Clinical Ethics

 The Clinical Ethics Committee provides the opportunity for clinicians to explore and address medical ethical issues from practice. The Clinical Ethics Committee based at University Hospitals Southampton (UHS) is accessible to healthcare professionals across the Wessex Region who wish to discuss a case relating to a child or young person..

The purposes of the Clinical Ethics Committee are to provide:

• ​The opportunity to discuss a wide range of clinical cases that have raised ethical or legal issues
• ​Patient case discussion
• A soundboard for individuals and groups of staff who have a clinical concern, dilemma or an issue that they would like to discuss
• A place for reflection on a situation or ethical issue that has already happened and what might have been the best course of action
• Emergency advice on clinical issues
• Policy advice

The Clinical Ethics Committee has members from a broad range of disciplines including clinical staff from different areas, chaplains, social scientists, PhD students, and members of other Clinical Ethics Committees. We frequently discuss cases surrounding issues of consent, confidentiality, adherence to treatment, life-sustaining treatments, palliative care, conflict and best interests.

We meet on the first Wednesday of each month but it is possible to hold special meetings to discuss urgent cases at short notice