Thoughts on supporting healthcare ethics leadership, by the editors of Impact Ethics.

Abstract

Impact Ethics (www.impactethics.ca) is a Canadian bioethics blog with a diversity of contributors who come from a range of backgrounds - from academics and clinicians to activists and concerned citizens. Our authors are also diverse with respect ethnicity, race, culture, and gender. We publish commentaries about ethical issues in healthcare that affect Canadians. As editors of the blog and as practicing healthcare ethicists, we make note of three crucial determinants of leadership in healthcare ethics. First, leadership in healthcare ethics requires building relationships with other leaders, including those who do not hold formal leadership roles. Second, it is essential for leaders to be open to learning new knowledge and to learning about new practices in healthcare ethics. Third, leaders must have an orientation towards the future, which means building capacity for healthcare ethics within their organizations. The Impact Ethics blog can be used to support each of these determinants of ethics leadership.