Take Part in National Health Ethics Week, March 2 – 8, 2014.

Jan 02, 2014

In collaboration with the Nova Scotia Heath Ethics Network (NSHEN), and participating organizations across Canada, the Canadian Bioethics Society is coordinating the inaugural National Health Ethics Week, taking place March 2- 8, 2014.

What is National Health Ethics Week?

National Health Ethics Week is a time set aside for health and educational institutions, health care professionals, community organizations, businesses and members of the general public, to host and take part in educational events that explore health ethics issues.

National Health Ethics Week was designed with the following goals in mind:

• Encourage the organization of events to raise awareness of ethics issues related to health and health care across Canada
• Provide greater visibility for Canadian ethics committees, services and supports 
• Provide an opportunity for Canadians to engage in dialogue regarding current health ethics issues facing their communities

We invite you to join us in participating in Canada’s inaugural National Health Ethics Week!

 Health Ethics From Coast to Coast to Coast

The theme of National Health Ethics Week 2014 is Health Ethics from Coast to Coast to Coast. It invites participants to consider what health ethics issues are most relevant to their community or organization and why. Are these issues unique to you? Or do other communities or organizations across the country encounter the same difficult issues? Are there regional differences in values and health ethics across the country? What are the similarities? What resources are available across Canada to help address difficult health ethics issues? How can they be accessed to help address issues in your region? How can your community or organization share your ethics expertise and experiences to help others?

How Do I Participate?

All organizations, groups, and individuals who are interested in health ethics issues are invited to participate. By participating in National Health Ethics Week, you will show a commitment to ethical discussion and decision-making and will open lines of communication with others in your community.

Involvement in Health Ethics Week is encouraged at a level relevant to and comfortable for you and your organization or group. For example, you may attend an event in your area and advertise the initiative by displaying a National Health Ethics Week poster in your workplace. Or you might host a presentation, facilitate a lunchtime discussion group, distribute print materials or organize a half-day workshop. You are best able to decide where to focus your energies for maximum benefit in your organization or community.

Your organization may choose to organize an event that relates to the theme Ethics from Coast to Coast to Coast, or any health ethics issue that is important to your organization or group. The aim is to get Canadians thinking and talking about a variety of health ethics issues – be creative!

What Resources Are Available?

Participating Organizations will receive:

• Two electronic poster templates that can be easily printed and customized in order to publicize National Health Ethics Week and your local events
• Event publicity, including access to the National Health Ethics Week Event Listing on the Canadian Bioethics Society website, which will be referred to in national publicity campaigns prior to the event
• An invitation to post their organization’s group’s logo as a participating organization on the Canadian Bioethics Society website 
• Assistance with locating health ethics and event planning resources

Registration

To register, please download and complete the registration form found here, or contact Amy Middleton, National Health Ethics Week Coordinator, at ethicsweek@bioethics.ca.

Registration fees for participating organizations:

• Non-member of the CBS or NSHEN – $50
• Individual and student members of the CBS – $25
• Supporting organization members of CBS and NSHEN members – no charge   

These funds will contribute to the costs of developing materials and coordinating this year’s initiative, as well as the further development and evaluation of National Health Ethics Week activities.  

Who Should Participate?

All Canadian organizations with an interest in health and health care are encouraged to participate by hosting an activity exploring a health ethics issue. Because of each group’s unique association with the health system, everyone will have an important contribution to make and experience to share.

This includes:

• Child and family service groups 
• Churches and religious organizations 
• Community based health organizations and groups 
• Environmental organizations 
• Health care institutions 
• Health ethics committees  
• Health professional associations 
• Health-related businesses and corporations 
• Members of the public 
• Mental health agencies 
• Post-secondary institutions and schools 
• Regional health authorities and provincial boards 
• Research ethics boards
• Social justice groups

Participating Organizations

This list will be updated as organizations register. 

• Alberta Health Services
• Brock University Research Ethics Office
• Extendicare (Canada) Inc. 
• Hamilton Health Sciences
• Nova Scotia Health Ethics Network
• Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health 

For More Information

For more information about National Health Ethics Week, please contact Amy Middleton, National Health Ethics Week Coordinator at ethicsweek@bioethics.ca.