Ethics Rounds in a Children's Medical Center: Evaluation of a Hospital-Based Program for Continuing Education in Medical Ethics

Abstract

Clinical rounds in medical ethics were established in 1971 in a large medical center to provide a forum for the multidisciplinary discussion of moral dilemmas in health care. The rounds consisted of case presentations and analyses by professionals primarily from the fields of law, pediatrics, religion, and philosophy. Five years of experience with these rounds were reviewed. Certain predominant themes emerged from the discussions. The most common involved the process of selecting a decision-maker. The rounds were evaluated with regard to their impact and educational value. Although these sessions often did not lead to diametric change in position by participants, they did help to sensitize participants and to clarify and expose critical issues. Ethics rounds may offer a constructive response to the current outcry for more stringent consideration of moral values in hospital settings.