251. Sources of bias in clinical ethics case deliberation.
- Author
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Magelssen M, Pedersen R, and Førde R
- Subjects
- Attitude of Health Personnel, Bioethics, Ethics Committees, Clinical standards, Ethics Consultation standards, Hospitals, Humans, Jurisprudence, Morals, Retrospective Studies, Social Control, Formal, Workforce, Ethics Committees, Clinical organization & administration, Ethics Consultation organization & administration, Prejudice classification
- Abstract
A central task for clinical ethics consultants and committees (CEC) is providing analysis of, and advice on, prospective or retrospective clinical cases. However, several kinds of biases may threaten the integrity, relevance or quality of the CEC's deliberation. Bias should be identified and, if possible, reduced or counteracted. This paper provides a systematic classification of kinds of bias that may be present in a CEC's case deliberation. Six kinds of bias are discussed, with examples, as to their significance and risk factors. Possible remedies are suggested. The potential for bias is greater when the case deliberation is performed by an individual ethics consultant than when an entire clinical ethics committee is involved., (Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.)
- Published
- 2014
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