The document discusses the role and functions of an ethics committee in hospitals in India. It describes how ethics committees ensure research proposals and patient care meet ethical guidelines. They improve quality of care and research. Ethics committees are composed of administrators, clinicians, social workers, nurses and other professionals. They address issues like patient care, research, education and resolving ethical dilemmas. The document provides details on how different ethics committees operate and their goals.

1. ETHICAL COMMITTEE

2. INTRODUCTION
Most Indian hospitals have instituted a
committee for the purpose of checking
whether proposals submitted for research
meet established guidelines.
It improve not only the quality of research
undertaken by the institution but also the
care of patients in the institution.

3. ‘Mission statement of the
committee’
Care of the patient in this institution.
Research.
Education of the staff on biomedical ethics.

4. COMMITTEE
Administration
Clinicians - medical, surgical, other disciplines
Social workers
Nurses
Rehabilitation personnel
Priests/philosophers
Lawyers
Statisticians

5. SUBCOMMITTEES
Monthly meetings of a large, single committee
once a month over an hour and a half or two
hours
Frequency of meetings will depend on the
goals set for the committee.
Most ethics committees meet at least once a
month
Each member must attend at least 75% of all
meetings.

6. CARE OF PATIENTS
The art of bedside medicine
Relief of suffering
Cure of disease
Cost to patient: tests, drugs, other costs. Can
these be lowered?
Prompt attention to needs of the patient.
Care of the seriously ill
Care of the dying patients
Care of the dead patient

7. EDUCATION OF THE STAFF
• Produces guidelines on a broad range of
topics. Eg Disclosure of diagnosis, diagnosis of
brain death,truly informed consent etc.
• Sets up of a forum for receiving complaints
from patients and families in writing and
taking action to solve the problem.

8. Contd….
• Produces a document for the benefit of
patients and their families informing them
about services provided by the
institution(rights of patients and relatives,
their responsibilities)
• Continuing surveys practices within the
institution(standards of patient
care,unnecessary expenditure,obtaining truly
informed consent)

9. Contd….
• Obtains feedback from faculty, other staff on
the functioning of the ethics committee and
perceived deficiencies and suggestions on
how it might function more effectively.
• Conducts seminars/ workshops/ mini-conferences
on biomedical ethics and
research.

10. WHY DO SOME ETHICS COMMITTEES
FAIL
GOALS THAT ARE TOO AMBITIOUS.
LACK OF SUPPORT BY THE INSTITUTION.
POOR SELECTION OF MEMBERS ON THE
COMMITTEE.

11. INSTITUTIONAL ETHICS COMMITTEE
Institutional Ethics Committee (IECs)help to
strengthen the human rights reserved
exclusively for all members of society which
the individual physicians and research
workers may not be able to do alone.

12. COMPOSITION OF IEC
1. 2 medical/ non medical scientists .
2. All members should be non-institutional except
the secretary .
3. The chairman should be an outsider .
4. 2 lady members.
5. 5 members for a quorum .
6. No senior administrative officer of the
institution.
7. Office staff(for secretary).

13. THE ROLES OF IECS
1. Secretary should be available for clarifying
ethical problems that may arise from the
project.
2. Make sure that "informed consent "has been
properly obtained.
3. Multi-center trials require a uniform protocol
and a unified assessment system.

14. Contd….
4.Periodic follow up should be made by the IEC
5. Informed consent obtained from volunteers
who are to participate in a field trial must be
properly executed.
6. Clinical trials of drugs or therapy conducted
by clinicians.

15. LEGAL ROLE OF THE NURSE
1) Provider of Service
Ensure that client receives competent, safe, &
holistic care .
Supervise/evaluate the care provider.
Documentation of care.
Maintain clinical quality of care.

16. Contd….
2) Responsibility of appointing and assigning .
4) Responsibility for equipment .
5) Responsibility for observation and reporting.
6) Responsibility to protect public .
7) Responsibility for record keeping and reporting .
8) Responsibility for death and dying .
===

17. CODE OF ETHICS AND
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

18. introduction
Ethics refers to the moral code for nursing
and is based on obligation to service and
respect for human life.
–Melanie and Evelyn.
Ethics are the rules or principles that govern
right conduct and are designed to protect the
rights of human beings.
- Sister Nancy.

19. CODE OF ETHICS
A code of ethics is a set of ethical principles
that are accepted by all members of a
profession.
-Potter and Perry
Code of ethics is a guideline for performance
and standards and personal responsibility.
-LillieM S and Juanita Lee

20. NEED
Helps the students/ RN to practice ethically
Helps the nurse to identify the ethical issues
in her work place
Protecting patients right and dignity
Providing care with minimum risk to the
nurses health
Ethical reasoning

21. Contd….
Helps the nurse to respond to ethical conflicts
Helps to differentiate right /wrong .
Guide for a professional behavior .
Help teachers to plan education.
Prevent below standard practice.
Protect a nurse if falsely accused for legal
action .

22. ETHICAL PRINCIPLES
 ETHICAL PRINCIPLES OF RESPECT AND
AUTONOMY.
 PRINCIPLE OF BENEFICENCE
 PRINCIPLE OF JUSTICE
 PRINCIPLE OF VERACITY

23. Contd….
PRINCIPLE OF FIDELITY
FREEDOM
NON- MALEFICENCE
RIGHTS
CONFIDENTIALITY

24. INTERNATIONAL CODE OF
NURSING ETHICS
The body of code is divided into 5 sections.
1)NURSES AND PEOPLE
2)NURSES AND PRACTICE
3)NURSES AND PROFESSION
4)NURSES AND CO-WORKERS
5)NURSES AND SOCIETY

25. ETHICAL DILEMMA

26. Contd….
An ethical dilemma occurs when there is
conflict between two or more ethical
principles.
No correct decision exists
Need to obtain patients informed consent for
care treatment orders and measures such as
With holding/with drawing nutrition and
fluids
Starting / discontinuing life support system

27. Contd….
The nurse must make a choice between two
alternatives that are equally unsatisfactory.
Such dilemmas may occur as a result of
differences in cultural or religious beliefs.
Need to protect autonomy rights of children.
Need to make treatment and care of decisions
for terminally ill patients.

28. STEPS FOR RESOLVING ETHICAL
DILEMMA
Step – I: Collect, Analyze and interpret the
data
Step – II: State the Dilemma
Step – III: Consider the choices of action
Step – IV: Analyze the advantage and
disadvantages of each course of action
Step – V: Make the decision and act on it.

29. ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF
ADMINISTRATOR
He or she is self aware regarding own values
and basic beliefs about their rights and duties.
Be a part of all ethical decision-making.
Accepts that negative outcomes occur in
ethical decision making and use high quality
problem solving and decision-making.
Actively advocates for clients, subordinates
and the profession

30. Contd….
Clearly communicates the ethical standards
with the health personnel.
Uses problem-solving or decision making
when faced with management problems.
Identify outcomes in ethical decision-making
that should always to be avoided.
He should aware of legal procedures that may
guide ethical decision making and accountable
for it.

31. Contd….
Continuously re-evaluate quality of ethical
decision making based on the present of
decision making.
Recognizes and rewards ethical conduct of
subordinates.
Takes appropriates actions when
subordinates use unethical conduct.

32. CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT FOR
NURSES
1)PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY AN
ACCOUNTABILITY
Nurses:
 Carries out responsibilities within the professional boundaries.
 Is accountable for maintaining practice standards set by Indian
Nursing Council.
 Is responsible for own decisions and actions.
 Is responsible for continuous improvement of current
practices.
 Provides adequate information to individuals that allow them
informed choices.
 Practices healthful behaviors.

33. 2)NURSING PRACTICE
NURSES:
 Provides care in accordance with set standards of
practice.
 Respects individuals and families need to promoting
healthy practices and discouraging harmful practices.
 Treat all individuals and families with human dignity to
providing physical,psychological,spiritual,emotional
and social aspects of care.
 Promotes participation of individuals and significant
others in the care.

34. 3)COMMUNICATION AND
INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP
NURSES:
Esablishes and maintains effective interpersonal
relationship with individuals,families and
communities.
Uphold the dignity of team members and
maintains effective interpersonal relationship
with them.
Co-operates with other health professionals to
meet the needs of the individuals,families and
communities.

35. 4)VALUING HUMAN BEING
NURSES:
 Takes appropriate action to protect individuals from
harmful unethical practice.
 Encourages and supports individuals in their right to
speak for themselves on issues affecting their health
and welfare.
 Respects and supports choices made by individuals.

36. 5)MANAGEMENT
NURSE:
Ensures appropriate allocation and utilization
of available resources.
Participates in supervision and education of
students.
Communicates effectively following
appropriate channels of communication.
Participates in evaluation of nursing services.

37. 6)PROFESSIONAL ADVANCEMENT
NURSES:
Ensures the protection of the human rights while
pursuing the advancement of knowledge.
 Contributes to the development of nursing
practice.
 Contributes to care professional knowledge by
conducting and participating in research.

38. PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT

39. Contd….
1. Any failure to uphold personal and
professional integrity in one’s practice,such
as
a. falsifying records
b. abusing clients verbally, physically or
emotionally
c. abusing the nurse-client relationship
d. signing or issuing a document containing false
and misleading information

40. Contd….
e.Misappropriating property from clients or
workplace
f. Involving in inappropriate relationships with
clients

41. Contd….
3. Any contravention of statutory
requirements, such as:
a. Practicing without any valid nursing
registration and/or licences.
b. Using another nurse/midwife’s name and/or
registration in the course of providing or
offering services to clients.

42. Contd….
c. being found guilty of professional misconduct
by other nursing regulatory bodies.
d. failure to appear before an inquiry convened
by the SNB and/or co-operate with
investigations carried out by the SNB.

43. SUMMARIZATION

44. ANY DOUBT

45. BIBLIOGRAPHY
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