Medical Ethics Committee
The Bioethics Center provides administrative support to the Medical Ethics Committee (MEC). The MEC, which was established as a medical staff committee of Pitt County Memorial Hospital (PCMH) in 1983, has a three-fold charge:
1) to sponsor continuing education programs,
2) to provide advice and review upon request regarding the care of individual patients, and
3) to develop and recommend hospital policies on bioethical issues.
It is composed of physicians, nurses, medical ethicists, a chaplain, a social worker, a patient representative, an attorney, a community representative, and a hospital administrator. The MEC has several subcommittees, including the Case Review Subcommittee (CRS), the Ethics Education Subcommittee, and the Maternal/Fetal Case Review Subcommittee (M/FCRS). Any health care professional, patient, or family member may request the assistance of the MEC or M/FCRS in addressing an ethical issue in patient care. Persons wishing to bring a request to the committee should first contact a hospital patient representative or chaplain, who will direct the request to the appropriate commitee members.
For further information about the MEC and its activities, contact the Bioethics Center at 252:744.2361.
