Medical Center Ethics Committee seeks new members

Are you interested in discussing cutting edge issues in health care? How about increasing your understanding of controversial issues, such as end-of-life care, privacy and confidentiality, and cultural differences that influence medical decision making? If the answer is yes, the Medical Center Ethics Committee wants you.

The MUSC Medical Center's Ethics Committee was established in 1985. Its mission, as outlined in the Medical Center by-laws, is to facilitate shared clinical decision making within an ethical framework by patients, family members or surrogate decision makers, and staff through education, policy development, consultation and research. The committee is composed of physicians, nurses, other health care clinicians, community representatives, chaplains, bioethicists, attorneys, philosophers and students, and seeks to be culturally diverse. Ethics committee members demonstrate a commitment to clinical ethics through active participation and education.

Specifically, members are expected to:

  • complete a basic clinical ethics course or equivalent education
  • attend ethics committee meetings (six per year) and occasional anticipated absence;
  • actively participate in either the Education, Consultation, or Policy sub-committees;
  • demonstrate an on-going commitment to continuing education in clinical ethics;
  • commit to serve for the full three-year appointment.

Ethics Committee members also have the option of applying for membership on the Ethics Consultation Service, the "service arm" of the committee, which performs clinical ethics consultation for the medical center.

The following vacancies are currently available on the Ethics Committee: 1 Community Representative*; 1 Non-MD or non-RN clinician; 1 Nurse; and 1 Non-MD student (e.g. graduate, nursing, allied health). *The community members are selected to represent the local community and its values.

No experience is necessary.

Other interested people who do not fall into one of these categories are also encouraged to respond as "ad hoc" appointments.

In order to be considered for appointment to the Ethics Committee, please submit a letter of intent describing your willingness to serve on the committee. Address it to Sally A. Webb, M.D., chair, Ethics Committee, MUSC, 171 Ashley Ave, CH688, Charleston, S.C. 29425.

Please include in your letter statements regarding the reasons for joining the Ethics Committee, the position you are applying for, what you have to contribute (include resume or curriculum vitae, if available), and evidence of educational preparation in clinical ethics, or a plan for gaining basic knowledge in clinical ethics within one year of appointment to the committee. (Courses in clinical ethics are offered frequently at both MUSC and the College of Charleston). Deadline for submitting letters of intent is May 1. All letters will be acknowledged, and new Ethics Committee members will be notified by June 1.

For more information, call the Program in Bioethics at 792-0840 or contact Angie Glotzbach at glotzbaa@musc.edu

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