[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 172 (Friday, September 4, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47310-47311]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-23946]


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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