Our mission
The Center for Bioethics and Health Equity is grounded in a vision of holistic human flourishing. We strive to (1) Aid in addressing questions of value and ethical complexity that arise in the clinical and community contexts of healthcare and (2) Cultivate a pervasive ethos of care and equity.
Our role
- Guidance and discernment when faced with ethical questions
- Facilitation and conflict resolution
- Story-telling and education
- Critical thinking support
Ethics consultations – When you might need us
- Questions of autonomy: Are we providing our patients and families with the ability to make their own decisions and determinations?
- Questions of beneficence, or doing what benefits others: In pediatric terms, are we acting in the best interests of the patient?
- Questions of non-maleficence: Are we avoiding doing harm?
- Questions of justice: Is our treatment fair and equitable?
What do we do?
Ethics Committee:
- Discuss ongoing ethics consults
- Assist in ethics-related education
- Assist in policy development within the institution
Consultation:
- Chart Review
- Meetings: patient, family, requestor, medical team
- Mediating
- Value clarification
Education:
- Staff meetings
- Inpatient rounding
- ICU education
- Noon lectures
- Resident morning report
Policy Review:
- Review existing policies
- New policies or procedures
When to call
“The role of ethics consultation in healthcare is to address uncertainty or conflict regarding value-laden concerns that emerge in a healthcare context” – American Society of Bio Ethics and Humanities
In general, if someone thinks that a circumstance raises an ethical question, then it probably does.
How do you access an ethics consult?
- Call us at 901-562-3711 Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. If you need to contact us after hours please use one of the methods below.
- Order an ethics consult in Cerner by typing “Ethics Consult”
- Our office number is 901-287-5661 and is available between 8 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Who is in the Center of Bioethics and Health Equity?
- Arshia Madni, MD, FAAP, Co-Director, Committee Chair
- Anthony Merlocco, MD, MSt (Oxon), FSCMR, Co-Director, Committee Chair
- Makeba Garrison, D.Min, MDiv, M.ED., BCC, Ethics Chaplain
- Elise Worlow, MA, Administrative Assistant
- Peter Hossler, PhD Faculty-in-Residence, Rhodes College, focus Healthcare Policy
- Kendra Hotz, PhD Faculty-in-Residence, Rhodes College, focus Health Equity
- Duane Loynes, PhD Faculty-in-Residence, Rhodes College, focus Cultural Humility and Law Enforcement
- Ethics Committee consisting of Le Bonheur faculty and staff, community members University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Rhodes College
