Resources

Psychological & Psychosocial Hazards in the Canadian
Healthcare Workplace

Resource Guide

Compiled September 23, 2025
This PDF consolidates reputable Canadian resources to help healthcare leaders, Joint Health & Safety
Committees, educators, and clinicians understand and act on psychological and psychosocial hazards at work.
Links are provided for direct access to each resource.

 

Relational Autonomy:

Relational autonomy can be thought of as the idea that sometimes traditional views of “autonomy” are too individualistic and fail to acknowledge both a person’s social context and status (and sometimes privilege) and their connections to others.  A richer understanding of the complexities of personhood can lead to better patient centred care and better shared decision-making in health care.  Here are some articles that articulate those ideas.

Rob Butcher recommended reads…

• Relational autonomy in end-of-life care ethics: a contextualized approach in real life complexities

• Relational autonomy: what does it mean and how is it used in end-of-life care? A systematic review of argument-based ethics literature

 

Ethics Frameworks – Annotated Bibliography 

 

Professional Codes of Ethics: National and Provincial

Patient Care Issues Relevant Laws

 

Pandemic Ethics:

• Ethics and pandemic planning

• Trust

• Tragic Triage

• Masks and Protection of the Public and Staff

• The Duty to Provide Care

• Pandemic Planning Practical Ethics in an Emergency

• Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses

• Nurse’s Ethical Considerations in a Pandemic or other Emergency

• Duty to Provide Care Practice Guideline Nova Scotia College of Nursing

• College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario Public Health Emergencies

• Stand on Guard for Thee: Ethical Considerations in Preparedness Planning for Pandemic Influenza

• World Health Organization – Ethical considerations in developing a public health response to pandemic influenza

• Masks and Solidarity

• Tough Decisions

• Communication Points – The Duty to Provide care

• Allocation of Personal Protective Equipment Ethical Framework during COVID 19

• Clinical Triage Protocol Notes

• Ramping up surgeries and procedures ethics check list

• Ethical Values & Principles Sampler

Links to Ethics web sites:

• Canadian Bioethics Society

• Fun Infographic

• The Nuffield Council on Bioethics

Hospital Ethics Services

Policy database:

• Ethics Frameworks

Ethics programme toolbox:

• Accountability Framework

• Conflict of Interest

• Ethics primer

• Framework for ethical decision-making

• Handbook

• How do I access case consultation or review services?

• Intranet resources:

1. 1.   Pamphlets and brochures

   2.   Pocket guide

• Planning guide for ethics activities

• Sample content for the governance policy statement

• Sample Research Committee Terms of Reference

• Sample policy on policies

 

Cases for discussion and reflection:

• Narcotic using patients and PICC lines

Topics in healthcare ethics:

• Advance Requests for Medical Aid in Dying

• Key Findings from the Report on Advance Requests.  Direct Quotations

On ethics and morality (in doc/book)

Care and nurture of your ethics committee