I defend the assertion that bioethical committees ought to cater to the wants and needs of a particular population because ethical values, principles, beliefs, norms, and practices vary from one community to another. In a pluralistic society, culture and religion are two factors that define ethics and ethical practices held by countries, communities, families, and individuals. A critical analysis of medical cases over history highlights ethical challenges and dilemmas that have continually shaped the development of ethics in the healthcare environment. Aulisio and Arnold explain that ethics emerged from regulatory, legal, and professional forces that require a standard mechanism of resolving uncertainties associated with ethical challenges and dilemmas. Owing to the complexity of ethical problems in modern healthcare systems, Lachman advocates for the development of protocols that stipulate a standard ethical practice. However, despite their use by ethics committees, developed protocols are not absolute for ethical challenges, and dilemmas still arise.
Ethics committees play a central role in health care systems for they deal with ethical issues that emerge in the course of healthcare delivery. The roles of the ethics committee are to offer consultation, formulate policies, and educate healthcare providers on how to resolve ethical problems. Since ethical problems are diverse, it is impossible to create specific solutions. In modern society, individuals are influential for they exercise autonomy and make independent ethical decisions. For example, in a traditional society, family, community members, religious leaders, and government authorities have a marked influence on ethics. Therefore, ethics committees ought to consider diverse social settings, religious persuasions, cultural values, and contemporary health care practices when resolving ethical problems.