KIE: The University of Tennessee College of Medicine has established an ethics committee to assist health care providers in a model reproductive health clinic serving the mentally retarded. The committee formulated guidelines for medical decision making and defined ethical principles for the clinic. Initial legal and administrative concerns were resolved, as was the format to be used for case presentations. All clinic patients and their families were told about the ethics committee, and none refused to allow care review. Early committee discussions concerned the prescription of Depo-Provera and the use of hysterectomies to control menstrual hygiene. Formal opinions have been issued in seven cases, while more than 20 other cases have been managed. No clear guidelines have emerged on the issue of third party or family consent.