Ethics

NCPC recognizes the great importance of ethics in end of life care. Its Board of Trustees has agreed the following statement about NCPC’s approach to its ethics-related activities:

NCPC believes that the values of all those involved (patients, families, informal and professional carers) should shape the ethical framework of the provision of palliative care. Decisions about appropriate care will be made by balancing duties, rights and ethical principles in each individual case. NCPC places particular emphasis on evidence, equity, dignity and choice when developing its approach to ethical issues.

The NCPC ’s ethics committee is chaired by Dr. Teresa Tate, a member of our Board of Trustees, Consultant at Barts and Medical Consultant to Marie Curie Cancer Care. Its membership includes lay people, service users and professionals across a number of disciplines, all with a demonstrable interest in ethics relating to palliative care.

The committee’s terms of reference are to advise NCPC's Board of Trustees on ethical issues and ethically based decision making. NCPC ’s ethics work is led by its Ethics Advisor Simon Chapman.

Please click here for list of members of the ethics committee.