The Bioethics Committee is comprised of one main committee and several sub-committees; each unique in their role specific to the overall committee’s mission.  The links below and on the left-hand navigation will display the by-laws & procedures unique to each portion of Bioethics Committee.

Main Ethics Committee By-Laws & Procedures

• The role of the Ethics Committee will be educational, advisory, and consultative.

• The Committee will not serve as the principal in decision-making nor as a legislative body.

• The Committee will not take part in the daily decisions of the individual physicians in the Medical Center but could offer the benefit of its expertise when requested.

• With regard to policy-making within the Medical Center, this committee will provide consultation on policies which have ethical implications when asked to do so by the Chiefs of Professional Services.

• Because of the knowledge this Committee will have on subjects dealing with ethics in total health care, and because of the importance of the Medical Center to this region and to the State of North Carolina, it is anticipated that the Committee may be of assistance to the Medical Center as well as other organizations including some smaller hospitals which have not dealt with the full spectrum of problems faced in the Medical Center.  It is expected that the Committee should work to educate others on important ethical issues.  Educational programs should include Medical Center medical and hospital staff, and patients, as well as community groups.

Composition of the Committee:

• This Committee will report routinely to the Executive Committee of the Chiefs of Professional Services and will be appointed by the Chief of Professional Services.

• There will be at least 18 members on the Committee at least half of which will be practitioners from the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center/Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

• The remainder of the Committee will consist of the following members:

• Business men and women of the community

• Representatives from the ministry and/or the Departments of Pastoral Care and Church and Community Relations

• Representatives from the undergraduate faculty of the Wake Forest Reynolda Campus

• Hospital Administration

• Medical School Administration

• Representatives from the legal profession (these representatives will not be the legal representatives of either the Hospital or Medical School)

• Representatives of the nursing profession

• Secretarial assistance for the Committee will be provided by the Medical Center

Meetings:

The Committee will meet at least quarterly at a regular time and during these meetings will (1) seek to educate itself regarding ethical issues in health care, (2) review cases in which the Committee was consulted, (3) review and vote upon policies being developed by the Committee, and (4) review educational efforts undertaken by the Committee, including conferences sponsored by the Committee.  In addition, there could be outside speakers, speakers from the Committee itself, and/or speakers from the Chiefs of Professional Services who would acquaint the Committee with any immediate problems or problems foreseen for the future.

Minutes:

Minutes of all meetings will be maintained and sent to the Executive Committee of the Chiefs of Professional Services.  The minutes will reflect a vote or consensus of the Committee only when it is deemed necessary and appropriate by the Chiefs of Professional Services to call for such.

Access to the Committee:

Medical Center employees who wish to seek the advice or consultation of the Ethics Committee on matters regarding patient care must submit their request to the Chairman of the Ethics Committee who will determine if the Ethics Committee is the appropriate forum in which to consider the issue.  Any questions that the Chairman has regarding the appropriateness of the issue should be addressed to the Chiefs of Professional Services.
The Committee should in its deliberations have access to legal counsel of both the Medical School and the Hospital as needed.