Mandate
The Central Ethics Committee (CEC) identifies and discusses ethical challenges arising in medicine. Taking account of developments at the national and international level, it promotes the exchange of information and collaboration with the relevant institutions. The CEC meets as often as business requires, but generally four times a year. According to its Regulations, its main responsibilities are as follows:
- commenting on medical-ethical questions addressed to the SAMS by public or private institutions, or by individuals, in response to current events.
- developing medical-ethical guidelines to provide guidance for clinical practice or biomedical research.
Regulations of the Central Ethics Committee (2023), available in French and German.
Procedure for the preparation of medical-ethical guidelines
At its meetings – attended in some cases by guest speakers – the CEC discusses the areas where medical-ethical problems are likely to arise and considers the need for new guidelines to be developed or existing ones revised. For this purpose, the CEC appoints subcommittees consisting of carefully selected experts, whose work follows a clearly defined procedure. This includes, for example, expert hearings and consultations, a public consultation, and approval by the CEC, Executive Board and Senate of the SAMS.
Publication of opinions
At irregular intervals, the CEC publishes opinions on pressing issues involving medical-ethical questions. Recent examples include the deferral of treatments during the pandemic, or denial of care (blacklisting) due to unpaid health insurance premiums. The opinions are available in French and German.
Composition of the Central Ethics Committee
Under the Regulations, the CEC is composed of physicians from various disciplines and professionals from the fields of nursing, ethics and law. Other disciplines may also be represented, provided that at least three quarters of all members are active in medical professions. When new members are appointed, the SAMS seeks to ensure the greatest possible diversity of expertise, as well as appropriate representation of the various regions, languages and genders.
In addition to the expertise indicated below, most of the current CEC members have a sound training in ethics (basic, postgraduate or continuing education), are members of a hospital ethics committee and/or hold a part-time position in the area of medical ethics.
Professor emeritus Paul Hoff, Zollikon, Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Chair
Bianca Schaffert-Witvliet, APN, Schlieren, Nursing, SBK delegate, Vice Chair
Professor Regina Aebi-Müller, Law, Luzern
Dr Rebecca Dreher, Geriatrics, Morges
Dr Markus Eichelberger, Internal Medicine, Bern
Dr Oswald Hasselmann, Neuropaediatrics, St Gallen
Dr Antje Heise, Intensive Care Medicine, Thun
Dr François Héritier, Primary Care Medicine, Courfaivre
Dr Iris Herzog-Zwitter, FMH delegate, Bern
Dr Martina Hodel, Clinical Ethics/Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, Luzern
Dr Damian König, Law, Sion
PD Dr Mattia Lepori, Internal and Emergency Medicine, Bellinzona
Professor Anja Lorch, Oncology, Zürich
Dr Valerie Luyckx, Nephrology, Zürich
Dr Madeleine Mirabaud, Paediatrics, FMH delegate, Genève
Dr Daniela Ritzenthaler-Spielmann, Clinical Ethics, Lausanne
Dr Ewald Schorro, Nursing, SBK delegate, Freiburg
Dr Jan Schürmann, Clinical Ethics, Basel
Silke Walter, MSc, APN, Palliative Care, Liestal
Ex officio participation in CEC meetings (SAMS)
lic. theol., dipl. biol. Sibylle Ackermann, Head of Ethics Department
Dr Christian Budnik, Project Manager, Ethics Department
lic. phil. Valérie Clerc, Secretary General
Dr Manya Hendriks, Project Manager, Ethics Department
Professor Arnaud Perrier, President
All CEC members have disclosed their interests in accordance with the guidelines on «Collaboration between medical professionals and industry».
Annual Reports of the Central Ethics Committee