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Location
Webinar
Series/Type
Dates
  • March 3, 2021 from 4:00pm to 5:00pm

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University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics Seminar Series 2020-21

Speakers:

Daniel Z Buchman, PhD, RSW, Bioethicist and Independent Scientist, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Assistant Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health and Joint Centre for Bioethics, University of Toronto

Sarah Levitt, MSc, MD, FRCPC, Brain Medicine Fellow, University of Toronto, Psychiatrist, University Health Network, Toronto Western Hospital – IMPACT Program, Toronto General Hospital – Inpatient Program

About this Seminar:

While the concept of futility has a long and controversial history in healthcare, it has rarely been discussed in the care of individuals experiencing severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI). This limited engagement exists despite some tacit acceptance that futility may apply in certain cases of psychiatric illness. We provide two arguments in support of the use of futility within the care of individuals experiencing SPMI: that some cases of SPMI can be considered a terminal illness, and that the risk-benefit ratio is a dynamic entity such that psychiatric interventions can have an increased risk of harm over the course of chronic illness. We argue that capacity should not pose an obstacle to declaring futility when caring for individuals experiencing SPMI. Finally, we will describe how using futility within psychiatric practice can allow for a reorientation of care by signalling the need to shift to a compassionate, palliative approach.

Additional Details:

This event is free and is open to the general public.

The direct link to the seminar will be sent out to registered participants 2 hours before the event. All of the JCB Bioethics Seminars are now being live streamed to our YouTube channel. If you don’t receive the link 2 hours before the event, please head over there and click on the live stream. Subscribe to our channel to receive notices of live events.

Questions?

Please email Laurie Bulchak, laurie.bulchak@utoronto.ca.