Essential Topics in Clinical Ethics (ETCE) – 2026

Course Structure

The series consists of four units. Participants may choose to attend one or more units.

Unit 1: Ethical reasoning, ethical guidance & relationship with professionals

22 July 2026, 2:00PM to 4:15PM

Learning objective:

To understand principle-based approaches to ethical issues in healthcare practice.

Topics covered:

Approaches to moral reasoning
Relationship between moral, ethical, legal and professional responsibilities
Professional codes of ethics and guidance documents
Relationship between law and ethics and process at ethics
Resources for understanding & interpreting cultural and faith communities

Target audience:

Healthcare professionals and clinical ethics committee (CEC) members, who are new to or would like to refresh their knowledge and understanding of ethical reasoning, ethical guidance and relationship with professionals.

Date and Time:

22 July 2026, 2:00PM to 4:15PM
29 July 2026, 2:00PM to 4:15PM
05 Aug 2026, 2:00PM to 4:15PM
12 Aug 2026, 2:00PM to 4:15PM

Mode:

There will be both asynchronous learning and synchronous sessions.
Asynchronous learning will be delivered on Canvas and can be viewed within a 2‑week window before the synchronous case discussions.
Synchronous sessions will be conducted on Zoom.

Unit 2: Elements of decision-making (Part 1): autonomy, informed consent, truth telling, decision-making capacity and best interests

29 July 2026, 2:00PM to 4:15PM

Learning objective:

To understand some of the common ethical and legal issues faced by healthcare professionals regarding patient autonomy, informed consent, truth telling, decision-making and best interests.

Topics covered:

Autonomy, informed consent and refusal
Disclosure, medical errors and truth telling
Proxy decision-making, substituted judgment and best interests
Decision-making capacity

Target audience:

Healthcare professionals and clinical ethics committee (CEC) members, who are new to or would like to refresh their knowledge and understanding of autonomy, informed consent, truth telling, decision-making and best interests.

Fee per unit:

Non-CEC members: $327.00 (incl. 9% GST)

Registration:

Non-CEC members: We invite you to register below. A fee of $327 (incl. GST) is payable upon registration to secure your slot. Slots are limited.
CEC-members: Please contact your respective CEC administrators to register.

View Programme

Unit 3: Elements of decision-making (Part 2): shared decision-making, end of life decision-making, advance care planning and non-beneficial treatment

05 August 2026, 2:00PM to 4:15PM

Learning objective:

To understand some of the common ethical and legal issues faced by healthcare professionals, regarding shared decision-making, end of life decision-making, advance care planning and non-beneficial treatment.

Topics covered:

Advance care planning
End of life decision-making
Shared decision making
Potentially inappropriate treatment / futility
Treatment goals and the related plan of care

Target audience:

Healthcare professionals and clinical ethics committee (CEC) members, who are new to or would like to refresh their knowledge and understanding of shared decision-making, end of life decision-making, advance care planning and non-beneficial treatment.

Unit 4: Health law, defensive medicine and therapeutic innovations

12 August 2026, 2:00PM to 4:15PM

Learning objective:

To understand relevant health law and some of the common ethical and legal issues faced by healthcare professionals regarding defensive medicine and therapeutic innovations.

Topics covered:

Relevant health law
Confidentiality and privacy
Distinctions between clinical research and therapeutic innovation
Defensive medicine

Target audience:

Healthcare professionals and clinical ethics committee (CEC) members, who are new to or would like to refresh their knowledge and understanding of health law, defensive medicine and therapeutic innovations.