Ethics in conditions of disaster & deprivation: learning from health workers' narratives  

We have received funding for this study from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the major federal agency responsible for funding health research in Canada.

Purpose and objectives of study

The aim of the study is to collect stories of ethical challenges faced directly by health care professionals, such as yourself, who have provided health care in resource poor settings or areas of disaster and/or conflict. These stories will be collected through individual interviews and analysed to discern the types of ethical issues respondents have faced and the means they have employed to respond to situations - if a response was possible. The overall objectives of the study are: 

• To understand the ethical challenges faced by health workers providing care in contexts of deprivation and disaster, and their responses to these challenges;
• To examine the relevance of dominant ethical theories to the ethical challenges faced by health workers;
• Drawing on our research and published statements of ethical values, to validate existing or create new frameworks for analyzing issues of health care ethics in situations of disaster and deprivation;
• To provide resources and guidance to policy makers, agencies and individuals struggling through these situations to come up with morally defensible responses.

We are conducting a research study in the MScPT program at the University of Toronto with the support of faculty advisors Dr. Stephanie Nixon, Prof. Brenda Mori, and Dr. Michel Landry. We are seeking participants who would be willing to talk to us about their international clinical placement experience. 

Study Rationale:

International health is an increasingly important area of study and practice amongst health care professionals. Inclusion of international themes in education prepares health professionals for work in diverse environments. One way of integrating these themes is through student international clinical internships. 

Study Purpose:

The purpose of this study is to examine international clinical internships for Canadian PT students. In this study, international clinical internship is defined as the completion of a clinical internship anywhere outside of Canada by a PT student, as part of their formal clinical education through a Canadian PT program. We will look at the history of these internships, explore the perceptions and experiences of those involved, and develop recommendations based on these findings.  

The newest issue of Dispatches (vol 2, issue 2) is HERE!

This issue brings articles on an NGO called Steady Footsteps, volunteers in Pakistan, advocacy in Nunavut and student issues in international placements.

Check it out by clicking on:
http://www.physioihd.com/component/option,com_docman/task,cat_view/gid,42/Itemid,43/?mosmsg=The+document+is+being+edited%2Fupdated+by+an+user+and+is+unavailable+at+this+moment.62%21%3D0