The clinical ethics consultant: verifying the qualifications of a new type of practitioner in a community hospital.

Ethics consultation has been occurring in various forms within hospitals for more than 30 years. These consultations constitute a clinical act, and as such, the qualifications of those who provide them must be verified by the hospitals at which the ethics consultants practice. The clinical nature of the practice exposes the participants to malpractice liability. The field of medical ethics has struggled to provide a clear set of knowledge and skills that characterize its practitioners. Hospitals are faced with the immediate task of assessing the qualifications of and ensuring malpractice coverage for individuals providing clinical ethics consultation. We offer one example of how a community hospital has addressed this challenge.