Consultation

Disagreements regarding a patient’s treatment plan or goals of care, appropriate levels of intervention, conflicts between and/or among patient, family members, health care team

If application of a hospital policy in a particular case raises ethical questions, e.g., fetal-maternal conflict, imperiled pregnancy, early induction, MAID assessments

Uncertainty or disagreement regarding care transitions including palliative care

Question about withholding or withdrawing treatment, deciding when a life-sustaining treatment such as breathing or nutritional support is to be started, continued or stopped, advance care directives

Navigating complex care decisions including ECMO and VAD

Patient/family requesting treatments that health care professionals believe are not beneficial

Patient/family refusal of treatment that health care professionals believe are necessary or beneficial

When health care team/family would like help interpreting an incapacitated patient’s previously expressed wishes or advance directive/living will

Questions about the role of the substitute decision-maker (SDM) for a patient who lacks capacity, questions regarding substitute decision-making or role of SDM

Moral distress of patient, family or health care providers

Discharge challenges and concerns, patient safety, risk assessment

Care delivery issues involving value choices