CAMH Ethics Framework Revision Project

The CAMH Ethics Framework Revision Project aims to revise the ethics framework at CAMH to better integrate the patient and family experience and gather empirical data to support the evaluation and development of a new framework. Currently, there is limited empirical evidence in the literature for clinical ethics frameworks. These frameworks are often developed without using a rigorous empirical evaluation methodology and lack a systematic integration of perspectives from key interest-holders (staff, patients, family members). This project has two phases. First, we are collecting data from staff, patients and family members before and after they have a clinical ethics consultation. This is to gain an understanding about users’ awareness and perception of the framework, if they feel confident using the framework and investigating if they feel it is useful to support their ethical decision-making process.  We are also conducting focus groups with patients, families, and youth, to get their perspective on the framework. We are conducting parallel consultations across the organization with key decision-making committees, equity-focused leadership groups, and employee resource groups. The findings will help inform the development of a new clinical ethics framework. Secondly, we will examine the impact of the revised framework, which will inform the penultimate framework to be implemented across the organization.