N.J. Admin. Code § 10:48B-3.1

Current through Register Vol. 57, No. 1, January 6, 2025

Section 10:48B-3.1 - Recognition of Ethics Committees

(a) The Assistant Commissioner or his or her designee shall recognize acute care hospital Ethics Committees and standing Ethics Committees to be independent of the Division of Developmental Disabilities that shall be available for consultation to BGS whenever end-of-life decision-making issues arise.

1. An Ethics Committee, other than an acute care hospital Ethics Committee, shall assure to the Division the following:

i. Knowledge, experience, and/or training regarding ethical issues pertaining to end-of-life care decision-making;

ii. The ability to be available for case consultation in a prompt and expeditious manner proportionate to the urgency of the situation; and

iii. Knowledge, experience, and/or training regarding the nature and characteristics of individuals with developmental disabilities.

2. While Hospital Ethics Committees are not required to assure to (a)1 above, they are expected to meet those requirements as part of the Ethics Committee protocol.

(b) After an Ethics Committee has been recognized by the Assistant Commissioner, or his or her designee, for end-of-life consultation, the chairperson of the Ethics Committee shall assure the continuing applicability of the elements contained under (a) above.

(c) A recognized ethics committee, whether it is an acute care hospital committee or otherwise recognized committee, shall include a pool of membership optimally drawn from different disciplines, such as the following:

1. A non-attending physician;

2. A non-attending nurse;

3. A social worker;

4. A member of the clergy;

5. An ethicist;

6. A lawyer;

7. At least one member of the community interested in and experienced with individuals with developmental disabilities; and

8. A licensed health care professional with expertise in the medical concerns of the individual.

(d) An absolute minimum of three of the committee members must participate in any ethics consultation.

N.J. Admin. Code § 10:48B-3.1

Amended by 49 N.J.R. 99(a), effective 1/3/2017