Charles Warren Fairbanks Center for Medical Ethics

The Charles Warren Fairbanks Center for Medical Ethics (FCME) located in Indianapolis, IN, coordinates all of the major service, research and educational efforts in clinical ethics for IU Health.

The Fairbanks Center has a primary focus on improving the ethical lives of health care practitioners. The Center's robust programs directly impact IU Health and the central Indiana community through collaboration in ethics consultation, education, research, and service.

This important work is made possible through generous support from the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation and the IU Health Foundation.

It is enriched through the talents of a large, interdisciplinary group of healthcare professionals within IU Health, the Indiana University Schools of Medicine, Nursing and Law, and the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis campus.

Fairbanks Center activities include:

FCME trains ethics consultants and coordinates ethics consultation services in IU Health hospitals. The Center does this to facilitate the analysis and resolution of ethical dilemmas that arise in patient care. It also fosters examination of personal, cultural, religious and institutional influences on the ethical practice of medicine.

Clinical Ethics Consultation

FCME trains ethics consultants and coordinates ethics consultation services in IU Health hospitals. The Center does this to facilitate the analysis and resolution of ethical dilemmas that arise in patient care. It also fosters examination of personal, cultural, religious and institutional influences on the ethical practice of medicine.

FCME educates physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, attorneys, clergy, students, business and community leaders, and others in contemporary ethics issues in healthcare.

Educational programs include:

  • The Fairbanks Fellowship in Clinical Ethics
  • The Fairbanks Lecture Series
  • Multiple practicum and internship opportunities for graduate students, law students, and medical and pediatric residents
  • A wide variety of in-service presentations for patient care staff in IU Health hospitals

Clinical Medical Ethics Education

FCME educates physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, attorneys, clergy, students, business and community leaders, and others in contemporary ethics issues in healthcare.

Educational programs include:

  • The Fairbanks Fellowship in Clinical Ethics
  • The Fairbanks Lecture Series
  • Multiple practicum and internship opportunities for graduate students, law students, and medical and pediatric residents
  • A wide variety of in-service presentations for patient care staff in IU Health hospitals

FCME advances scholarship in clinical ethics through research and publication in order to promote ethical patient care and to improve the ethical lives of healthcare professionals.

Fairbanks Center faculty are engaged in broad research efforts, including:

  • Health communication
  • Surrogate decision making
  • Health care and the law
  • Nursing ethics

Clinical Ethics Research & Scholarship

FCME advances scholarship in clinical ethics through research and publication in order to promote ethical patient care and to improve the ethical lives of healthcare professionals.

Fairbanks Center faculty are engaged in broad research efforts, including:

  • Health communication
  • Surrogate decision making
  • Health care and the law
  • Nursing ethics

FCME encourages thoughtful public discourse by supporting programs, projects, and conferences to deepen community awareness and understanding of clinical ethics.

FCME faculty and staff frequently give presentations for Indianapolis area community groups. The Fairbanks Lecture Series in Clinical Ethics is free and open to the public.

Ethics Community Service

FCME encourages thoughtful public discourse by supporting programs, projects, and conferences to deepen community awareness and understanding of clinical ethics.

FCME faculty and staff frequently give presentations for Indianapolis area community groups. The Fairbanks Lecture Series in Clinical Ethics is free and open to the public.