Seven “Between-the-Lines” Questions All Ethics Consultants Should Continue to Ask

Clinical ethics consultants (CECs) must know key moral principles and have adequate psychosocial skills. This is, though, not enough. They must also have and hone “between-the-lines” skills that will change over time. This article discusses seven of these skills that CECs need before, during, and after consultations. They have in common the unusual primary goal of maximizing CECs’ ability to bond with the patients and families with whom they consult. A focus on relationships, rather than on ethical outcomes, may paradoxically enhance the possibility of achieving an ethical outcome.