Council On Program Accreditation for Clinical Ethicist Training (COPACET): Developing Accreditation Standards for Clinical Ethics Fellowship Programs

Abstract: Development of an accreditation process for clinical ethicist training programs is now underway. A new committee called the Council On Program Accreditation for Clinical Ethicist Training (COPACET) has been created under the guidelines of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). COPACET’s mission is to promote the highest levels of professional competence of clinical ethicists through:
• development and promotion of professional training standards;
• encouragement of excellence in training program development; and
• review and evaluation of clinical ethicist training programs.

COPACET will soon begin drafting accreditation standards for clinical ethics fellowship programs and seeks input from various communities of interest including program directors/staff, current/former fellows, and practicing clinical ethicists. This workshop will provide a forum for all stakeholders with an interest in the future of clinical ethics training to directly inform COPACET’s work.

Four clinical ethicists from multiple disciplines and institutions will lead the session. After a short didactic presentation on COPACET’s history, governance structure, progress to date, and future plans, participants will have an opportunity to review and discuss CAAHEP’s standards and guidelines requirements and weigh in on specific questions that COPACET will need to answer. For example, what level of proficiency to perform ethics consultation should be required of graduates (e.g., ability to perform ethics consultation as a lead or solo consultant?) Should standards include specific admission criteria such as educational background, clinical experience, or personal traits? The session will emphasize active learning through interactive discussion, targeted audience feedback, and group problem solving.