Developing the Optimal Protocol to Aid in Ethical Decision Making Involving Terminally Ill Patients at Womack Army Community Hospital

This study was conducted to develop a protocol for ethical decision making involving terminally ill patients at Womack Army Community Hospital. A survey was sent to selected Army hospitals to evaluate their current systems and establish an optimal one. The problem areas identified by the survey were Do Not Resuscitate orders, the need for hospice services, ordinary versus extraordinary treatment, and demands to die. A need for a written, formal decision making process was identified. The author proposed formation of an Ethics Committee to distinctly make those decisions and to coordinate an ethical education program.