8/19/2019 Clark County Public Health Ethics Committee Charter

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Background/ PurposeThe Clark County Public Health (CCPH) EthicsCommittee comprises a diverse group of communityvolunteers charged with:

  Providing guidance to CCPH staff, management,and community partners on ethical issues;

  Encouraging and supporting an institutionalculture of ethical awareness and high ethicalstandards; and

  Providing a process of open and transparentdecision making.

The Committee has representation from CCPHLeadership Team, staff, and management. There isalso participation from the Prosecuting Attorney’s

Office and representation from the community. TheCommittee uses the Public Health Code of Ethicsas a framework for conducting ethical analyses.

The Committee provides the administrative functionof the ethical analyses. In addition, the Committeewill meet regularly to:

  Continue education and training;

  Review suggested ethical dilemmas anddetermine if they are appropriate for analysis;

  Facilitate and/or participate in analyses with at

least two Committee members at each analysisin addition to the facilitator;

  Prepare reports describing analyses outcomesand recommendations (reports will include allperspectives from the analysis);

  Coordinate reporting of ethical analyses,recommendations, and results back toparticipants.

To ensure an open and transparent process, keystakeholders will be invited to ethical analyses.When appropriate, the Committee may also invite

non-stakeholders, such as content experts, toparticipate. All staff will have the responsibility ofbringing ethical issues to the Committee.Committee members will ensure that managers andother staff with key information will be involved indetermining whether to move forward with a fullethical analysis.

Once an ethical analysis has been completed, theCommittee will submit a recommended course ofaction to CCPH Leadership Team. This

recommendation will be supported with the resultsof the analysis and, therefore, will carry a high levelof influence. However, it is ultimately theresponsibility of CCPH Leadership Team to makethe final policy decision and determine how toimplement their decision(s).

This Charter currently addresses ethical analysesrelated to Clark County Public Health policies andoperations. In the future if other regional partnersadopt the ethical analysis charter and framework,recommendations based on the ethical analysis willgo to the appropriate decision making body.

Values  Stakeholders will be invited to participate in

ethical analyses to ensure transparency ofprocess.

  Ethical analyses will focus on policy oroperations and will not focus on individual orgroup behavior. Suspected unethical behavioron the part of an individual or group will bereferred to the appropriate CCPH programmanager or Leadership Team representative.

  Staff facilitating ethical analyses will have metbasic training requirements as outlined in thetraining plan.

  CCPH will develop and support a culture thatvalues high ethical awareness and standards.

  CCPH will be a leader in the field of publichealth for its efforts in organizational ethics.

Ground Rules  Committee members will be respectful of each

other and of all participants.  The Committee will be clear with staff and other

participants about the level of confidentiality thatcan be practiced.

  The Committee will focus on policies, systems,and operations. Personnel issues are to bereferred outside of the Committee.

Clark County Public Health

Ethics Committee CharterLast updated: June 16, 2014

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8/19/2019 Clark County Public Health Ethics Committee Charter

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  Committee members will respect decisionsmade when they are absent but may ask forreconsideration if strong objections.

Existing Assumptions  No additional resource allocations are available

to the Committee.

  CCPH Leadership Team will respect and givestrong consideration to Committeerecommendations.

  Results of ethical analyses, including CCPHLeadership Team decisions, will becommunicated back to all participants.

Roles and Responsib ilit ies

Chair  Organize, facilitate, and schedule meetings. Ensurethat all members of the Committee have input andare equally valued.

Prosecuting AttorneyProvide the Committee with guidance regardinglegal considerations and limitations.

CCPH Leadership Act as a liaison to the CCPH Leadership Team andsupplement training, and provide an understandingof departmental vision and direction.

Committee Members

 Actively participate in trainings, ethical analyses,and team meetings. Committee members shouldalso be willing to facilitate ethical analyses, modelethical standards, and contribute to the Committee’seducation and learning.

Note: Ethical analyses may also be facilitated bynon-Committee members if they have met trainingcriteria and have been authorized to do so by theCommittee.

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