Author: Dr John Shenouda, ST6, Queen Charlotte’s Hospital; Member, RCoA Ethics Committee
Ethics underpins all that we do in medicine and anaesthesia. It’s a topic that’s always fascinated me, though I’ve found it challenging to incorporate into anaesthetic training besides daily clinical decision-making.
Seeking to further my understanding of medical ethics and global health, I completed a Medicine in Conflict and Catastrophe postgraduate diploma. This provided the platform for me to start vulnerability assessments. Working alongside colleagues, we successfully rehoused asylum seekers from Penally barracks to safer, more appropriate housing while their applications were reviewed.
Many royal colleges have recently formed ethics committees to advise their councils on matters relevant to the colleges and their membership.