CLINICAL ETHICS CONSULTATION EXPERIENCE IN A CHILEAN INSTITUTION

Abstract

Clinical Ethics Consult Services have been developed as a complement to Health care Ethics Committees. This manuscript refers to the conference presented at the XIV Bioethics Seminar of Bioethics of Chilean Academy of Medicine. The experience of the Clinical Ethics Consult Service of “Clínica Alemana de Santiago”, implemented in 2008, was presented. Some results are pointed out based on a tesis work that describes the process and the way of working of this service, and reference is also madeto a publication that deals with a survey carried out on adult intensive care physicians of that institution, in which the perception of the contribution of this typeo finter consultations is asked. Finally, the current participation of clinical ethics consultants in the Advance Care Planning and Advance Directives Program at “Clínica Alemana de Santiago” is mentioned. It is concluded that these clinical ethics consult services are relevant, as well as the importance of carrying out periodic evaluations of the processes, forms and work models, along with being attentive to new challenges or needs that mayarise.