About Our
Ethics Committee
NorthBay Medical Center and NorthBay VacaValley
Hospital respect the rights of patients and their families to have
adequate information and resources to make informed decisions. On
occasion, when families are making important medical decisions, an
ethical dilemma arises.
An ethical dilemma can occur when
families or caregivers experience conflicts between loyalties, rights,
duties or values. For instance, sometimes the value of preserving life
conflicts with other values people in the family hold dear such as
respecting the patient's wishes, relieving suffering or considering a
patient’s concern about being a financial burden to the family. When
families and caregivers are faced with these kinds of dilemmas, the
Ethics Committee is here to help.
The Ethics Committee is available
to meet at the request of patients, families or healthcare
practitioners to assist in exploring treatment choices (including
comfort care) and offering recommendations concerning the choices. The
committee exists to serve as a resource to the primary decision-makers
– the patient, the family and the physician. The committee is not a
decision-making group, but provides a forum where ethical, psychosocial,
medical, administrative, legal and spiritual issues may be addressed
along with treatment options and recommendations regarding patient care.
Who Can Request Assistance
from the Ethics Committee?
Anyone who would like assistance
in resolving an ethical dilemma may contact the Ethics Committee. Please
remember that the committee is not meant to replace, but to assist the
family, the patient and the patient’s personal physician. The first
resource available to patients and their families is the physician or
nurse caring for the patient. These professionals are not only caring
for the patient but also advocating for the patient.
How To Reach the Ethics
Committee
If you have questions or would like to request the
assistance of the Ethics Committee please call the Medical Staff Office
at 429-7775.
Ethics Committee Members
The Ethics Committee is comprised
of the following members:
- Physicians
- Social Worker
- Lawyer
- Community Members
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How about Advance Directives?
Advance Directives are
documents written in advance of an incapacitating illness. These
documents may state a patient’s choice about treatment, but more times
than not will name an agent (surrogate) to make decisions when the
patient is no longer able to do so. NorthBay Healthcare recommends the
Advance Health Care Directive since it allows for an agent to be
appointed. You may download this document directly by clicking g
Advance
Health Care Directive Form
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