ETHICS COMMITTEE CREATED

Grace Cottage Hospital now has an Ethics Committee, available to consult with patients and their families and physicians. The purpose of an Ethics Committee is to provide advice, if requested, regarding ethical aspects of a patient’s care.

The committee is made up of four family practice physicians, a pediatrician, three nurses, a member of the Otis Health Care Center Board of Trustees, a psychiatrist, a social worker, two pharmacists, a chaplain and a minister. The committee is authorized to discuss treatment deci-sions and provide education on ethical standards, providing a community where issues concerning human dignity and respect can be safely discussed.

“The Ethics Committee is available to help patients, their families and doctors with ethical issues such as the interpretation of living wills and advance directives, or decisions to stop treatment,” said Carol VanderTuin, Grace Cottage’s social worker. “The role of the Ethics Committee is not to make decisions, but to offer advice.” The service is confidential, and free of charge. Call (802) 365-7920 x 150 for more information.

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