The Southern California Bioethics Committee Consortium

Mission Statement

Adopted July 6, 2004

The Southern California Bioethics Committee Consortium is an informal organization of representatives from healthcare ethics committees (HECs) in the Southern California region. It is open to any HEC that wishes to participate. The primary mission of the Consortium is to

1. Provide the opportunity for collaboration and interaction of the region’s HECs.
2. Assist the region’s HECs to develop and improve their skills in facilitating the provision of ethically optimal healthcare in their institutions.

To pursue this mission and respond to the felt needs of participating HECs, the Consortium will seek to do the following:

• Provide the opportunity for networking and sharing experiences among Consortium participants

• Develop programs for the continuing education of Consortium participants and Ethics Committees in the region generally

• Develop model ethics policies that can be adapted for use by Consortium members and others

• Design and carry out policy-relevant projects to improve ethical aspects of healthcare for all patients

• Develop and disseminate position statements on clinical ethics issues of regional concern

• Provide a resource for communicating clinical ethics materials and activities throughout the region, by such activities as producing and distributing a newsletter or initiating a website

• Develop state legislative proposals when such proposals are needed to improve the ethical aspects of healthcare

Steering Committee

• Theresa S. Draught, R.N., Ph.D.

• Stuart Finder, Ph.D. (Web Editor)

• Kendra Gorlitsky, M.D. (Newsletter Editor)

• Jim Hornstein, M.D.

• Kenneth Landis, M.D.

• Ronald Miller, M.D.

• Paul Schneider, M.D. (Chair)

• Neil Wenger, M.D., M.P.H.