How I approach clinical ethics consultation in hematology

Abstract

Abstract Caring for individuals with hematologic disorders is increasingly complex, and with medical complexity often comes ethical complexity. Prognostic uncertainty, stakeholder conflicts, and myriad other ethical challenges can contribute to situations that may benefit from ethics support. Through the presentation of 3 vignettes focusing on ethical dilemmas arising from hematology cases, we review the 4 phases of clinical ethics consultation: consult triage; ethics consult intake; stakeholder meeting(s) and additional data collection; and ethics analysis and recommendations. In tandem, we review some of the most common ethical framework/approaches used to inform hematology ethics consultation support services. We conclude that ethics consult services can be a valuable resource in providing care for patients with blood disorders and are a vital resource to enhance patient care, support clinicians, and ensure that difficult choices are navigated with clarity, compassion, and integrity.