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ETHICS
Introduction
Ethics includes personal behaviors and issues of character e.g. kindness, tolerance and generosity. Ethic is
derived from the word ETHOS ethos as defined by ernad Harding compromises distinction attitudes, which
characteri!e the cultural outlook of professional group.
Ethics are the distinction between right and wrong based on a body of knowledge, not "ust based on
opinions. Ethics in nursing is set of moral codes of professional behaviors towards holistic care. The ethical code
is a set of guidelines formulated by the members of profession with the help of specialists in the field of nursing
leaders, advocate#lawyers at times members from the society.
ETHICAL COMMITTEE
Sometimes making the right decision in the face of serious illness can be complicated. $hen there is
uncertainty or disagreement, the %Ethics &ommittee can help.
The Ethics &ommittee is a group of 'edical &enter staff (physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains and
others) and members of the community who are available to help patients, families, doctors, and other healthcare
providers when they face difficult ethical decisions.
The Ethics &ommittee meets free of charge to provide a safe, supportive, confidential forum in which you and
others can think through a problem, consider different points of view and sort through options. Every attempt is
made to involve key members of the health care team as well as the patient and family, as appropriate, in the
process.
*fter discussing the ethical issues at stake, the Ethics &ommittee offers advice in the form of a non+binding
recommendation. ,t is then up to those involved to decide what to do ne-t.
The need for ,nstitutional Ethics &ommittee (,E&s) in medical and research establishments resulted from the
reali!ation that affirms human riht! as a prerogative of all members of society.
,ndividual physicians and research workers may not be able to do what is right in all instances as evidenced
by the number of cases on record.
,nstitutional ethics committees vary widely in their composition, usually in an attempt to assure a broad based
multi+disciplinary membership. ,n addition to those with research and clinical e-perience, many committees
include representation from .astoral &are, Social $ork, and /aw backgrounds, and often a member with a more
academic orientation. 'oreover, most committees find it important to include individuals from the lay
community to help provide a "ati#nt$! and "u%&ic "#r!"#cti'#(