We help support the work of the Biomedical Ethics Committee at
University Hospital led by Anne Simpson,
M.D. (Chair), and Jerald Belitz, Ph.D., (Vice-Chair). This Committee
serves as a consultative, educational, and advisory resource for the
Health Sciences Center and is comprised of physicians, nurses, clergy,
lawyers, social workers, educators and community members. It has been
active for over 15 years. According to Dr. Simpson, "The HSC Biomedical
Ethics Committee is an integral part of the Institute for Ethics, the
committee is devoted to standards of fairness. We work with patients,
families and members of the treatment teams to navigate through
difficult discussions, and to see that the parties involved have an
opportunity to express their thoughts. Also, the Ethics Committee serves
as a vehicle for education and exploration of topics that reflect
ethical issues."
The Institute is also developing an ethics consultation service that will serve patients, families, and health care professionals throughout New Mexico and across the United States. It is hoped that the Institute will work with state and local leaders and with professional organizations to construct policies that help foster optimal ethical clinical and research practices. Clinicians trained at the Institute will form an ever-widening circle of ethical awareness and competency reaching clinical and research ethics at the local, state, and national levels.
