Ethics Committees in Human Service Organisations for People with Learning Disabilities in the Netherlands

This paper describes the aims, roles and functions of ethics committees in Dutch service organisations for people with learning disabilities. The significance of ethical advice for professional practice depends not only on the role of an ethics committee, but also, and primarily, on the theoretical frameworks used. Ethics committees can be important partners for professionals in their search for responsible practice and a well‐considered moral response. Such a partnership has the potential to inspire new ways of showing respect to service users.