BOPDHB Clinical Ethics Committee Terms of
Reference
1. Purpose of the Committee
1.1 To advise on ethical
issues pertaining to health care within the DHB area.
NB: It is to be noted that the CEC is not
involved in 'research approval or activity' that should otherwise
have been referred to a Regional Ethics Committee.
2. Objectives
2.1 The objective of the Committee is to
support the formation and maintenance of an ethics based culture
within the BOPDHB.
3. Functions of the Committee
3.1 Provide ethical opinions on matters
submitted to the Committee based on accepted professional, national
and international ethical guidelines. The Committee may
co-opt other appropriate representation or expertise.
3.2 To evaluate the ethical elements of
innovative clinical procedures and practices that have the
potential to impact on patient or population health outcomes.
3.3 To provide advice on the ethics of
resource allocation decisions through representation on the
Products Evaluation Group.
3.4 To disseminate reports on clinical
ethical learning and advice given to relevant parties.
3.5 Review organizational guidelines and
policies that have a strong ethical component.
3.6 Encourage the development of an organizational culture
where at all times the ethical considerations owed to the
patient/client/consumer and society are paramount and in which
practitioners advocate appropriately for their patients.
3.7 Provide an accessible and
approachable forum to discuss ethical dilemmas that have not been
resolved through other channels
3.8 Advocate for the provision of
educational opportunities on ethical issues within the BOPDHB.
4. Meetings
4.1 Scheduled meeting every two
months.
4.2 At the request of health providers,
patients or families, to advise on the decision making process
regarding ethical issues. The advice of the Committee will be
communicated to the party(ies) requesting the review within 24
hours of the meeting (or immediately following the meeting if the
matter is urgent).
4.3 A roster to be established for when
advice is required for urgent after-hours situations.
4.4 Convening special meeting: the
Secretary to the Committee, Medical Directorate will convene the
CEC.
5. Membership
Chair: Chairperson to be elected by the
membership and endorsed by the CEO
Minute Taker: Secretary to the
Committee
Membership: Membership will be drawn from a
wide spectrum of health professionals and lay people from within
and outside the DHB. The members will have a particular
interest in clinical ethics and will have been confirmed as people
with the right skill set to advise with decision making on ethical
issues. It is anticipated that the CEC will have a balanced
membership in terms of gender, ethnicity and clinical/lay
background.
Quorum: Half the membership.
6. Reporting
6.1 Parties relevant to specific
issues.
6.2 Clinical Board.
7. Review Date
These terms of reference will be reviewed every two
years.
Authorised by: Chief Executive
Officer
Last updated:
August 29, 2018