Ethics Committee resignation

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A decision made (17.02.06) by the Minister to agree to resign from the Ethics Committee.

Title:	Ethics Committee Resignation
Action Reference:	MD H&SS 2006 0006	Exempt clause(s):			Public
Type of Report: (oral (O) or written (W))	Oral	Date of decision:			30th January 2006
Telephone or email Meeting?	Telephone	Person Giving Report (if oral):			Senator S Syvret
Written Report Name of Author:			Report File ref:
Decision(s): the Minister for Health and Social Services has agreed to resign from the Ethics Committee
Reason(s) for decision: The Ethics Committee report to the Minister for Health and Social Services and give him advice, thus he would be conflicted if he was a member.
Action required: The Chair of the Ethics Committee to be informed of this decision by Minutes Secretary of Ethics Committee.
Signature:				Date of Approval:

Ethics Committee resignation

DRAFT - Revised TOR January 2006

Health and Social Services Department

ETHICS COMMITTEE

1. Terms of reference

a) To advise the Minister for Health and Social Services on policy regarding ethical issues in respect of health and social care;

b) To consider specific issues relating to clinical research proposals;

c) To respond to requests from clinicians in all disciplines and managers for support on ethical matters arising in clinical practice

2 Membership

2.1 The membership of the Ethics Committee shall consist of:

	Nominated by -
Five non-clinical members	Chief Officer, Health and Social Services
A member of the consultant medical staff	Medical Staff Committee
A general medical practitioner	Jersey Medical Society
A senior nurse	Chief Nursing Officer
A pharmacist	Chief Pharmacist
Any other person nominated by the Minister for Health and Social Services.

2.2 The members of the Ethics Committee shall be appointed by the Minister ordinarily for a period of three years. Re-appointment is permitted and, to ensure continuity, staggering of appointments shall be arranged.

2.3 The Chairman shall be appointed by the Ethics Committee from amongst its membership.

2.4 The non-clinical membership of the Ethics Committee shall include at least one person with an understanding of law and at least one member of the clergy, and this should be taken into account in determining appointments to the Committee.

2.5 The Ethics Committee may nominate an ad hoc panel of at least two members, comprising one clinical and one non-clinical person, to advise on minor research proposals and items which are not considered by the panel to be contentious. The panel shall document its conclusions and report to each meeting of the Ethics Committee. All matters which have significant ethical implications will be referred to a full meeting of the Ethics Committee.

2.6 A clinician encountering a difficult ethical decision may request the establishment at short notice of a panel of at least two members of the Committee, comprising one clinical and one non-clinical person, to informally discuss the particular issue and assist him or her in coming to a decision.

2.7 The Committee may, at its discretion, co-opt other persons to any meetings; for example, in order to assist in the consideration of specialised subjects.

3. Accountability

3.1 The Ethics Committee will be accountable to the Minister for Health and Social Services; and it shall maintain a written record of its deliberations.

3.2 The Ethics Committee may advise the Minister whether it supports, does not support, or wishes to make recommendations in respect of any issue that it has considered.

3.3 The Ethics Committee will consider more general ethical matters and prepare ethics advice for the Minister as requested.

4. Meetings and conduct of business

4.1 A quorum of the Committee shall comprise its Chairman, or a nominated deputy, and three other members, including at least one clinical and one non-clinical member.

4.2 Meetings shall ordinarily be arranged on four occasions each year; however, the Chairman may call additional meetings if he deems it necessary.

4.3 An agenda will ordinarily be distributed to members at least one week before a meeting, and the proceedings shall be formally minuted. The agendas and minutes shall also be made available to the Minister for Health and Social Services and the Chief Executive.

Health and Social Services

January 2006