Ethics Consultation Service
The Ethical Challenge of Modern Healthcare
The past few years have brought unprecedented growth in medical technology. Each day brings new treatment options to patients, families, and healthcare providers.
As a result, patients, families, and care providers face more decisions - especially more ethical decisions - than ever before. Instead of asking "what can be done?" they often find themselves asking "what should be done?"
These questions can arise at any time, under any circumstances. For some, it might be as a loved one enters the final stages of a terminal disease or as a patient considers the appropriateness of a major medical intervention. For others, it might be as they complete a Healthcare Proxy or Living Will.
The Ethics Consultation Service
To assist patients, families, and care providers in making these complex decisions, Albany Medical Center offers a free Ethics Consultation Service. By helping people resolve the ethical dilemmas that modern medicine can present, the Consultation Service strives to maintain the highest ethical standards in the delivery of patient care.
Please Note: This is an advisory service. The options presented by the Consultation Service are neither institutionally nor legally binding . All services are completely confidential.
Our Staff
Specially trained and qualified medical ethics consultants perform the services. To help identify and address the diverse issues that can develop, the consultants explore the values and concerns of the patient and family. They also draw from the expertise of physicians, nurses, social workers, pastoral care representatives, hospital administration, and legal counsel.
When to Request an Ethics Consultation
Patients, families, and healthcare providers are encouraged to request the assistance of an ethics consultant when ethical questions arise or when support is needed in making difficult choices.
What Can You Expect?
Typically, the Consultation Service completes a request within 24 - 48 hours (time-sensitive situations will receive immediate attention). If someone other than the patient initiates the request, the patient and the attending physician are notified of the concerns.
Frequently a family meeting is held to clarify concerns, questions or goals of care.
To Request Assistance or Information
To request an ethics consultant (or more information about the Consultation Service), you can contact the physician or primary nurse involved in the case. To contact the Ethics Consultation Service directly, call the operator (518-262-3125) for the consultant who is on call
Consultants
John Balint, MD, FRCP
Walter Edge, MD
Sheila Otto, BSN, MA
Wayne Shelton, PhD, MSW
Dan Thompson, MD
For more information about the Center for Medical Ethics, please see Alden March Bioethics Insitute.
