Ethics Committee
The Ethics Committee of the Adirondack Medical Center (AMC) offers Ethics Consultations on request of patients, residents, family members, and health caregivers, for the purpose of providing guidance and support when ethical or moral dilemmas arise in the course of their care.
Membership of the Ethics Committee is comprised of doctors, nurses, administration, attorneys, clergy, Hospice, and other individuals representative of the communities we serve.
Making final decisions about what treatments they will or will not have is the ethical and legal right of patients and residents. Concerns regarding treatment are usually first discussed with the appropriate caregiver.
To make an informed decision, patients, residents, or their surrogates need to know as much as possible regarding their diagnosis, prognosis, the benefits, the risks, and alternative treatment options. This information should be readily available by asking your doctor.
In some instances a patient or resident may lack capacity to make his/her own medical decisions. A surrogate decision maker named in a Health Care Proxy or through a Living Will allows them the legal right to act on your behalf.
AMC believes everyone should have an Advance Directive, specifying the kind of care you would choose for yourself should you become unable to speak on your own behalf. The surrogate you choose should also be aware of your specific desires. Information on appointing a surrogate decision maker and assistance with the process can be obtained by asking your doctor or nurse.
The Ethics Committee does not make decisions for patients, residents, families or caregivers. Ethical dilemmas are not unusual and often patients, residents, families and caregivers need a helping hand to work through them. Sharing those ethical dilemmas by requesting an Ethics Consultation, helps by providing a confidential, safe, and thoughtful forum intended to assist you and your caregiver to make a sound ethical decision related to your care.
To request an Ethics Consultation, please contact Valerie Oliver, Secretary of the Ethics Committee, at 518-897-2347.
At AMC, we believe that everyone should have two Advance Directives. The first is to name a Health Care Proxy. A Health Care Proxy is a person chosen by the patient who will make surrogate decisions for the patient in the future if the patient has lost the capacity to make his or her own health care decisions. The second is a Living Will that reflects the patient's beliefs and priorities and provides guidelines for the kind of medical care that a patient would like to have in the future. Your nurses or doctors can further explain Advance Directives to you; and they can help you obtain forms you may want to fill out and sign. You should have a thorough conversation with your doctor about the benefits and burdens of each medical treatment, and you should have conversations with your Health Care Proxy whenever you change your mind about the kind of medical care you want to have.
The New York State Department of Health has a web site where you can get more information about Advance Directives: http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/hospital/healthcareproxy/i
AMC is accredited by the Healthcare Accreditation Facilities Program.
Adirondack Medical Center's Bariatric Program and Dr. Michael Hill have been designated as a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery.
AMC is accredited by the Joint Commission.
