ETHICS COMMITTEE
APSA Committees carry out a number of different critical functions for the association.
The APSA Ethics Committee is committed to promote the fundamental principles of ethics in all aspects of pediatric surgical practice as well as among healthcare professionals. The committee is a resource for APSA members who are seeking ethics education, guidance for ethical challenges in patient management and a voice for the highest quality, equitable healthcare for children. Bioethics is a dynamic and normative body of knowledge based in philosophy, spirituality, science and belief which guides our thinking and actions. The Ethics Committee will keep the APSA membership current regarding ethical standards for pediatric surgical practice. This committee will address evolving ethical challenges and management approaches pertaining to the care of pediatric patients. The Committee has a role in the promotion of inclusion, equity, diversity, professionalism and wellness among the APSA members and leadership. This Committee contributes educational curricula and resources in clinical medical ethics for surgeons in training as well as for those in practice. The Committee will work with other medical societies to advocate for ethical and equitable healthcare for children. Collaboration between the Ethics Committee and other APSA Committees, as well as with national and international organizations, will focus on the development of policies, programs, guidelines, research, educational tools and activities in bioethics.
Ethics Position Statement
Approved by the APSA Board of Governors – October 23, 2011. Read the statement.
Ethics Committee Literature Reviews
The Ethics Committee prepares regular literature reviews for APSA members which provide an overview of recent ethics research pertinent to all pediatric surgeons. The selections are compiled by members of the Ethics Committee, but as a group, they are not endorsing the results of these studies as definitive practice. View the Ethics Committee Literature Reviews.
Ethics Curriculum
Clinicians can find ethics curriculum, case studies and resources pertaining to surgical ethics on the Ethics Committee page on APSA’s Pediatric Surgery Library.