Bioethics Committee
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital has a Bioethics Committee comprised of doctors, nurses, medical ethicists, chaplains, clergy, social workers, attorneys, hospital administrators, and members of the community. This committee meets to discuss the ethical and legal concerns raised by individual cases and to help those involved deal with difficult decisions. The committee reviews the issues and provides guidance and support to families, patients and physicians.
In the event of a disagreement between family members or other caregivers concerning your wishes regarding life-sustaining treatment, or other issues in connection with your Advance Directive, the Bioethics Committee is available to hear such disputes. Anyone directly involved can request a consultation with the committee by contacting the committee’s chairperson who may be reached through your physician, or a member of the hospital nursing, pastoral care, or case management staff. Creating an Advance Directive/Living Will has important consequences for your health care. Everyone entering the hospital should consider executing an Advance Directive so that all those involved with your treatment will be aware of your wishes, and whether you are outlining requests or restrictions.
Should you choose not to receive life-sustaining treatment, we will comply with your wishes in conjunction with the law and hospital policy.
Although Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital supports the making of Advance Directives by its patients, our policy states that “no patient will be discriminated against with regard to the provision of care, or in any other way, based on whether or not that patient has executed an Advance Directive.”
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