-
Review prospectively all research protocols involving human
subjects proposed within the University Hospital and the Faculty
of Medical Sciences, or by staff members of the FMS and UHWI,
to ensure that they meet the required ethical and scientific
standards.
-
Monitor at least quarterly, those approved research projects
that carry possitlbe and significant risk of harm to research
subjects, with the committee being empowered to disallow unacceptable
research to go forward.
-
Ensure the humane treatment of animals being used experimentally
for research and teaching in accordance with the laws of Jamaica.
-
Examine and make recommendations on ethical problems related
to the conduct of members of the medical staff of the University
Hospital and the academic, administrative and other staff members
of the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Mona.
-
Assist hospital and medical staff in developing policies and
guidelines regarding ethical issues, questions, or problems
arising in the care of patients.
-
Provide analysis, where requested, of the ethical aspects of
existing or proposed policy for the Faculty of Medical Sciences
or the University Hospital of the West Indies.
-
Assist in the development of new institutional policies in
areas of need.
-
Invite staff or patients at the University Hospital to bring
forward for discussion matters deemed of ethical importance.
-
Provide a forum for analysis of ethical questions that arise
in the care of individual patients.
-
Review cases where decisions involve significant ethical ambiguity
and perplexity.
- Review cases where decisions involve disagreement between health
care personnel, or between such personnel and patients/families
regarding the ethical aspects of a patient's care.
The committee's role is sub-sections e,f,g would be exploratory,
seeking to find a tolerable and practicable consensus on what
should or should not be done in light of the wide range of health
care possibilities, while respecting personhood and guarding
against dehumanization. The committee shall be the conscience
of the hospital.
The committee's role in sub-sections h,i,j and k shall be advisory,
attempting to assist and provide support to those who have the
responsiblity of decision-making.
The committee shall report directly to the Dean of the Faculty
of Medical Sciences.
