Ethics helps individuals and groups work through and resolve ethical dilemmas
Often an ethical dilemma occurs in situations with conflicting values or where the appropriate course of action is unclear, when reasonable people disagree.
Beneficence: contributing to the welfare of others
Nonmaleficence: refraining from causing harm to others
Autonomy: Includes rights of self-determination and informed decision making
Justice: includes individual and distributive justice
When there is a difference of opinion between members of the healthcare team
Where there is a difference of opinion between patients, family members, surrogate decision members and the healthcare team
When the patient and others (e.g. members of the treating team or surrogate decision makers) disagree about how best to proceed
When team members are experiencing moral distress
When you believe there is an ethical dilemma
An individual who makes decisions for a patient unable to make her/his own decisions
Examples include:
parents making decisions for their minor children
guardians making decisions for an individual
spouses deciding for their incapacitated partner
Page Ethics 24/7 through the TCH page operator or call the Ethics consultation line at 832-822-0500.
You may also contact Ethics leadership to discuss an ethical concern or request a consult.