FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is ethics in Health Care?

Ethics can be described as a way of critically looking at issues in health care that involves:

• Deciding what we should do—what decisions are morally acceptable based on the values and principles we agree are relevant;
• Explaining why we should do it—justifying our decision using the language of values and principles to explain why; and
• Describing how we should do it—outlining an appropriate process for enacting the decision.

What is the Central East Regional Ethics Network and how does it work?

The Central East Regional Ethics Network is an ethics service provider, based on a hub and spokes model. The hub is the CEREN Team, and spokes are member organizations that acquire services from the hub. The team members are experts in healthcare ethics, and are affiliated with the University of Toronto’s Joint Centre for Bioethics. Essential to this model is a key contact identified by each member organization.

Why are we offering this service?

Provincially, established organizational ethics programs have increasingly received requests for ethics services from healthcare partners who do not have dedicated (in-house) ethics support. In an effort to meet the needs of our community, we are now offering the services outlined here.

What is an ethicist?

Ethicists are specifically trained in thinking about moral issues in healthcare. They are able to listen to problems in a non-judgmental way, and can help make complex problems easier to understand. Because they have trained widely in the field of medical ethics they will likely have seen cases like yours before. They may even be able to tell you how others have dealt with similar issues.

What is a moral issue?

Ethics and morality are two different things. Morality – views about what is right and wrong – may arise from your religious, cultural, or spiritual beliefs.

Ethics, on the other hand, is the study of ideas about morality. The goal of ethics is to examine moral beliefs to see where they lead us, to ask what problems they create, and what problems they solve.

When should I request a consultation with the CEREN Ethics Consultation Service?

Anyone (Staff, physicians, patients/clients, family members, etc.) affiliated with our partner organizations can contact the Ethics Consultation Service if you are having trouble making a decision or are not sure if the decision you want to make is one that you can live with.

We all have to make tough choices everyday. These can be especially upsetting when they relate to our health, or to the health of a friend or family member. The ethics service can help guide you through the process.