Proposed Collection; Comment Request; ``Physicians' Resolution of Ethical Problems and Use of Institutional Ethics Consultation Services''

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health

Proposed Collection; Comment Request; ``Physicians' Resolution of

Ethical Problems and Use of Institutional Ethics Consultation

Services''

SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of

the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, for opportunity for public comment

on proposed data collection projects, the Department of Clinical

Bioethics (DCB), National Institutes of Health (NIH) will publish

periodic summaries of proposed projects to be submitted to the Office

of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval.

Proposed Collection

``Physicians' Resolution of Ethical Problems and Use of

Institutional Ethics Consultation Services''--The Department of

Clinical Bioethics, Warren G. Magnuson Clinical Center, NIH, intend to

seek approval to conduct a survey aimed at physicians certified by the

American Board of Internal Medicine. The survey asks for information

about: (1) the ways that physicians address ethical problems that arise

in their practice; (2) the types of questions that physicians perceive

to raise ethical issues, and how often these arise; (3) how frequently

physicians use the ethics consultation service (if any) at their

primary institution; and (4) the reasons why physicians do and do not

request formal ethics consultation through their institution's ethics

consultation service. The information collected will help the NIH and

other health care institutions to structure their ethics consultation

service, and other ethics resources, to provide more helpful and

responsive ways of addressing ethical problems and dilemmas.

Respondents will be physicians certified by the American Board of

Internal Medicine and will be asked to respond to one survey, estimated

to average 30 minutes per respondent. It is estimated that 450

respondent surveys will be completed for a total annual burden on

respondents of 225 hours.

[[Page 47311]]

There are no Capital Costs, Operating Costs and/or Maintenance

Costs to report.

Request for Comments

Written comments and/or suggestions from the public and affected

agencies are invited with respect to: (1) whether the proposed

collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of

the function of the Department of Clinical Bioethics at the NIH,

including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the

DCB's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information

and the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) enhancing

the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;

and (4) minimizing the burden of the collection of information on those

who are to respond, including suggestion for the use of appropriate

automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection

techniques of other forms of information technology.

Written comments may be sent to: Gordon DuVal, Department of

Clinical Bioethics, Warren G. Magnuson Clinical Center, National

Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1156, Ph: (301) 435-8717, Fax:

(301) 495-0760, E-mail: [email protected]

All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the

request for OMB approval and will become part of the public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on the

proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and

instruments, contact Gordon DuVal at the above address or call (not

toll free) (301) 435-8717.

Comments Due Date

Comments regarding this information collection are best assured of

having their full effect if received within 60 days of the date of this

publication.

Dated: August 26, 1998.

David K. Henderson,

Deputy Director for Clinical Care, Warren G. Magnuson Clinical Center,

National Institutes of Health.

[FR Doc. 98-23946 Filed 9-3-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4140-01-M