The Bioethics Education program aims to promote a culture of ethically informed clinical decision-making and high ethical standards of clinical practice through a range of activities including:
- Professional development for hospital staff through an existing program of bioethics seminars, departmental meetings and grand rounds
- Formal education through the development of an ethics component for existing education programs for junior medical staff, nursing and allied health staff
- Input into bioethics, public health and other relevant subjects and programs at the University of Melbourne and in relevant Colleges and institutions
Departmental Education
In light of the restrictions imposed relating to COVID-19 containment within the hospital, ethics education sessions are still possible, using Zoom or other technologies.
To make enquiries, please contact our Ethics Education Officer,
Dr Georgina Hall, or
book a session.
To discuss how education sessions might be delivered, please contact Clare Delany (
clare.delany@rch.org.au).
Bioethics Forum
In 2021, the Bioethics Forum (formerly the CBC Journal Club) will host monthly ethics discussions and events to encourage and explore topics of interest to those involved in paediatric healthcare. The Bioethics Forum
will remain a relaxed and collegial get-together of individuals interested in
reading about, hearing about and discussing challenging and fascinating ethical
aspects of patient care.
We offer a mix of curated topics each month, for which we will provide a short list of journal articles and book
chapters to read and discuss, as well as some presentations from CBC interns
and those joining us on sabbaticals and overseas visitors (in the future!) on
topics of interest. You remain welcome to bring along your lunch or breakfast
to the meeting, and feel free to invite anybody who might be
interested in coming along. If you would like to join our Bioethics Forum mailing list, please contact our Education Officer, Dr Georgina Hall.
Bioethics Forum dates and topics for 2021;
26
February: “Deciding with Children”
While parents are recognised and respected in
paediatrics as their child’s medical decision-maker, the views and preferences
of the child themselves matters morally, but how much weight should they be
given in the clinical setting? This question becomes more important when
treating adolescents, and more tricky when the young person’s views differ from
those of their parents, or the medically recommended treatment.
Suggested readings:
-
Navin, M.C & Wasserman, J. A. (2019) Capacity for Preferences and
Pediatric Assent: Implications for Pediatric Practice. Hastings Center
Report 49, no. 1: 43-51
-
Archard, D and Uniacke, S (2020) The Child’s Right
to a Voice Res Publica
ttps://doi.org/10.1007/s11158-020-09491-z 1 3
-
Ross, L.F (1995) Arguments against health care autonomy for minors. Bioethics
Forum. 1995. Winter; 11(4):22-26
24 March: Ethics Grand Rounds: "Deciding with Children- ethically ideal, but not always straightforward". The
recorded version can be viewed at anytime via: https://blogs.rch.org.au/grandrounds/
30 April: 12:30pm-1:30pm
26 May: 8:30am-9:30am
25 June: 12:30pm-1:30pm
21 July: 8:30am-9:30am
20
August: 12:30pm-1:30pm
29 September: 8:30am-9:30am
29 October: 12:30pm-1:30pm
24 November: 8:30am-9:30am
10 December: 12:30pm-1:30pm
Committee Member Training
Annual ethics training workshops are run for members of the Clinical Ethics Response Group and Clinical Ethics Committee. The next training sessions for CERG and CEC members will be held on Tuesday, 11th May, 2021. For further details, please contact Ethics Education Officer, Dr Georgina Hall.