The role of patients in European Clinical Ethics Consultation

Abstract

Clinical ethics committees and consultation services have existed in many European countries for over two decades. Many different modes of operation have emerged, each reflecting a particular health and socio-political context. As additional clinical ethics services become established, the role of patients and their relatives is attracting increased attention. In North America, patient involvement has been theoretically lauded and recommended by policy, but nevertheless is often neglected in practice.1 In Europe, this issue has not yet received a great deal of attention, although the importance of listening to the patient's voice has been recognized for some time.2 Despite this, patients have diverse involvement in European clinical ethics support. Patients or their relatives can, for example: be members of a clinical ethics committee; be notified when an ethics consultation is requested; or be involved in ethical deliberation to the same extent as clinicians. At the 4th International Conference on Clinical Ethics and Consultation,3 Professor Stella Reiter-Theil convened an expert panel to discuss: ‘Whether and how to involve patients and relatives in clinical ethics support’. Panellists from across Europe4 used a case study to engage in a lively and interactive discussion on the different approaches to patient involvement in clinical ethics consultation.