Clinical Ethics Special Interest Group
ABA Special Interest Group
Nominated Convenor:
Dr Peter Saul
Vivien Lane, Julie Letts, Andy Gill, John McPhee, Ian Kerridge, Kandy
White, Adi Torda
Initial proposal
1. Establish web page
2. Include "chat" option - a posted discussion group
3. Ask if members want to be included in group emails (NB the dangers of hitting "reply all" when responding!).
4. Initial objectives:
- To establish a network of interested people from all relevant disciplines and professional backgrounds across a spectrum of centres throughout Australasia
- Through this network to work towards a coherent account of clinical ethics and its potential role in providing a different voice in healthcare decision making.
5. Research questions:
- How are differing values currently dealt with in clinical decisions in Australasian healthcare settings?
- Are "ethicists", "clinical ethics committees" or other independent groups or individuals currently involved in decisions perceived as value-laden?
- Can a theoretical or practical/political argument be made for clinical ethics consultation?
- Can a methodology for consultation be developed that can stand philosophical critiques (eg of the type levelled by Engelhardt)?
6. Outcomes
- A network sufficient to allow survey-type research at little cost (hence a pilot study could be done without external funding application)
- An initial survey similar to those carried out by McNeill et al, perhaps based more on the methodology of DuVal et al (J Gen Intern Med 2004;19:251-258)
- A paper on the role of clinical ethics in Australasia (similar to Kerridge and Savulescu, but more broadly based and aimed at a more academic audience, perhaps in the new journal).
- A philosophical view of ethics consultation focusing on methodology, perhaps looking at early Habermas' notion of consensus as a guide (this would have some extraordinary consequences in terms of inviting opposing views).
- Development of national guidelines for clinical ethics consultations.
- To establish a national group who can liaise, and establish links with international groups.
7. Meetings
- In general, meetings will be "virtual", but time is available at major gatherings such as ABA. A meeting of the CESIG will be held at the forthcoming ABA meeting in November. See notice boards in the Cloisters.
8. Contact
- If you would like to be a member of the Clinical Ethics Special Interest Group (CESIG) please contact Dr Peter Saul (Peter.Saul@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au).
The first meeting of the CESIG will be at the 10th Conference of the ABA, The University of New South Wales, Saturday 13 November, 1.30pm.
The first National Clinical Ethics meeting, sponsored by the ABA and ANZIHLE Programme