CMA Recognizes Excellence in the Field of Medical Ethics

OTTAWA, Aug. 1, 2013 /CNW/ - The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) announced today that Dr. David McKnight of Toronto and Dr. Ian Mitchell of Calgary will receive the 2013 Dr. William Marsden Award in Medical Ethics. This award recognizes CMA members who have demonstrated exemplary leadership, commitment and dedication to the cause of advancing and promoting excellence in the field of medical ethics in Canada.

Dr. David McKnight
Dr. David McKnight is widely admired for his leadership and dedication to excellence in the field of medical ethics. He began teaching ethics in anesthesia in 1990 and has won several awards for excellence in postgraduate education. Currently the associate dean of equity and professionalism for the faculty of medicine at the University of Toronto, he introduced the "Stethoscope Ceremony" during orientation for new medical students, symbolizing the importance of listening. He is also responsible for an empowering diversity statement for faculty recruitment.

"I am honoured and humbled to receive this award, particularly when looking at the list of those who have received it before me," said Dr. McKnight. "In teaching ethics in medical care, I have tried to emphasize that there is no day and almost no decision in patient care that does not involve ethics, in that values are inextricably woven into everything we do. Giving new physicians the tools to recognize those ethical elements, to consider, and then deal with them has been my goal."

Dr. McKnight earned both his medical degree (1975) and his master of health science in bioethics (2006) from the University of Toronto. Since receiving his specialty fellowship in anesthesia (1980), he has been staff anesthesiologist at St. Michael's Hospital. He is also professor and vice-chair of education in the department of anesthesia at the University of Toronto.

He shared his expertise with the Canadian Anesthesiologist's Society (CAS), where he served on the ethics committee for many years, including 12 years as chair. In 1997, Dr. McKnight presented a lecture on ethical issues in clinical anesthesia at the CAS annual meeting that has since become an annual symposium on ethical principles. It has been praised by his colleagues for changing their thinking and how they practise. He has also had an outstanding career of service to the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, where he spent five years as chair of the ethics and equity committee and as co-chair of the bioethics education project.

Dr. Ian Mitchell
Dr. Ian Mitchell is a leader who enhances ethical and professional behaviour in physicians and displays excellence in his own ethics research and teaching initiatives. He is known as a meta-teacher who serves bioethics and the profession with insight, innovation and fearlessness.

"I was honoured to be nominated and overwhelmed to be granted this award," said Dr. Mitchell. "It is a privilege to work with children and families, and to encourage aspiring physicians to consider all aspects of care. Ethics are integral to the best health care."

After studying medicine at the University of Edinburgh, Dr. Mitchell pursued specialty training in pediatrics and pediatric lung disease. In 1982 he accepted a position at Alberta Children's Hospital and joined the faculty of the University of Calgary's department of paediatrics. Currently holding the rank of professor, he is director of the Respiratory Home Care Clinic.

Dr. Mitchell was director of bioethics at the University of Calgary (1999 - 2006) and serves on several research ethics boards. He also was a member of the National Panel on Research Ethics that was created by the presidents of Canada's major granting councils. In 2004 he earned a master's degree in bioethics from the Medical College of Wisconsin.

He became active in the Canadian Bioethics Society (CBS) in 1992. After his term as president he was co-chair of the CBS committee that planned a national conference on home care. Currently he is a member of the Canadian Paediatric Society Bioethics Committee and a member of the American Society of Bioethics and Humanities. Dr. Mitchell represents the Prairies and Northwest Territories on the Canadian Medical Association's Committee on Ethics.

"By sharing their passion with the next generation of physicians, Dr. McKnight and Dr. Mitchell have clearly ignited a movement to keep medical ethics at the forefront in Canadian medical policy and practice," said Dr. Anna Reid, president of the CMA. "They've made a unique and remarkable contribution to the growing awareness of this important medical field."

The award is named after the first chair of the CMA's Committee on Ethics, Dr. William Marsden, who later served as president of the association in 1873-1874. It was under Dr. Marsden that the committee drafted the first version of today's CMA Code of Ethics, which was approved in 1868.

The awards will be presented Aug. 21 at a ceremony held at the Hyatt Regency Calgary Hotel, during the CMA's 146th annual meeting.

SOURCE: Canadian Medical Association

Dominique Jolicoeur, Communications Officer
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