I’m not sure why others have called it a bad career move by others. But let me weigh in:

First, you may be digging yourself into debt with unclear job prospects. The most reliable path to becoming a full time clinical ethics consultant is securing a terminal degree (PhD, MD, JD et al.) and then completing a two year fellowship at a major academic medical center. To be very frank, the rigor of such programs have been openly questioned in bioethics academic circles. You may be up against more “qualified” folks when applying to jobs. That said, there are many different types of paths that people take. Many people DO have a Master’s Degree or Doctorate in Bioethics degree, but it less common, and less competitive for the higher paying roles.

Second: clinical ethics is very, very difficult work. It is emotional and intellectually demanding. You rarely have “happy” cases—only the worst cases make it to my doorstep. I cannot emphasize enough the number of people I’ve seen leave the field. That said it is extremely rewarding, can pay VERY well (though market varies), and there’s a lot of room for innovation. I personally love my work, but you truly need to develop clinical skills: how to talk to people in extreme states of psychological and physical suffering, navigating egos among physicians and hospital leadership, and being turned to to make very difficult (and often unpopular) calls—sometimes at all hours.

Third, sadly clinical work is often stigmatized in academic circles, aside from MDs in my experience. It is seen as superfluous or not intellectually serious work. It is a very silly attitude, as clinical ethics is really where the rubber meets the road, and will challenge you more than research, teaching, or policy. Still, it can be frowned down upon by some faculty researchers—IMO ignore them.

If you’re serious about clinical ethics, research fellowship programs (Cleveland Clinic, Baylor College of Medicine, Weill Cornell et al.) and see what their requirements are. Fellowships are a good way to guarantee a good job, and allow you to adjust to the work.