ABSTRACT
While in Europe the debate over clinical ethics consultants' expertise and professionalization is ongoing, in France it remains rather marginal. In this article, we illustrate how the "commitment model" adopted by the Clinical Ethics Center of the Greater Paris University Hospitals situates itself in such a debate. We first present the commitment model by drawing upon an emblematic case of consultation, and then describe, in turn, its understandings of democratic expertise and of the professionalization of clinical ethics consultation. Accordingly, the commitment model advocates against individual consultants' certification, but it does not rule out the need for training nor a certain form of professionalization of clinical ethics consultation services.
Subject(s)
Ethics Consultation , Certification , Consultants , Ethicists , Ethics, Clinical , HumansABSTRACT
During the first outbreak of COVID-19, the French governmental advisory council on bioethics suggested the need to support healthcare providers with ad hoc "ethical support units." Several units engaged in such endeavors across the country. This article outlines some methodological considerations made by the Cochin Hospital Clinical Ethics Center (the Cec). The Cec was founded in 2002 to provide clinical ethics support services. While its approach was inspired by North American models, it was shaped by and adapted to the French context. This approach is called the "Commitment Model," as it draws upon societal engagement in all phases of its service and places the perspectives of individual patients at its core. During the first outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, the Cec received a greater number of requests about recurring care practices or ethical guidelines and recommendations than single clinical ethics dilemmas. Through the presentation of an illustrative consultation, this article describes how, while the Cec made some adjustments to its service for the emergency situation, it preserved its case-by-case approach rather than engaging in what it calls organizational and institutional ethics. Such an approach allowed the Cec to refocus attention to individual patients and their unique circumstances and to support decision makers by the use of case-by-case, problematized, ethical reflections.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Ethics Consultation , Communicable Disease Control , Ethics, Clinical , France , Humans , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
On January 31, 2018, advance directives law has come into effect in Italy. It is a law that grants the right to any individual of full age to express his or her preferences regarding treatment in anticipation of the days when he or she might be unable to do so. In France, however, two years after its entry into effect, the Claeys-Leonetti law is increasingly under attack. Some are even calling for a new end-of-life legislation altogether. A discussion of the Italian case, focused on the debates that led to the approval of this new legislation, can help us re-contextualize the French case. While there are many similarities between the two laws, their differences in terms of practices and intellectual frameworks may suggest additional avenues of thinking and help improve end-of-life conditions.
