How an Ethics Committee Can Support Staff The authors of this article have served for many years on the interdisciplinary Hosparus Health Ethics Committee and witnessed its positive impact on staff. Hospice professionals often experience ethical concerns in their daily practice but may dismiss them as an expected and routine aspect of hospice team care. Education and training of incoming staff by the Ethics Committee includes using a“ gut factor” to identify ethical concerns and the moral distress that they trigger. When a clinician’ s core values and standards are challenged, the uneasy feeling and distress that arise should prompt them to ask for help from their colleagues. The Ethics Committee rises to meet these needs by providing responsive consultation and impartial deliberation. An ethics committee can help meet the quadruple aims of healthcare, which include supporting the wellbeing of healthcare professionals. Facing perennial challenges like staffing shortages and emerging innovations like artificial intelligence, ethics committees will continue to serve an essential role in supporting teams to resolve ethical dilemmas, mitigate burnout and lessen moral distress.
Moral Side of Medicine comfort, removal of artificial life supports and allowing natural dying. The intensivist felt confident in the care plan and grateful for all the helpful collaboration.
* This is a fictional case designed to illustrate common challenges in medical decision-making.
References:
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Tutty MA, West CP, Dyrbye LN, et al. Moral Distress and Occupational Burnout in US Physicians. JAMA Netw Open. 2026; 9( 3): e263161. doi: 10.1001 / jamanetworkopen. 2026.3161
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Dr. Earnshaw is an internist and palliative care specialist who serves as a hospice medical director and co-chair of the Ethics Committee at Hosparus Health.
Dr. Rotella is a retired hospice and palliative medicine specialist.
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Serious Illness Conversation Guide https:// www. ariadnelabs. org / serious-illness-care / for-clinicians / accessed 9 / 27 / 26.
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KRS 311.625 accessed on ky. gov 9 / 27 / 26.
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KRS 311.631 accessed on ky. gov 9 / 29 / 26.
How an Ethics Committee Can Support Staff The authors of this article have served for many years on the interdisciplinary Hosparus Health Ethics Committee and witnessed its positive impact on staff. Hospice professionals often experience ethical concerns in their daily practice but may dismiss them as an expected and routine aspect of hospice team care. Education and training of incoming staff by the Ethics Committee includes using a“ gut factor” to identify ethical concerns and the moral distress that they trigger. When a clinician’ s core values and standards are challenged, the uneasy feeling and distress that arise should prompt them to ask for help from their colleagues. The Ethics Committee rises to meet these needs by providing responsive consultation and impartial deliberation. An ethics committee can help meet the quadruple aims of healthcare, which include supporting the wellbeing of healthcare professionals. Facing perennial challenges like staffing shortages and emerging innovations like artificial intelligence, ethics committees will continue to serve an essential role in supporting teams to resolve ethical dilemmas, mitigate burnout and lessen moral distress.
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