Clinical ethics as practice

Abstract

This paper discusses the importance of the practical turn represented by the development of clinical ethics for the field of bioethics. It discusses, first, the distinctive way that clinical ethics exhibits the practical turn in ethics. Second, it argues that primary purpose of clinical ethicists is to devise actionable approaches or "solutions" to ethical questions and issues arising in the course of patient care in addressing ethical conflicts, dilemmas, issues, and questions about cultural, personal, religious, and societal values. And, third, the paper explores the concerns about the qualifications of those who provide clinical ethics services, because the work of clinical ethics is done not only by academically trained bioethicists, but also by a broad range of health professionals on ethics consultation services and hospital ethics committees.