Ethics in healthcare
Creating a culture of doing what’s right for patients and their families.
Because everyone has their own views, values and religious beliefs, our patients and their families may have questions or concerns about certain recommendations for their treatment and care.
The patient may need more information about their options for diagnosing and treating their illness. Patients, their family members or the healthcare team may even disagree on the best path forward.
That’s where Geisinger's Ethics Advice and Consultation Service comes in. Our team has specialized training to help patients and their family members understand their options and resolve concerns or conflicts about their care.
Geisinger's Clinical Ethics Advice and Consultation Service
When questions, concerns or conflicts arise, we’re here to offer guidance and support.
What is the Clinical Ethics Advice and Consultation Service?
The Clinical Ethics Advice and Consultation Service is offered by professionals with specialized education and training in clinical ethics and in conflict mediation and resolution.
We support patients, their families and their healthcare teams whenever difficult ethical questions or concerns arise or when better communication — within families or between clinicians and patients and their families — would be helpful.
This support can be offered via informal advice on a confidential basis or more formal intervention, including meetings that bring together patients, their families and their clinicians.
No matter what, we’re here to advise and help, but never to replace decision-making by patients, families and their clinicians.When is it available?
We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Who can contact us and how?
Anyone — a patient, family member, nurse, social worker, physician or chaplain—involved in the care of a patient can seek and get help from the Clinical Ethics Advice and Consultation Service.
To request a consultation, contact the Clinical Ethics Advice and Consultation Service at 570-214-2400
Physicians or advance practitioners at any Geisinger hospital can also order a clinical ethics consultation through Epic.