Clinical Ethics Committees

This article describes a recent development in the way in which ethical problems in clinical practice are being dealt with. The development of a network of Clinical Ethics Committees (CECs) across the UK is described, and the rationale for their emergence is explored. With the aid of a case example, two of the main methods available to CECs for analysis of cases referred to them are illustrated. A contrast is drawn between psychological and 'medical ethical' responses to the case example.