Issue 56
Nov 2025
THE BANYAN TREE
On 14 July 2025, the Centre for Biomedical Ethics (CBmE) brought together 33 members of Clinical Ethics Committees for a practical, case-based workshop to help strengthen ethics support across Singapore’s hospitals. Delivered under CBmE’s MOH-funded CENTRES programme, the session equipped participants with a shared, defensible approach to analysing complex clinical ethics cases.
Building capacity where it matters
At CBmE, our mission is to build capacity in medical ethics across the healthcare ecosystem. Through continuing education, ranging from our Executive Certificate in Healthcare Ethics and Law to targeted talks, conferences, and bespoke learning, we support healthcare professionals to deal with healthcare ethics issues, such as consent, capacity, end-of-life decisions and resource allocation with confidence and compassion.
The Case Analysis for Clinical Ethics Committees workshop is designed to help fulfil this mission. Designed specifically for Clinical Ethics Committee members who advise on ethically challenging patient-care scenarios, the workshop provides the structure and shared language committees need to guide sound, timely decision-making.
The 33 participants were a multidisciplinary cohort, reflecting how ethical decisions are made in practice. They comprised 24 doctors, five lay members, two medical social workers and two pharmacists.
Topics covered
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Foundations and frameworks Chaired by Dr Sumytra Menon, with plenary speaker Associate Professor Michael Dunn, a leading scholar in clinical ethics and seasoned educator, the workshop introduced practical, rigorous frameworks for case analysis that were grounded in real-world examples. |
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Facilitated application Breakout discussions were facilitated by CBmE faculty members and stakeholders Associate Professor Chan Mei Yoke, Dr Kumudhini Rajasegaran, Dr Titus Lau, Dr Shizuko Takahashi, and Ms Mathavi Senguttuvan who guided participants through anonymised case studies in a supportive environment. |
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Participants worked through a stepwise approach—identifying ethical issues, clarifying values and principles, considering context and options, and formulating recommendations that are context-sensitive and ethically defensible. |
Feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Participants indicated they liked the workshop for its:
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Clarity and confidence: One participant said that the ethics training has given her confidence to contribute meaningfully to committee discussions. |
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Practicality: Tools and frameworks that translate directly to committee deliberations. |
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Multidisciplinary learning: The event fostered in-depth discussions across professional boundaries, strengthened by small-group facilitation. |
Many expressed interest in follow-up sessions and advanced modules, underscoring the growing demand for targeted ethics education aligned to clinical realities.
Why it matters
Clinical Ethics Committees play a pivotal role as trusted sounding boards for clinicians. By equipping CEC members with shared methods and practical tools, the CBmE is strengthening institutional capacity and promoting a culture of thoughtful, principled decision-making across the system through the MOH-funded CENTRES programme.
This workshop reflects the broader ethos of CBmE’s continuing education: responsive, relevant, and rooted in the lived experience of healthcare professionals—whether through executive programmes, short courses, or bespoke training tailored to institutional needs.
Upcoming sessions:
Enquiries & customised training:
This column is dedicated to the pursuit of continuous learning and development and takes its name from the banyan tree. It has roots that grow deep, anchoring it firmly in the soil. The tree spreads its shade wide and far and provides space for reflection and discussion. We invite you to come and take a seat under its shade.
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