RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Developing clinical ethics committees
JF Clinical Medicine
JO Clin Med
FD Royal College of Physicians
SP 232
OP 234
DO 10.7861/clinmedicine.4-3-232
VO 4
IS 3
A1 John Saunders
YR 2004
UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/4/3/232.abstract
AB Formal clinical ethics review first developed in the USA and most hospitals there have structures in place. This is often a clinical ethics committee. Developments have been slower in the UK, where there has been uncertainty and variability about the role of clinical ethics committees. Even in the USA, their exact role is uncertain. Although we now have a good idea of the mechanisms for ethical review of clinical issues in NHS trusts and health authorities, the desirability, composition and terms of reference for clinical ethics committees should be agreed as part of the clinical governance agenda.