Who are we?
Every day, treating teams, service users, and their loved ones face decisions related to care and services. These decisions are not always strictly medical; many involve moral or ethical considerations. Because individuals and teams may prioritize values and ethical principles differently, these situations can give rise to ethical dilemmas.
The Clinical Ethics Service (CES) is designed to support you when a situation feels complex, when values are in tension, or when it is difficult to reach a fair, acceptable, or shared decision. Through structured ethical reflection and guidance, we help clarify value-related concerns, and support thoughtful, well-reasoned decision-making.
This service provides support in situations of uncertainty, disagreement, or conflict related to ethical issues arising in healthcare, helping teams and individuals move forward with confidence and integrity.
How to request a consultation with the CES?
- Who can request a consultation: Anyone employed by Santé Québec Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal - Universitaire and all physicians.
- There is no need for approvals from supervisors.
- Service users, their family members and their close helpers can also request a consultation.
- How to request a consultation: Consultation must be submitted by email only at ethique.comtl@ssss.gouv.qc.ca (avoid phone or fax requests, when possible).
- What to include in a request: A brief description of the issue, whether the service user has the capacity to make medical and/or financial decisions, if known, and your availability (and that of your team) for a meeting.
When to request an ethics consultation?
At any time during the provision of care and services:
- When feeling internal discomfort regarding a situation (e.g. moral distress);
- When facing dilemma;
- When questioning the best course of action;
- When conflict arises within the team (or family) regarding the best care to provide to the service user.
Example of difficult situations:
- The values and beliefs of a service user, their family, or the team conflict with what can be done from a medical perspective.
- The team feels uncomfortable with a service user’s request to stop curative treatment.
- The team wonders what decision would be best, while considering both the best interests of a child and the rights of the child’s parents (contact the Child and Youth Ethics Service).
- A relative must make a decision for a service user who can’t participate in the decision-making process and the relative has questions about their role and whether the treatment recommended by the team is in accordance with the patient’s wishes
How does clinical ethics consultation work?
A clinical ethics consultation will involve:
- An initial discussion with the person making the request on Microsoft Teams (virtual) to aid in understanding the issues at play (usually about one hour in duration)
- Might involve further meeting(s) in person, or virtually, to discuss the issue with the service user, their family or close helpers (as needed)
- Might involve further meeting(s) in person, or virtually, to discuss with the clinical team when the issue is delicate or involves strong emotions
An ethicist will support all parties involved in:
- Identifying the problem(s)/dilemma(s)/ethical concern(s);
- Clarifying the values and principles at stake;
- Analyzing the options and supporting the thought process behind each option;
- Determining the preferred option.
The Clinical Ethics Service only make recommendations. It will not make a decision for you, but will provide ADVICE, ASSISTANCE, and SUPPORT.
Documents:
Our team
- Meredith Schwartz, PhD (Philosophy with specialization in Bioethics) Senior Clinical and Organizational Ethicist
- Coralie Hervieux, B.Sc.N, M.Sc. (Clinical Ethics) Clinical and Organizational Ethicist
Contact information
For more information:
Ethics Service
Email : ethique.comtl@ssss.gouv.qc.ca (best way to request a consultation)
Cellular phone: 438-864-1492 or 438-860-9572 (only for use in exceptional circumstances)