Ethics, Law, and Humanities Committee

The Ethics, Law, and Humanities Committee (ELHC), a joint committee of the American Academy of Neurology, American Neurological Association, and the Child Neurology Society, monitors and evaluates evolving ethical, legal, and humanities issues, and offers guidance concerning those issues to their constituent boards of directors via proposed position statements.

Chair: Matthew Kirschen, MD, PhD

Vice Chair: Katharina M. Busl, MD, MS, FAAN

Staff Liaison: Sarah Bird Nelson, JD, Associate Counsel; Kay Fetters, Executive Assistant/Legal Coordinator

• View Full Listing of Committee Members
  
• Apply to this Committee

Job Description

Responsibilities

• The committee chair and vice chair work directly with the committee staff liaison and participate in monthly half‐hour conference calls. Members may be asked to join some of these calls, depending on the agenda topics.
• The committee meets three times each year: late winter (in person), summer (virtual), and fall (in person or virtual). Members should do their best to attend each meeting.
• Members are expected to be familiar with contemporary ethics issues, actively and constructively contribute to meeting discussions, and contribute to other ELHC activities (e.g., help author position statements).
• ANA and CNS representatives should keep their organizations apprised of ELHC activities.

Selection/Appointment

Committee members representing the AAN are appointed by the AAN President Elect and may serve up to three two‐year terms. Committee members representing the ANA and CNS are appointed by their respective associations and may serve up to three two‐year terms. The committee chair is appointed by the AAN President.

Meeting Schedule

Members are expected to attend three meetings per year:

• Late Winter (February or March) - in person
• Summer (July or August) - virtual
• Fall (September or October) - in person at AAN headquarters (Minneapolis, MN) or virtual

Estimated Time Commitment

Three meetings per year, plus project‐specific work.

Committee Composition

The Ethics, Law, and Humanities Committee includes the following positions:

• Chair
• Vice Chair
• At least eight AAN representatives
• Up to four ANA representatives
• Up to four CNS representatives
• NITCEE (Neurologist‐in‐Training Clinical Ethics Elective) representative (ex officio‐voting member, serves a one‐year term)

Related activities

AAN Award for Creative Expression of Human Values in Neurology

Neurologist-In-Training Clinical Ethics Elective