Introduction to Clinical Ethics
Rolling programme of one day, online courses that introduce key ethical concepts in clinical ethics for new and potential members of clinical ethics committees - professionals from any health/social care background or specialty and lay members.
We also offer bespoke courses to individual clinical ethics committees, designed to meet their own training needs at both introductory and a more advance level.
We aim to enable participants to identify and articulate ethical issues in clinical scenarios and discuss these with reference to ethical principles and theories using different frameworks. Participants will achieve greater understanding of their obligations as clinical ethics members. They will also have an appreciation of the processes of clinical ethics decision-making and a better sense of how the different perspectives of those involved can be reconciled.
What recent participants have said about our training
“I have found this to be a most beneficial training session. “Rev Lindsay Blair Lead Chaplain WHSCT. N Ireland (Feb 2025)
“As a consultant working in the acute setting, I found the mix of principles teaching, realistic case discussion & opportunity to interact with colleagues in various professions very stimulating. It spurs me to learn more about clinical & medical ethics.” Martin Kelly, Consultant Chest Physician & Ethics Committee Member, Western Trust (Feb 2025)
The session was very interesting and thought provoking, I found it incredibly useful and the facilitators guided us through the information in an easy to understand way.” Ruth Montgomery, Senior Project Manager & Clinical Ethics Member, SHSCT (Feb 2025)
The content is delivered through a mix of presentation, small group tasks and plenary discussion. Participants join online using a private MS Teams link.
Ethics Programme Timetable
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 08:30 | Online space will open for any participants who wish to test the joining information or who have any questions that need to be answered in advance of the programme starting. |
| 09:00 | Group Introductions |
| 09:30 |
Outline: Interactive session explaining how common ethical theories and principles fit into our intuitions about what matters morally. Heather Draper |
| 10:15 - COMFORT BREAK | |
| 10:30 |
Outline: interactive exploration of how clinical ethics committees should arrive that their recommendations, and how the process of inclusive deliberation can build an - albeit uneasy - consensus when people disagree. Greg Moorlock and Heather Draper |
| 11:15 - COMFORT BREAK | |
| 11:30 |
Outline: Interactive session introducing respect for autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence and justice as a ‘framework’ for ethical deliberation, contrasted with other published clinical ethics frameworks. Greg Moorlock |
| 13:00 - LUNCH BREAK | |
| 13:45 |
Outline: Different theoretical understandings of best interests will be introduced. We will also draw on the legal principles from Mental Capacity Act (as it applies in England). Heather Draper |
| 15:00 - COMFORT BREAK | |
| 15:15 |
Outline: discussion of clinical scenarios ‘as ethics committee’, which will consolidate learning from the day. |
| 16:30 |
Wrap Up Any outstanding questions addressed and feedback on the day. |
| 17:00 | CLOSE |
Key Facts
Contact:
Duration: One day
Location: Online
Dates: 24th June 2025
Course director: Professor Heather Draper and Dr Greg Moorlock
Fee: £200
Register: Please complete our registration form.
If you require a group booking, please contact Portfolio 3Link opens in a new window directly for further information