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What is NOT a primary purpose of Institutional Ethics Committees (IECs)?

  1. Providing nonbinding consultation on ethical dilemmas.

  2. Offering binding decisions on ethics cases.

  3. Supporting ethics education and training.

  4. Developing ethics-related policies.

The correct answer is: Offering binding decisions on ethics cases.

Institutional Ethics Committees (IECs) play a crucial role in addressing ethical dilemmas within healthcare settings. Their primary functions typically include providing guidance and support on ethical issues, fostering ethics education and training among staff, and helping to develop policies related to ethical practices. Choosing the option regarding offering binding decisions on ethics cases highlights a fundamental aspect of IECs: they do not function as authoritative bodies that enforce legal or ethical mandates. Instead, IECs provide nonbinding consultations aimed at fostering discussion and deliberation around ethical issues. This means their recommendations and guidance are advisory in nature, helping to navigate complex situations without having the power to impose decisions. Furthermore, while they actively contribute to the education of staff on ethical considerations and work towards establishing ethics policies within institutions, the notion of giving binding decisions falls outside their intended scope of influence. Their role is more about facilitating ethical discourse and supporting decision-makers rather than dictating outcomes. This understanding underscores the correct answer while clarifying the committee's advisory purpose in ethics within institutional settings.