Engaging Substitute Decision-makers: Understanding Our Partnership
Throughout the healthcare system, there is a need to work with and support substitute decision-makers in making treatment and personal care decisions for their loved ones. While the value of having someone in this role is frequently recognized, this does not mean that the partnership with substitute decision-makers is always smooth or the choices clear for all involved. This Edible Ethics series is an opportunity to explore together some of the ethical questions, considerations, and approaches related to substitute decision-making.
Times: Offering twice for each date at 12:00-12:30pm and 5:00-5:30pm. Register for either time (or both!) via the link in the time you choose.
Audience: Those working in the health care system (e.g., Nova Scotia Health, IWK Health). These are free sessions on Zoom requiring registration.
Dates:
January 28, 2026
This session will provide an overview of the nature and role of substitute decision-making in health care, including commonly encountered ethics-related concerns and challenges that can arise. Questions and discussion will inform topics for the subsequent sessions.
Upcoming sessions
Building off of the questions, examples, and feedback from the first Edible Ethics session held on January 28, 2026, three areas of focus emerged that will form the basis for the following three sessions in this series.
March 5, 2026
Scope of Substitute Decision Makers: Living in the Grey Zone
This session provides an opportunity to explore scope of SDM decision making authority. This includes considering relevant legislation and selected examples that engage with the complexity of working through where and when the limit(s) of this authority may lie.
May 7, 2026
Process Challenges: Navigating the Path(s) of Substitute Decision Making
This session provides an opportunity to reflect on the broad “steps” along the path(s) related to substitute decision making – including key triggers (e.g., who is the actual SDM), relevant considerations (e.g., what if the SDM doesn’t seem capable), and formal processes (e.g., documentation).
June 11, 2026
Children and Youth: Who Makes the Decisions?
The session focuses on substitute decision making in the context of children and youth where the capacity to make decisions (including expressing preferences) is developing over time. Ethical considerations related to the roles of children, youth, and parents/caregivers and how these may change over time will be discussed. The concept of supported decision making will also be introduced, as part of recognizing obligations to those who may never attain the ability to make their own decisions.
