By Robert Andre Emmanuel
In a move geared to strengthen ethical oversight in patient care and medical research, the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre (SLBMC) announced a significant restructuring of its Ethics Committee by installing general surgeon Dr Serena St Luce as the new chairperson.
The reconstituted committee brings together professionals from diverse backgrounds, including medicine, law, religion, and finance.
Dr Tekina Goodwin, who previously chaired the committee, will continue her involvement as deputy chair, ensuring continuity in the committee’s operations.
“The Ethics Committee provides expert guidance when unresolved ethical concerns emerge, whether for the healthcare team, the patient, or their families,” explained Salma Crump, Head of Marketing & Communications at SLBMC.
She emphasised that the committee offers recommendations to help inform critical healthcare decisions.
The newly appointed committee includes retired clergy member Pastor Charles Heskey, disbursement and accounts payable supervisor Gloria Farrell, and attorney José Laurent.
This diverse composition reflects the committee’s mandate to address complex medical scenarios from multiple perspectives.
Some examples of situations where ethics consultation would be helpful, according to the SLBMC include resolution of healthcare decisions for non-communicative patients, addressing conflicts between religious beliefs and medical treatments, mediating disagreements about critical care interventions, supporting healthcare teams experiencing moral distress, and providing guidance on complex medical scenarios with ethical implications.