What is the role of ethics committees?

• A. They review complex ethical dilemmas or disputes about capacity, advanced directives, or care decisions beyond routine care.
• B. They enforce legal penalties for unethical practice
• C. They manage hospital budgets
• D. They handle patient admissions

Answer: (A)

Ethics committees provide guidance when difficult moral questions about patient care arise that go beyond routine decisions. They review complex ethical dilemmas or disputes about capacity, advanced directives, or care decisions, and they help clinicians, patients, and families navigate those issues by clarifying values and rights and offering thoughtful recommendations. The aim is to balance respect for patient autonomy with beneficence and overall welfare, mediate clashes, and interpret what an advance directive or substitute decision-maker would authorize in a given situation. Their input is consultative and intended to inform decisions, not to enforce penalties or dictate every action. They do not manage budgets or handle patient admissions. In practice, they help resolve disagreements about treatment choices when capacity is in question or when directives are unclear, guiding care to align with the patient’s values and best interests.