Alaska Regional Hospital - April 16, 2018
by Stephanie Bauer, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Philosophy, U.A.A.

Did you know that Alaska Regional Hospital has an ethics committee?

Why an ethic's committee? Hospital ethics committees discuss and make recommendations about clinical ethical issues in a hospital. They do not act as lawyers or judges. They are not municipal authorities. They are a resource for medical staff and administrators in addressing the tough ethical questions and compliance issues that arise in patient care. Such issues include the proper respect for patient confidentiality or concerns about a patient's refusal of life-saving treatment.

Hospitals also try to make policies and procedures that, at their core, show respect for patients and embody standards of excellence and compassion in providing patient care. Since the late 1970s in U.S. hospitals, ethics committees have been used to help meet the obligations to patients and protect their rights.

Committee Work

The ethics committee at Regional has three main functions: case consultation, policy recommendations, and education.

  • Case Consultation – If medical staff believe there is an ethical problem with the care of a patient and a resolution can’t be found between the clinician(s) caring for the patient and the patient/surrogate, a case consultation can be requested. In an case consult, staff relevant to the case typically describe the case for the committee. The committee often asks questions about the case and considers competing values, the facts of the case and the relevant policies. The committee then makes a recommendation on the case. The discussion can clarify the ethical issues at play and help create consensus on the next steps in a ca
  • Hospital Policy – Alaska Regional’s committee has made recommendations on a variety of policies within the hospital.
  • Education – the committee has plans for outreach within Alaska Regional Hospital on medical ethical issues.

Committee membership aims to broadly represent the roles in the hospital. Members include the hospital CMO – the chair of the committee – as well as nurses, social workers, a physician, the director of case management, clergy, a clinical ethicist, and others.

As the committee’s clinical ethicist, I bring knowledge of bioethical concepts and history and an “outsiders” perspective. I am also an Associate Professor and Chair of Philosophy at UAA. It has been an honor to serve on the committee with such an intelligent and caring group of professionals.

Contact the Committee

To request an ethical case consult or to contact the committee with a question, feel free to call the chair of the committee, Dr. Ralph Costanzo, at (907) 264-1851. Additionally, committee members Tammy Bailey, Director of Case Management, or Sherry Fenton, Administrative Director of Quality, may be contacted.