Table 5.

Moderation rules

Suggestion V – Moderation rules

To enable all participants to participate equally in the CEC, clinical ethics consultants should pay special attention to meet the language needs of all participants, for example, ask everyone to speak loudly or slowly, use simple language, refrain from overreliance on medical terms or include a translator if necessary. Clinical ethics consultants should ensure that portions of speech are equal and use their moderation skills to interrupt if someone takes up a lot of space (or time) or ask others whether they want to share more of their perspective. In this regard, the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities endorses ethics consultants to „[u]se [their] own reflection to ensure that perspectives have been heard in proportion to the stake each voice has in the outcome of the discussion” [75]. Finally, clinical ethics consultants should clarify that discriminatory behavior will not be tolerated and will be reprimanded, if necessary, and that they will actively try to correct implicit biases and stereotypes.