A hospital committee, typically with a broad representation from the medical staff, hospital administration, nursing, the clergy, social services, and others, which is concerned with education of hospital personnel on biomedical ethical issues and decision making processes, formulation of institutional policies on medical-ethical issues (for example, “do not resuscitate” policies), and with review of and consultation on cases presenting ethical problems. Such committees do not make decisions on the care of individual patients, but rather act, if consulted, in an advisory and educational capacity. The role of the ethics committee varies from hospital to hospital (or other health care institution).
Various types of ethics committee operate in the UK, fulfilling four main functions: the monitoring of research; debate of difficult patient cases; establishing norms of practice; and publishing ethical guidance.