Responsibilities of the Clinical Ethics Committee

• Conducting ethical case consultations.
• Developing procedural guidelines for recurring ethical issues.
• Conducting, advising on, and initiating continuing education on ethical topics. Procedural guidelines have been developed, for example, on the topics of “Dealing with living wills, guardianship orders, and powers of attorney.”

Ethical case consultations

Particularly in cases of serious illness, questions may arise regarding the goal of treatment, the limits of treatment, the (presumed) patient’s wishes, etc. Conflicts may arise, for example, from differing values or views of humanity. In a conflict situation, ethical case consultation is intended to help reflect on the individual positions and, if possible, to find a viable consensus that takes into account the overall situation (comprising the patient’s wishes, the medical situation, and legal circumstances). If possible, a recommendation is made; the responsibility for the decision remains with the attending physician.

Ethical case consultation may be initiated by any person involved in the treatment, as well as by the patient and their family members.

Members of the Clinical Ethics Committee

• Chair: Dr. Marcel Féchir (Senior Physician, Neurology)
• Katherina Auerhammer (Senior Resident, Interdisciplinary Intensive Care Unit)
• Sabine Berlandi (Psychologist, Geriatrics)
• Ulrike Berhard (Full-time Clinical Instructor)
• Astrid Buchal (Nurse, Intensive Care Unit)
• Andrea Heun (Social Worker)
• Dr. Jonas Lorenz (Assistant Professor, Department of Urology, Pediatric Urology, and Oncological Urology)
• Dr. Lena Minch (Physician, Department of General, Visceral, and Thoracic Surgery)
• Rev. Loretta Stroh (Protestant Chaplain)
• Gerhard Tamm (Nursing, Stroke Unit)
• Dr. Lisa Ulrich (Compliance Officer)
• Veronika Weizsäcker (Palliative Care Coordinator)
• Silke Wiedekind (Certified Nursing Educator, Vocational School for Nursing Professions)
• Herbert Witzke (Specialist Physician, Center for Emergency Medicine)