • Angela Scott, M.D., Ph.D., FAAP
    • Eva Regel, D.Be.
    • Chris Hackler, Ph.D. – Emeritus Professor
      • Publications and Presentations
  • Education
    • Ethics Grand Rounds
    • M4 Medical Student Electives
    • Bruce and Brandon Lee Medical Scholarship
      • Grantee Responsibilities and Expectation
    • Moral Distress Intensive Workshop
      • Presenter Bios
      • Symposium Video
  • Support
    • Clinical Support
      • Clinical Ethics Consultation
        • Difficult Decisions Where the ECS Can Help
        • Ethics Consultation Service Policy/Procedures
        • Conversation
        • Consultations
        • Ethics Consultation Service Members
      • Advance Medical Directives
      • Videos
    • Scholarship and Research Support
      • Research Ethics Consultation (RECS)
  • Affiliated Services
    • Medical Humanities Library
  1. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
  2. College of Medicine
  3. Department of Medical Humanities and Bioethics
  4. Support
  5. Clinical Support
  6. Clinical Ethics Consultation
  7. Consultations

Consultations

  • Patients, families, surrogates, health care providers, and other involved parties may request an ethical consult without fear of reprisal.
  • If the ethics consultation request is deemed appropriate, the Lead consultant will gather information and proceed with any or all of the following measures:
    • reviewing the patient’s medical record
    • interviewing involved parties, either individually or in groups
    • discussing the case with other members of the consult service
    • discussing the matter with appropriate interested parties (e.g. chaplaincy, risk management, legal counsel)
    • gathering any other information or opinions thought to be helpful, being careful at all times to respect the privacy of the patient
  • Strict attention to confidentiality will be maintained during the entire process.
  •  Any member of the consult service should decline to participate in a consultation should a conflict of interest arise. If the consultation involves a patient within one of the member’s area of patient responsibility, that member should decline, to avoid any appearance of conflict.
  •  Following the gathering of information, a consultation meeting of most or all persons involved may be indicated, especially if there is a difference of opinion about ethically acceptable options. A good-faith effort will be made to involve all parties.
  •  The meeting shall proceed along the following guidelines. The team leader shall:
    • set the length of the meeting, the issues to be discussed and the goals of the meeting in the beginning.
    • assure that the appropriate decision-makers are present.
    • explain the purpose and parameters of the meeting.
    • emphasize the goals of maintaining confidentiality, and
    • allow time for each person present to express his or her thoughts concerning the case.
UAMS College of Medicine LogoUAMS College of MedicineUniversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Mailing Address: 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205
Phone: (501) 686-7000
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement

© 2025 University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences