From left to right: Joan Duke (Patient Family Advisor), Kristin Shields (Director, Quality and Risk Management), Leona Kakepetum (Director, Indigenous Collaboration, Equity & Inclusion), Laurenne Stuart (Social Worker, Regional Renal Program), Michelle Allain (Bioethicist), Brittney McLaughlin (Interprofessional Educator), and Sarah Lynne Myllyaho (Internationally Educated Nurse Coordinator).
Happy Ethics Week!
As part of our Ethics Week celebration, we’re excited to highlight the role ethics plays in various areas across the organization with a feature called “Faces of Ethics.” Ethics is for everyone, and together, we can make decisions that matter.
Faces of Ethics: Ethics Committee
1) What is the role of the ethics committee?
The ethics committee is a dedicated group made up of staff from all areas of the hospital, including clinical and non-clinical members, along with patient and family advisors (PFAs). Their role? To discuss, review, and reflect on ethical issues across our organization. They provide support with education, decision-making, consultations, and policy reviews.
2) What type of ethical issues does the ethics committee discuss?
The ethics committee dives into a wide range of scenarios—both clinical and non-clinical. For clinical cases, this might include questions about patient consent, treatment decisions, or respecting patient and family wishes. On the non-clinical side, they look at issues like workplace fairness, resource allocation, and policy decisions that impact staff and patients alike. The committee is here to ensure that everyone’s values and perspectives are considered, helping find solutions that align with our organization’s commitment to exceptional, ethical care.
Join Us!
We’re looking for enthusiastic new members to bring fresh perspectives to the table! If you’re curious about what we do, or interested in joining, reach out to the Bioethicist (michelle.allain@tbh.net) to learn more. Ethics is for everyone! Join us in making a difference.
Ethics Affects Us All. If you’re facing an ethical dilemma or have questions, reach out to the Bioethicist, or a member of the ethics committee for support.
Bioethicist: Michelle Allain – michelle.allain@tbh.net | 807-630-0406