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.
Cardiovascular Surgery
What does your department do?
The Cardiovascular Surgery project brings together Capital and Clinical team members in a collaborative effort with internal and external partners (e.g., Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, Ministry of Health, third-party programs, architectural and engineering consultants). The team systematically gathers essential information to strategically develop a cardiac surgery program for Northwestern Ontario.
Guided by Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre’s philosophy, mission, and values, the project’s goal is to improve access to life-saving cardiovascular procedures. Given Northwestern Ontario’s high rate of cardiovascular disease, this program aims to close the gap in access to care within the region.
What ethical questions arise in your area?
Limited access to specialized care in Northwestern Ontario compared to other regions raises significant ethical concerns. At the core, the project seeks to ensure fair distribution of cardiovascular care across geographic areas. Key ethical questions include:
- Why does this access gap exist?
- How does it impact the health of residents in Northwestern Ontario?
- What financial burdens affect those who must travel for specialized care?
- Will financial limitations influence a patient’s ability to seek surgery?
- What other stressors might patients face?
- How can access to care be improved?
As the project advances, new ethical questions will arise. The team is committed to ongoing collaboration to identify and address these issues effectively.
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