What we do

Ethics Forum

Join the Ethics Forum

The Ethics Forum is committed to fostering ethical excellence in palliative care through collaboration, innovation, and shared learning. As we continue to grow, we are always looking for opportunities to improve and expand our work.

We welcome expressions of interest from palliative care professionals who have ideas for research, quality improvement projects, service initiatives, case discussions, or publications. If you are looking for guidance, collaboration, or support to develop a project in line with our governance and ethical standards, we encourage you to connect with us.

Have an idea? Want to collaborate? Looking for support to bring a project to publication? We would love to hear from you. Submit an expression of interest and join us in advancing ethical practice and improving palliative care through meaningful projects and initiatives.

Where ethical principles shape and guide palliative care practices with excellence and compassion.

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The role of the IAPC Ethics Forum is to listen to all aspects of a palliative care issues, discuss different viewpoints, facilitate communication, and clarify the position of the IAPC.

This will be carried out by producing policy papers for discussion, responding to ongoing palliative care issues as they arise and ensuring that the voice of the IAPC is clear in any discussions, policy documents, submissions, or dialogues.

Hike Group

Specifically, it will:

Identify and interpret the ethical questions raised:
  • by Government
  • by IAPC Board members, or other, in order to respond to and anticipate questions of significant concern
  • Investigating and reporting on such questions in the interests of promoting public and membership understanding of ethical issues
  • Through the Board to ensure that all IAPC members are fully informed of decisions, policy papers or submissions
Their work will result in the development of :
  • Discussion documents
  • Policy Papers
  • Submissions
Dissemination of information to the IAPC members through:
  • Published reports
  • Conferences
  • Workshops
  • Lectures

Ethics Forum Resources

Explore the published documents and materials from the Ethics Forum below.

The Ethics Forum representing the Irish Association of Palliative Care has developed a statement to support our worldwide colleagues who are working in extreme war torn and conflict situations.   Download
Nutrition and Decision Making 2025Download
IAPC-Position-Paper-Assisted-Dying-NALA-May-2023Download

Forum members

Who are the Ethics Forum

Jonathan Clarke

Paediatric Specialist Registrar

Children’s Health Ireland, Temple Street

David Smith

Assistant Professor of
Health Care Ethics

School of Nursing and Paramedic Science Ulster University

Tara McDonnell

Palliative Medicine Registrar

Galway University Hospital

Elisabeth Koch

Occupational Therapist

Southeast Palliative Care Centre, and University Hospital Waterford

Hannah Linnane

Fellow in Adolescent & Young Adult Palliative Medicine

Niall Galligan

Chaplain

Adjunct Lecturer in the Department alongside his work as a healthcare Chaplain

Maeve Brassil

Specialist Registrar/SPR

Galway University Hospital, Galway

Frances O’Mahony

Higher Specialist Training in Palliative Medicine

Kieran Skehan

Registrar

Wicklow Hospice

USEFUL FORUM Documents

Download Ethics Forum
Governance Handbook

Interest form

Forum Membership
Interest Form Submission

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