PAS DOING RIGHT: TEACHING ETHICAL DECISION MAKINGTO PA STUDENTS

October 24, 2014CAPA Annual ConferenceHalifax, Nova Scotia

Brad OlmsteadSharona Kanofsky

2

DISCLOSUREThe presenters have no conflict of interests to disclose.

3

LEARNING OBJECTIVESBy the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Describe an approach to teaching ethical decision making to PA students

Describe how this ethical decision-making approach is applied by PA students to real-world ethical dilemmas from clinical practice

Appreciate the use of educational technology in delivering a medical ethics course to PA students distributed across a large geographic area

MEDICAL ETHICS COURSEConsortium of PA Education

Based on DND course

second year course, delivered while students are in second half of clinical training

Structured based on textbook: Doing Right: A Practical Guide to Ethics for Medical Trainees and Physicians by Philip Hébert

PURPOSE Identify the basic ethical principles

AutonomyBeneficence/non-maleficence Justice

Describe a step-by-step ethical decision making framework

Apply an ethical decision making framework to assigned cases and real-world ethical dilemmas encountered in clinical practice

Prepare future PAs with the skills and capacity to participate in informed ethical decision-making processes in clinical practice!!

HÉBERT’S DECISION-MAKING FRAMEWORK1. Describe the case: summary including pertinent facts

2. Identify the ethical dilemma

3. Identify all possible alternatives

4. Identify the key considerations based on each of the ethical principles (autonomy; beneficence; justice) and the specific context of the situation

5. Propose a resolution

6. Critically review this choice

7. Do the right thing!

COURSE LEARNING ACTIVITIES/ASSESSMENTS Delivery entirely online Case Discussions

1. Leah’s case – autonomy and self-determination2. Truth-telling – cultural context3. Dax’s case – the right to die

Applying the framework to a case Group debate on reproductive health case Expert guest-facilitated online workshops

End-of-life care Bringing it all together with Dr. Hébert

Individual presentations on students’ own cases encountered in clinical placement (reflective exercise)

TOPICS COVERED General introduction to ethical decision-making in medicine Basic ethical principles

Autonomy Beneficence/non-maleficence Justice

Confidentiality Truth telling Informed consent Capacity Reproductive health End-of-life care

SUMMARY AND DISCUSSION