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 2022, SHBPP received consultation requests from different AUBMC departments/units,
tallying the total number of requests to over 131 with a plethora of moral dilemmas issues since the launching
of the ethics consultation service. 2022 marked the launch of student shadowing of CEC as a mechanism of
immersion into the practice of clinical ethics consultations on the floorEthics Consultations
Medical Center Ethics Committee
The Medical Center Ethics Committee (MCEC) at AUBMC resumed its monthly meetings online led by Dr. Mahmoud
Choucair (Chair) and Dr. Thalia Arawi (Co-Chair). Several issues were discussed including transplants for unvaccinated
patients, rules and regulation on working with transgender patients and other arising ethical dilemmas.
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.
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 different AUBMC
departments/units, tallying the total number of requests to around 125 since the launching of the ethics
consultation service.
Organ 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
