The UAMS Ethics Consultation Service provides assistance for patients, families, surrogates, health care providers or other parties in addressing uncertainty or conflict regarding ethical issues that emerge in healthcare. The Ethics Consultation Service follows a strict confidentiality code in its consultation process.
The purpose of the Ethics Consultation Service is to assist involved parties in addressing uncertainty or conflict regarding ethical issues that emerge in health care. Ethics Consultation Service staff members will try to help in the following ways:
- Clarifying relevant concepts – confidentiality, privacy, informed consent, best interest
- Clarifying related issues – implications of societal values, law, ethics, and institutional policy
- Helping to identify and build a range of morally acceptable options within the context
- Assisting involved individuals in clarifying their own values
Any patient, family member or guardian, health professional or others with a legitimate interest in a patient may request the assistance of the Ethics Consultation Service. This service, available during regular business hours, is provided by UAMS at no charge. Emergent consults can be requested anytime.
To access this service, please dial pager 501-405-8134. This pager is answered from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday – Friday.
For an emergency consultation, please call the hospital operator at 686-7000.