[Implementation of clinical ethics consultation in German hospitals]

Abstract

Background: There have been different initiatives for the implementation of clinical ethics consultation during the past years. The present study surveys current data.

Methods: A structured questionnaire was used. Of the 1,858 contacted hospitals throughout Germany 550 answered to that questionnaire (return rate 29,6 %). The survey took place between September 2013 and January 2014.

Results: The clinical ethics committee is the mostly implemented structure of clinical ethics consultation. Recommendations to implement those structures (ZEKO 2006, AEM 2010) show less influence than the legally binding standard (HKHG 2011). Structures of clinical ethics consultation are respected as instrument to solving ethical conflicts in clinical routines.

Conclusions: Establishing ethics consultation should be promoted. Preferably appropriate legal rules for the implementation of clinical ethics consultation should be developed further as well as their structural framing.