A nordic platform for clinical ethics in pediatric oncology

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this presentation is to present the development, activities and achievements of the NOPHO/NOBOS Working Group on Ethics (WGE) 2008-2013. Methods: A joint working group on ethics, consisting of pediatric oncology nurses and physicians, was constituted during the NOPHO/NOBOS Annual Meeting in 2008. The intention was to create a Nordic competence group addressing ethical questions within pediatric oncology. The WGE has 14 members (7 nurses and 7 physicians) with at least two representatives from each of the Nordic countries. The group meets yearly at two 1-daymeetings and one 3-day-workshop. Meetings are organizational and educational. Members are educated through international courses and conferences in clinical ethics, and are trained facilitators in moral case deliberation. Results: All WGE members participate in, or have initiated, formalized clinical ethics projects at their pediatric departments, hospitals, regions or countries. Most clinical projects provide deliberation on ethically difficult cases on a regular basis as an integrated part of daily work in pediatric oncology. Ten members are active in local clinical ethics committees. Two members have initiated or supervise research projects on ethical matters. Two members teach ethics to nursing or medical students. One is a board member in a national society for clinical ethics. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, WGE represents the first specialized working group on ethics within the framework of an international study group for pediatric oncology (NOPHO) and the first joint working group of NOPHO and NOBOS. It has proved beneficial to combine pediatric oncology nurses and physicians from different countries for this work. Through collaboration and education we have created a common Nordic platform for developing clinically applied ethics. Importantly, the WGE has inspired and enabled all members to initiate or engage actively in projects locally, regionally and nationally, thus increased the focus on clinical ethics.