What is the name of a committee composed of healthcare practitioners, family members, clergy, and others that reviews ethical issues in difficult cases?

• A. Medical Ethics Board
• B. Bioethics Council
• C. Patient Advocacy Group
• D. Ethics Committee

Answer: (D)

The name for that kind of group is an ethics committee. In hospitals, an ethics committee is a multidisciplinary team that brings together healthcare practitioners, family members, chaplains or clergy, and other stakeholders to review ethically challenging cases. They examine issues such as patient autonomy, informed consent, capacity, and end-of-life decisions, weighing medical facts against the patient’s values and beliefs. By applying ethical principles—autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice—they help the care team clarify goals of care and provide recommendations that respect the patient’s rights and preferences. Their role is typically advisory, guiding decisions and helping resolve conflicts, rather than directly dictating treatment. Other names like medical ethics board or bioethics council may exist in different contexts, but the term ethics committee is the standard and most widely used in clinical settings.