Models of ethical consultation: the Frankfurt model.

The Center for Medical Ethics at the Markus-Hospital in Frankfurt/Main is the first institute of its kind in Germany to be located within a confessional (Protestant) hospital, yet without being subordinate to hospital management--financed instead by the Protestant church of Hesse. Besides its main focus on ethical consultation for hospital employees and the execution of in-house seminars, the Center enjoys a close cooperation with the Protestant Academy Arnoldshain, where conferences and seminars can be held on bioethical issues outside the hospital boundaries and open to the interested public.