Interviewing a Member of a Hospital-Based Ethics Committee - Essay Example

? Interviewing a Member of a Hospital-Based Ethics Committee Task The Ethics Committees are significant tools that benefit a hospital when used aptly, and can be useless or a burden when misused. The essay is about an interview with a member of a hospital-based Ethics Committee who answers significant questions concerning the issue. The questions asked in the interview require the following information; name and credentials of the interviewee, purpose and mission of the committee, general composition of the committee. Moreover, the interview found out the number of times meeting were adjourned, the typical meeting agenda, number of committee members and their roles, and lastly how emergent issues were handled. Introduction Hospital-Base Ethics Committee is a system in medical centers that controls the behaviors and characters of health workers in providing services to patients by applying moral principles. The ethics committees vary in diverse forms such as research-based committees that determine whether intended researches are ethically sound and safe. Case-oriented committees’ role involves giving advice on issues disturbing tranquility in medical centers (Derr, 2009). I conducted an interview to a member of the Ethical Committee in Yale-New Hospital on issues concerning the committee. Interview I conducted an interrogation with one of the members of Hospital-Base Ethics Committee, Dr. Kelvin Smith, a senior and esteemed doctor in Yale-New Haven Hospital situated in US. He is also the chairman of the Hospital-Base Ethics Committee, and has apt information for my answers. Dr. Smith is an enthusiastic and friendly individual who welcomed me comfortably and in a relaxed manner. The interview was conducted in his office at around ten o’clock in the morning. I had previously asked him to put forward 1 hour of his busy schedule for my interview, which he fortunately accepted. The following were the questions I asked and answers he replied; 1. What is your name and credentials? My name is Dr. Kelvin Smith, and I have admirable credentials because of my hard work I put in everything I carry out. I have a PhD in Medical Science from Harvard Medical University and two masters in Public Health and Business Administration. Moreover, I have a degree in Information Technology (IT) that I learnt earlier in my youthful years. One of the achievements I have made is being the best and influential doctor in Yale-New Haven Hospital. I also came second as the most successful doctor in the whole country in medical career. The above mentioned accomplishments are the esteemed achievements I have made, though there are other minor attainments since I started my career. 2. What is the purpose and mission of the committee? The purpose of the Hospital-Based Ethics Committee is to vet all the researches conducted in the hospital by ensuring that they are secure for the health workers and patients. The Ethical Committee also ensures that hospital programs and services are run ethically. This ensures that an intimate relationship exists between patients and health workers (Derr, 2009). The mission of the Ethical Committee states that “The Hospital-Based Ethics Committee aims at protecting the rights of the health workers and patients by implementing relevant ethical principles.’ 3. How often does the committee meet? The Hospital-Based Ethics Committee holds meeting 2 times in a month. The first meeting is held in the first week while the second meeting is held at the last week of the month. The Hospital-Based Committee members’ ensure that all the issues affecting the hospital progression are discussed and handled amicably. 4. What is the typical meeting agenda? The typical meeting agenda of the meeting involves reshaping ethics structures in the hospital. The agenda always aims at improving and implementing the ethical principles in running the Yale-New Haven Hospital programs. The basis of the agenda is to ensure that health officers, workers, and patients understand the significance of implementing ethical values at the hospital. 5. How many members in the committee and who are they? The hospital-based Ethics Committee has 10 members, who are dedicated in making the hospital a conducive place for health services by ensuring that the ethics principles are implemented. The members of the committee include the following personalities; a. Dr. Kelvin Smith- chairman of the committee b. Dr. Sheila Rumson- the secretary c. Professor Beryl White- ethical advisor d. Mr. Noel Christian- the treasury e. Dr. Cynthia Nice- development manager f. Dr. James Brown- financial advisor g. Mr. Robert Brown- a member h. Dr. Maryanne Gold- a member i. Mrs. Candice Russet- a member j. Professor Duncan Rooney- a member 6. What role does each member play? My role as the chairman is to ensure that all agendas of the meeting are discussed aptly, and sensible solutions found. I ensure that each member contributes to the issues debated and targets set by the committee. Dr. Sheila Rumson’s role is to write the minutes of the meeting and keep records for the Hospital-Based Ethics Committee. Mr. Noel Christian ensures that all the money and funds of the committee are kept safely. He ensures that the money records are updated and accurate accordingly. Dr. Cynthia Nice ensures that the outcomes of the meeting are appropriately implemented and changes are observed. Dr. James Brown as the financial advisor ensures that the committee’s money is appropriately and effectively used. Professor Beryl White suggests workable and significant ethical principles significant for Yale-New Haven Hospital. She is an imperative figure who ensures that the committee becomes effective in its roles of ensuring implementing ethical principles in the hospital. Other members roles’ are to participate and contribute to the agenda discussed during the meeting. They have the right to disparage and monitor the behaviors of the official and senior members of the committee. How are emergent issues handled? Some of the emergent issues that we are working on are gender equality and the use of modern technology in medical centers. Firstly, the advantages and the shortcomings of the emergent issues are handled by members through giving out relevant proposal. The members critically analyze the suggested opinions and rule out inappropriate ones (Derr, 2009). Secondly, they initiate a program that will guarantee the successfully implementation of the project. Thirdly, the Ethics Committee member has experts whose roles is to find out emerging issues in advance to work on them gravely. Fourthly, the committee advices and edifies health workers such as nurses, on ways of handling emergent issue in their profession. Lastly, another way of handling emergent issues is doing a thorough research and giving recommendations on the best way of solving and putting into practice the issue (Derr, 2009). Conclusion The interview with Dr. Smith shows the significant roles Ethical Committee plays in New-Haven hospital. His credentials prove that he was capable of being the chairman of the committee because of his experience in medical issues. Ethical Committees are essential in Medical Centers, since they guide the behaviors of the health workers and patients to ensure conducive health environment. Consequently, I challenge the government to ensure that each hospital has a working Ethical Committee to improve the services offered. Reference Derr, S. D. (2009).Hospital ethics committees: Historical development, current issues, and recommendations. East Eisenhower; ProQuest. 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