Consultation Mission

Parkland’s Ethics Committee offers expert medical ethics consultation 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, 365 days a year. We respond within 24 hours of receipt of a consultation request. EPIC users may place a consult for Ethics in the patient chart. If you lack EPIC access, please call the Parkland Operator at 214-590-8000 and request to page the ethics consultant on call. All Parkland employees, patients and their family members and loved ones and medical staff members may request an ethics consult. The Chaplain may also assist with identifying consultation needs and can be reached via the Parkland Operator.

Our expert consultation on medical ethics includes educating stakeholders about policy, law, and procedures, clarifying values among various stakeholders (patients, families, doctors, nurses and staff), helping the Parkland community utilize appropriate resources, and helping clinicians develop skills in working with patients and families facing confusing or difficult clinical situations.

We do not recognize an unlimited right to medical treatment or interventions that are inappropriate. We will make every reasonable effort to honor patient treatment preferences.

Patients and families may request an ethics consultation through this mechanism. However, ethics consultations are not intended to handle complaints about patient care. If you are a patient or family member who has a complaint about patient care at Parkland, you should contact Patient Relations, 469-419-0820.