Clinical Ethics Committee

Do you have an ethical issue you would like to discuss? Cases can be submitted to the Committee Chair, Olav Søvik, by telephone on 416 89 421 or anonymously byemail.

The Clinical Ethics Committees are multidisciplinary. Members have expertise and experience in medical ethics, as well as clinical and/or other relevant knowledge and experience (law, religion and beliefs). Committee members are selected by the hospital management on the basis of this expertise. The committees are independent forums and include a patient representative, an ethicist and a lawyer, in addition to representatives from various professional groups at the hospital. The Chair is Senior Consultant Olav Søvik.

Sørlandet Hospital treats many patients with complex and serious medical conditions. Almost every day, we have to make decisions with serious and far-reaching consequences for patients and their next of kin. Examples of questions that may arise include:

• Is there such a thing as “futile” treatment, and what would it take to say that something is “futile”?

• Should we always provide every patient with the maximum possible treatment, or are there limits to what we should or ought to do for some patients?

• Should we consider refusing certain types of high-tech treatment?

• What grounds do we have for prioritising when resources are limited? For example, can we prioritise young people over older people?

• Should we always tell patients everything we know about them?

• When is it right/legal to force patients to do something they do not want to do? If such coercion is used, what conditions must be met?

Such questions, and many others, can be discussed by the Clinical Ethics Committee (KEK).

Sometimes discussions in the Clinical Ethics Committee arise from specific ongoing cases in which the treating clinicians or others have asked the Committee for its views on what is ethically right to do here and now. In such cases, the Committee’s primary role is to examine the matter from a broad perspective and help ensure that important viewpoints are heard. The Committee can offer advice, but the treating clinician remains responsible. KEK strives to provide advice as quickly as the case requires.

Sometimes the Committee is asked for advice on cases that have already been concluded, but where the patient/next of kin or hospital staff would like an impartial, principled discussion. They may want help sorting out what the ethical dilemmas actually were and what courses of action were available. Often, the aim is to shed light on the principled and value-based challenges, so that they are better prepared the next time they find themselves in a similar situation.

Would you like access to cases we have considered? Send an email topostmottak@sshf.noand request access to cases from the Clinical Ethics Committee.