Ethical Decisions Brochure - Waterbury Hospital

Helping you makeEthicalDecisionsHelping you makeEthicalDecisionsIn today’s advanced health care environment,patients, families and health careproviders face more decisions than everbefore. These decisions can be difficult.The Ethics Committee is here to help.The Ethics Committee is comprised ofphysicians, nurses, pastoral care, socialworkers, trustees and hospital administrators.The Committee is here to provideyou with guidance and recommendationsregarding medical treatments.Ethics Committee(203) 573-6272www.waterburyhospital.orgEthics Committee(203) 573-6272www.waterburyhospital.orgEthics Committee

TEAM MEMBERSJ. LAWRASON, MD, Committee Chair, AssociateDirector of Medicine, Medical Director of ICUS. SCHNEIDER, MD, V.P. Medical AffairsEthics CommitteeMISSION STATEMENTThe Waterbury Hospital Ethics Committee hasbeen established to assist patients, their families,and their health care providers with identifying,understanding and resolving ethicalconcerns. In its advisory role, the committeeprovides guidance and makes recommendationsregarding medical treatment. These recommendationsare made after carefully consideringthe patient's rights and wishes, thelaw, the wishes of the family and recommendationsfrom the patient’s health care team.GUIDING PRINCIPLES• AUTONOMY• BENEFICENCE• NON-MALFEASANCE• JUSTICECommon Ethical Issues:• DECISIONS TO WITHHOLD OR WITHDRAW LIFESUSTAINING TREATMENT• CODE STATUS• WHO CAN MAKE DECISIONS FOR THE PATIENT• TREATMENT GOALS AT THE END OF LIFETo arrange an Ethics Committee consultation,ask your doctor, nurse or any member ofyour health care team or you may call(203) 573-6272. If you need to call during thenight or on weekends, call the hospital operatorand ask for the Nursing Supervisor.ImportantTelephone Numbers:24-Hour Consultation (203) 573-6272Ethics Committee(M-F, daytime) (203) 573-7636Pastoral Care (203) 573-7213Patient Relations (203) 573-7386Security (203) 573-7340C. MICHOS, MD, Director, Emergency Dept.J. BOYD, MD, Behavioral HealthJ. COSGRIFF, MD, Pulmonary/Critical CareD. EDWARDS, MD, Internal MedicineK. NEWTON, MD, Internal MedicineW. PETRICONE, MD, Department of MedicineM. TAYLOR, MD, Internal Medicine GeriatricsR. LOVINS, MD, Director of Hospitalist ServiceREV. R. BOLLEA, Pastoral CareM. ZIELLO, LCSW, Social WorkM. KLEM, RN, NursingV. POTREPKA, RN, Patient RelationsJ. MICHAELS, Board of Trustee MemberL. PALMER, MSW, Social WorkD. GRIFFEN, Board of Trustee MemberRABBI E. POLOKOFF, Pastoral CareD. MAURICE, CCRN, Critical Care UnitsK. MULSTON, VP Human Resources