American Univesity of Beirut

Patient Care

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Ethics Consultations 

In its constant commitment to provide the highest standards of patient care, the SHBPP has continued to offer bedside clinical ethics consultations at AUBMC, as requested by patients, family members, and/or members of the healthcare team from different units/departments at AUBMC. Patients and family members have expressed gratitude for this service and its contribution to providing more humane patient-centered care, enhancing communication and shared decision making. 

Palliative Care Committee

 In its standing collaboration with clinical departments at AUBMC to provide the highest standards of patient care, SHBPP continued its involvement with the Palliative Care Committee at AUBMC, which includes faculty members, clinicians, nurses, and residents involved in providing palliative care to cancer patients and other patients. SHBPP participated in regular meetings, working on policies related to DNR/DNI, end of life issues and others as well as awareness campaigns. Bedside Clinical Ethics Consults also took place as per the request of the Palliative Care physicians. Additionally SHBPP maintained its collaboration with The Home Hospice Organization of Lebanon (SANAD) for the continuation of palliative care services for patients returning home.

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Clinical Ethics Consultations

In its constant commitment to provide the highest standards of patient care, the SHBPP has continued to offer bedside clinical ethics consultations (CECs) at AUBMC, as requested by patients, family members, and/ or members of the healthcare team. In 2020, SHBPP received consultation requests from dif​ferent AUBMC departments/units, tallying the total number of requests to around 125 since the launching of the ethics consultation service. 

cecs.JPGOrgan Donations Ethics Review: SHBPP has also continued to offer organ transplant consultations, by conducting ethics assessments for recipients and donors involved in organ transplants on an individual basis with the AUBMC Clinical Bioethicist. Between 2013 and 2020, 64 kidney transplant and 3 liver transplant ethics consultations were conducted. This process discusses ethical concerns related to selection, voluntariness, informed consent, disclosure of benefits and risks to the potential donor, the potential recipient, etc. A notable distinguishing feature of AUBMC, this service ensures that the heroes of the transplant equation, both donor and recipient, are offered the best possible holistic patient care. 



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Ethics Consultations

In its constant commitment to provide the highest standards of patient care, the SHBPP has continued to offer bedside clinical ethics consultations at AUBMC, as requested by patients, family members, and/or members of the healthcare team. In 2019, SHBPP received consultation requests from 5 different AUBMC departments/units, presenting a notable increase in the number of requests since the launching of the ethics consultation service. This in turn reflects the increased awareness of the relevance and the need for such consultations as well as the importance of shared decision making in healthcare. SHBPP has also been involved in more organ transplant consultations, by conducting ethics assessments for recipients and donors involved in organ transplants on an individual basis with the AUBMC Clinical Bioethicist. Between 2013 and 2019, 61 kidney transplant and 3 liver transplant ethics consultations were conducted. This process discusses ethical concerns related to selection, voluntariness, informed consent, disclosure of benefits and risks to the potential donor, the potential recipient, etc. A notable distinguishing feature of AUBMC, this service ensures that the heroes of the transplant equation, both donor and recipient, are offered the best possible holistic patient care. 


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Ethics Consultations 

In its constant commitment to provide the highest standards of patient care, the SHBPP has continued to offer bedside clinical ethics consultations at AUBMC, as requested by patients, family members, and/or members of the healthcare team. In 2018, SHBPP received consultation requests from 10 different AUBMC departments/ units, presenting a notable increase in the number of requesting departments/units since the launching of the ethics consultation service. This in turn reflects the increased awareness of the relevance and the need for such consultations as well as the importance of shared decision making in healthcare. SHBPP has also been involved in more organ transplant consultations, by conducting ethics assessments for recipients and donors involved in organ transplants on an individual basis with the AUBMC Clinical Bioethicist. Between 2013 and 2018, 56 kidney transplant and 3 liver transplant ethics consultations were conducted. This process discusses ethical concerns related to selection, voluntariness, informed consent, disclosure of benefits and risks to the potential donor, the potential recipient, etc. A notable distinguishing feature of AUBMC, this service ensures that the heroes of the transplant equation, both donor and recipient, are offered the best possible holistic patient care.


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Ethics Consultations 

In its constant commitment to provide the highest standards of patient care, the SHBPP has continued to offer bedside clinical ethics consultations at AUBMC, as requested by patients, family members, and/or members of the healthcare team. The continued increase in such requests, and in the number of requesting departments in 2017, reflects the increased awareness of the relevance and the need for such consultations as well as the importance of shared decision making in healthcare. In addition, SHBPP has been involved in more organ transplant consultations, by conducting ethics assessments for recipients and donors involved in organ transplants on an individual basis with the AUBMC Clinical Bioethicist. This process discusses ethical concerns related to selection, voluntariness, informed consent, disclosure of benefits and risks to the potential donor, the potential recipient, etc. The heroes of the transplant equation, both donor and recipient, are always grateful that AUBMC continuously takes care of the little details to ensure all is well. For many who have been at other hospitals before, the experience was the distinguishing feature of AUBMC. Between 2013 and 2017, 47 kidney transplant and 3 liver transplant ethics consultations were conducted. 

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Clinical Ethics Consultations

In its constant commitment to provide the highest standards of patient care and upon the requests of patients, family members, and/or members of the healthcare teams, the SHBPP has continued to offer bedside clinical ethics consultations at AUBMC. The increase in such requests in 2016 reflects the increased awareness of the relevance and the need for such consultations as well as the importance of shared decision making in healthcare. In addition, SHBPP has been providing more organ transplant consultations by conducting ethics assessments for recipients and donors involved in organ transplants on an individual basis with the help of AUBMC Clinical Bioethicist. This process discusses ethical concerns related to selection, voluntariness, informed consent, disclosure of benefits and risks to the potential donor, the potential recipient, etc. The heroes of the transplant equation, both donor and recipient, are always grateful that AUBMC continuously takes care of the little details to ensure all is well. For many who have been at other medical centers before, the experience was the distinguishing feature of AUBMC. 

Medical Center Ethics Committee (MCEC) 

The American University of Beirut Medical Center Ethics Committee (MCEC) is an advisory group appointed by the Medical Board upon the recommendation of the Chief of Staff. When requested, the MCEC examines and reviews ethical issues that may come up in the course of a patient’s care. The role of the MCEC is to periodically review and update existing ethics-related policies and compose new ones as may be needed and/or upon the request of the Chief of Staff . It is also part of its mission to deliberate and educate about ethical questions in specific cases. In addition, MCEC plays a major role in enhancing a culture of morality, integrity and responsibility, and promoting ethical culture in the community. The MCEC members include physicians, nurses, social workers, a lawyer, a philosopher, a community member, and the medical center’s bioethicist. In 2016, and for the first time in the history of AUBMC, the MCEC has appointed residents as members of the committee. We hope to have more students on board in an effort to further enhance the effectiveness and comprehensiveness of the MCEC activities​

Bedside Clinical Ethics Consultations

Back in 2013, SHBPP introduced a bedside clinical ethics consultation program at AUBMC, the first of its kind in Lebanon and the Arab world. Patients, family members, and/or members of the healthcare team can, at any time, request a bedside clinical ethics consultation. This program is at the core of the AUBMC 2020 Vision in “providing patients with the highest standards of patient-centered care”. Commenting on one of the consults at the pediatric unit, Dr. Lama Charafeddine noted that “the consult helped in bridging the medical team and the parents closer to each other in terms of understanding the situation on both sides. At the end, the parents understood that the medical team is there to help and not to disagree, and the medical team was able to reconcile the difference in opinions by finding a middle ground between what is agreed on and what is best for the entire family and the infant. The process of the consult and discussion helped all people involved to take time and reflect on what they were thinking and what decisions they were making. At the end, everyone was comfortable with the course taken.” Mrs. Joyce Baddoush from Social Services explained that the bedside ethics consultation “was very valuable. It helped the father to rethink about his decision in a better way and to know that the baby’s comfort is the main goal of all the medical team. It also helped both parents feel less distressed emotionally and morally.” Patients were grateful for “taking the time to listen to [them] and not allowing [them] to rush in decision making”. This is one example among many, and it confirmed our belief that such consultations enrich patient centered care at AUBMC.


Organ Transplant Consultations

Organ donation saves lives, improves transplantation outcomes in certain situations and reduces waiting time for patients. At SHBPP-AUBMC, ethics assessments for recipients and donors involved in organ transplants are conducted on individual basis with the AUBMC Clinical Bioethicist. This process discusses ethical concerns related to selection, voluntariness, informed consent, disclosure of benefits and risks to the potential donor, the potential recipient, etc. The heroes of the transplant equation, both donor and recipient, are always grateful that AUBMC continuously takes care of the little details to ensure all is well. For many who have been at other hospitals before, the experience was the distinguishing feature of AUBMC

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