JCB Partners:
Bloorview Kids Rehab, Bioethics Service
People and Roles:
Bioethicist: Maria McDonald, LLB, MHSc (Bioethics)
Ethics Facilitators: Over 20 people in the organization have been trained as Ethics Facilitators to serve as ethics resource leaders. They are supported by the Bioethicist.
Program Description:
Bloorview Kids Rehab utilizes an approach called the "Hub and Spoke" model to assist in addressing ethical issues. Within this model, over 20 people in the organization have been trained as Ethics Facilitators to serve as ethics resource leaders. They meet monthly in a Bioethics Forum to discuss ethical issues. The organization also has the resources of an onsite Bioethicist, Maria McDonald, and is a partner with the Joint Centre for Bioethics, University of Toronto.
The Ethics Facilitators and the Bioethicist all support clients, families, staff, students and volunteers in fostering a positive ethical environment at Bloorview.
Consultation:
Bloorview’s Bioethics Service is dedicated to helping client and family well-being and organizational integrity. The service provides specialized help with clinical and organizational questions and concerns, including:
- supporting discussions about "everyday ethics" issues that may involve questions of what is "fair" or "right"
- providing an ethical analysis about an immediate client care issue or an administrative opportunity, question or concern
- encouraging dialogues and reflections about the relationships, practices or perspectives involved in helping children, adolescents, young adults and their families who have specialized rehabilitation and complex continuing care needs
Anyone can call the Ethics Facilitators or Bioethicist to discuss ethical issues. No referral is needed. The consultations are confidential.
Education:
We provide staff, students and volunteers with opportunities to find out about ethics issues and processes available to support ethics decision-making through:
- monthly Everday Ethics rounds in collaboration with the Hospital for Sick Children, and videoconferenced to the Kilgour site
- the Bioethics Service website
- encouraging dialogues and reflections about the relationships, practices or perspectives involved in helping children, adolescents, young adults and their families who have specialized rehabilitation and complex continuing care needs
Maria McDonald teaches the law and ethics course (MSC3005H) for the students in the MHSc in Bioethics Program at the Joint Centre for Bioethics. She also helps to mentor graduate students and fellows at the Joint Centre for Bioethics.
Research Ethics:
Maria McDonald is an active member of the Research Ethics Board at Bloorview Kids Rehab.
Website:
Bloorview Kids Rehab, Bioethics Service 
Contact information:
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Maria McDonald, Bioethicist |
