NSHEN celebrates National Health Ethics Week
What is Health Ethics Week?
An event that is in rapid expansion, the annual National Health Ethics Week is a time Canadian health institutions, schools and universities, research and clinical ethics committees, healthcare professionals, community organizations, businesses, and members of the general public set aside to host and take part in educational events that explore health ethics that affect Canadians.
The goal of National Health Ethics Week is specifically to:
- Encourage the planning and organizing of events across the country to raise awareness and promote dialogue about healthcare and research ethics issues facing our communities;
- Facilitate networking between individuals interested in clinical and research ethics;
- Provide greater visibility for the services offered by the Canadian research and clinical ethics community, including research ethics boards and clinical ethics committees;
- Offer an opportunity for Canadians to get engaged in discussions that have important policy-making implications in the health arena.
By taking part in the National Health Ethics Week, you are showing a commitment to ethical decision-making and will be helping to open lines of communication with others in your community. We are pleased that you will be joining us for Canada’s next National Health Ethics Week!
2024 National Health Ethics Week
November 3-9, 2024 is National Health Ethics Week. The theme this year is Discrimination in Health Care and the Resilience of Communities: The Ethical Issues. We have gathered a selection of different ethics resources to stimulate discussion around this theme and are using this as an opportunity to flag some of NSHEN’s online resources, including, cases from our case database, Fireside Chat video interviews, featured article summaries and Ethics After Hours resources.
Monday, November 4, 2024
Case Discussion: Disease Stigma
A patient has been followed by you, his family doctor, for several medical issues and is being seen for a minor work-related injury. He is very negative and tearful but will not acknowledge his symptoms when asked.
You believe he is depressed and you know you can provide treatment for his depression. However, the patient is uncomfortable seeking treatment or having you document your findings in his record because of the stigmatizing effect of having a mental health disorder known in a remote community.
What policies and procedures should be in place to maintain privacy and confidentiality in rural communities. How should these be enforced?
What steps should you take to address his depression?
What factors external to your family practice must be considered?
Do you think that it is likely or unlikely that the patient’s concerns about confidentiality are valid?
Some Values and Ethics Issues to Consider:
Equality of access
Respect for privacy and confidentiality
Respect for patient autonomy
Community and family relationships
Respect for human dignity
Honesty, trust and truth-telling
Patient-provider relationships
Patient safety
Stigma
Vulnerability
