Dr. Daniel Buchman is a bioethicist and scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).
Topic
Palliative Psychiatry: Promises and Perils
Speaker
Daniel Buchman MSW, PhD Bioethicist and Scientist | Centre for Addiction and Mental Health | Associate Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health | Joint Centre for Bioethics, University of Toronto
Learning objectives
- Define palliative psychiatry and distinguish it from traditional psychiatric approaches;
- Identify key ethical promises and perils in palliative psychiatry, including issues related to treatment futility, decision-making capacity, and the ethical implications of shifting goals of care;
- Describe potential research, clinical, and educational priorities for palliative psychiatry as the field develops.
Abstract
Palliative psychiatry is an emerging field focused on improving the quality of life for people living with severe, persistent mental illnesses (SPMI). Palliative psychiatry applies the principles of palliative care to SPMI, prioritizing quality of life, person-centered care, and the alleviation of suffering. While explorations of palliative psychiatry have been largely theoretical to date, more work is needed to not only develop its clinical approaches but also clarify the relevant ethical considerations. In this talk, we will explore some of the ethical dimensions related to palliative psychiatry, highlighting the key ethical promises and perils that arise in its practice.
Dr. Daniel Buchman is a bioethicist and scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). He is also an associate professor in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, a member of the University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics, and an affiliate scientist in the Krembil Research Institute at the University Health Network. In addition, he is a member of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Advisory Committee on Ethics.
