Ethics Concerns

There may be a time when you are called upon to make a decision about your health care during your hospital stay. This can be a confusing, frightening or painful task. Yet, every patient has the right to make those decisions and to have all the information needed to make them. UNC Hospitals has an Ethics Committee to help you in such circumstances.

The Ethics Committee is a group of people who are prepared to listen and respond to you. They can help get all the facts you need to make a decision and they can offer feedback and suggestions. They will never come up with a final answer or tell you what to do. The Ethics Committee exists to help everyone involved make the best decision possible. The committee is made up of physicians, nurses, a hospital chaplain, social workers, persons trained in ethics and law, and representatives from the general public. They all have been educated in medical ethics. Through the committee, they can bring their various ideas together to help you make a decision that is right for you and your family.

The committee can help with hard ethical choices or disagreements about a patient's care. Concerns can be brought to the committee by a patient, by a family member, by a physician, nurse or other health care provider. All conversations are held in strictest confidence. Ask your nurse or doctor to contact the committee for you. If you need further information, call (919) 843-1470. There is no charge for this service. It is a resource we offer to assist you in making decisions in difficult situations.