Difference of Opinion

Medical ethical concerns may arise when there is conflict between what patients, their family or health care providers believe to be “right” in taking care of the patient. A Medical Ethics consult may help resolve your concerns.

What is a Bioethics Consult?

The Bioethics Committee at each of our hospitals exists to provide information, guidelines and advice to the medical staff, hospital personnel, patients and patients’ representatives to support the basis for informed decision-making on bioethical issues. The advice sought may be patient-specific or issue-specific.

Important Prerequisites

How do you know you need a bioethics consult? Do these apply?

• Is this a decision that will determine the patient’s outcome?

• Have you considered consulting with spiritual care?

• Have you spoken with the providers involved about your concerns?

• Have you had a palliative care consult?

• Have you reviewed the patient’s oral/written wishes?

• Have you had a family meeting?

• Is Patient and Provider Advocacy involved?

• Is the patient still able to communicate or is the family being asked to use substituted judgment?

• Using substituted judgement, doctors and family members try to make the decision that the patient would have made if he or she were able to make decisions.

How to enter a bioethics consult

I'm an Ochsner employee

I am not an Ochsner employee:

• Request a Consult

• Support Resources
• Patient Advocacy Contact

• Bioethics Campus Contact