Professional Resources | Bioethics Committee

Bioethics Committee

About us

The Bioethics Committee is a community of individuals, representing a broad range of cultural, professional, and religious backgrounds, where issues concerning human dignity and respect can be safely discussed. Ethical decision-making is promoted through policy review and case consultation in instances when values are in conflict.

The consultation process involves systematic review of information, clarification of ethical issues, and resolution of ethical dilemmas through consensus development. The committee's deliberations reflect respect for the values of society and the economic and legal issues that influence decision-making in the delivery of health care. The committee members work in cooperation with other groups within the institution to set policy and promote responsible and ethical delivery of health care.

Committee leadership recognizes that ethical practice is more of an art than a science, recognizes the value of different levels of knowledge among the membership, and promotes a culture of trust and continuous learning among its members who participate in critical self-evaluation and periodic review of the committee's direction and performance.

Consult services

The Bioethics Review and Advisory Committee provides ethics consultation services:

Pager 7229
or dial (570) 988-5033 (use touch-tone phone to leave message)

Anyone can request an ethics consultation. Page directly by phone or leave a text message.

The Bioethics Review and Advisory Committee's email address is bioethics@geisinger.edu.

End of Life Decision Making

EOL Organizations and websites with information about End of Life issues.
More

Visit our Bioethics Notes

Read past issues of our newsletter or view results of on-line surveys.
More

Bioethics Committee
Co-chairs
Joel J. Berberich, MD, PhD	Chairman, Division of Anesthesiology	Geisinger Health System
Robert B. Shabanowitz, PhD	Director, ART/Andrology Laboratories	Geisinger Health System
Membership
Karen Adams, RN, BSN	Home Care & Hospice Director	Geisinger Health System
Kristen Beech, JD	Legal Services	Geisinger Health System
Lynn Belles, RN	Nursing Education	Geisinger Health System
J. Brian Benestad, PhD	Professor of Theology	University of Scranton
Michael Breen	Occupational Therapy	Geisinger Health System
Robert Brunner	Clinical Campus Student	Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Gregory F. Burke, MD	General Internal Medicine	Geisinger Health System
Charles Busada, PhD	Pastor, Grace Bible Church Professor, Luzerne County Community College	Catawissa
Thomas W. Cordell, BS, CST	General Surgery Residency Coordinator	Geisinger Health System
Leann Crabb, RN, CCRN, TC	Cardiac Intensive Care Unit	Geisinger Health System
Neil M. Ellison, MD	Director, Palliative and Supportive Medicine Program	Geisinger Health System
James R. Elmore, MD	CVT Surgery	Geisinger Health System
Dorothy Fisher, MD	Life Geisinger	Geisinger Health System
Jill M. Gotoff, MD	Pediatric Neurology - Epilepsy Management	Geisinger Health System
Dan Hoegen	Social Services	Geisinger Health System
Jeffrey M. Hoppe	Spiritual Care	Geisinger Health System
Vladimir Leibovsky, DO	Resident, OB/GYN	Geisinger Health System
Patricia Maani-Fogelman, DNP	Palliative Medicine	Geisinger Health System
Molly Marko, BS, BSE, CCP	Perfusion Services	Geisinger Health System
Nancy Moody, JD, MA	Director, Human Research Protection Program	Geisinger Health System
Robert Roush, PhD	Senior Development Officer	Geisinger Health System
Mark Olaf	Clinical Campus Student	Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Stacey Powlus, RN	Adult Intensive Care Unit	Geisinger Health System
Thomas A. Shannon, PhD	Professor Emeritus of Religion and Social Ethics	Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Don Shifflett	Lead Workstation Analyst	Geisinger Health System
Brenda Wands, CRNA	Division of Anesthesiology	Geisinger Health System

Bioethics Sub-Committee Directory
Membership • Thomas Cordell, BS, CST-Chair • Jeff Hoppe • Robert Roush, PhD • Don Shifflet • Dan Hoegan, LSW	Policy & Procedures • Lynn Belles, RN-Co-Chair • Robert Roush, PhD-Co-Chair • Jim Elmore, MD • Jill Gotoff, MD • Nancy Moody, JD, MA
Education • Joel Berberich, MD, PhD-Chair • Robert Shabanowitz, PhD • Karen Adams, RN, BSN • Lynn Belles, RN • Vlad Leibovsky, DO • Nancy Moody, JD, MA • Stacey Powlus, RN • Brenda Wands, CRNA • Thomas Shannon, PhD	Community Outreach • Brenda Wands, CRNA-Co-Chair • Karen Adams RN, BSN-Co-Chair • Dan Hoegan, LSW • Molly Marko, BS, BSE, CCP • Michael Breen • Dorothy Fisher, MD
Consultation • Robert Shabanowitz, PhD-Chair • Joel Berberich, MD • Greg Burke, MD • Jill Gotoff, MD • Vlad Leibovsky, DO	Executive • Joel Berberich, MD- Chair • Robert Shabanowitz, PhD