Clickbait or Case Study: The Ethicist’s Responsibility in Ethics Education

Abstract: Ethics committees have long been the standard means of engaging diverse groups of hospital personnel in the work of ethics. Presenting cases within these committees is a preferred method for many ethicists to provide internal education, especially around ethical approaches, problem-solving, and other key areas of knowledge that are important for committee members to know to fulfill their roles. Particularly when cases focus on real patients, the structure and tone of these presentations can have a substantial impact on the direction of the discussion: is the case being discussed in a manner that encourages expert review, fosters quality improvement, and deepens our understanding of the human experience in healthcare? Or does the case discussion adopt a different nature, the way a book club might discuss their latest read?

After a didactic introduction, speakers will debate the benefits of educational cases and the concerns that arise when well-intentioned case presentations become exploitative. Discussion will use sample case presentations to explore the conditions that might inadvertently put patients on display, and the razor-thin line between education and sensationalism. From there, each side will examine how different models of case presentation might promote high reliability, encourage committee member engagement, and improve credibility. The debate will seek to answer whether case presentations provide education, entertainment, or both; if both are inevitable, is it worth the tradeoff or do we need another way to present cases?