Seattle University Collaborative Projects - International Academy of ...

Mr. Hadzovic experienced the Bosnian war as a Muslim in Serbian territory (Sandzak area). Henow lives in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He worked as a deputy editor-in-chief for thelargest national daily newspaper in Bosnia (Dani) but presently works as a freelancer, mainly forBIRN (Balkan Investigative Reporting Network) in Belgrade and Novosti, a Zagreb-basedweekly.17. Bringing Lawyers and Healthcare Professionals Together inTeaching, Decision-Making, and Standard of CareInterdisciplinary Teaching Strategies in Mental Health LawLynne Hanson, Queen’s University (lh2@queensu.ca)Renee Fitzpatrick, Kingston General Hospital, Canada (rfitzpatrick@maplefht.ca)Many mental health professionals perceive a fundamental conflict between lawyers andphysicians in the mental health context. Traditionally, lawyers have championed the individualrights of patients, seeking to maximize patient autonomy by protecting their right to bodilyintegrity and self-determination. Conversely, the role of the physician is to act in the patient’sbest interests, ensure their well-being, and provide the best care possible. The authors contendthat these conflicting values are a reality that must be addressed by lawyers and healthcareproviders alike; both tread a fine line, struggling to discern and respect patient self-determinationwhile simultaneously meeting patients’ needs for care and treatment. They suggest that thestruggle to balance these competing concerns may thus be fruitfully addressed via an interdisciplinaryapproach in education and teaching strategies. Law and medicine may be seen asinterlocking pieces of the same puzzle, as law demarcates the legitimate boundaries forintervention and care. Using bright-line tests of capacity and best interests, the Ontariolegislation permits intervention for assessment and care, alongside the ability to treat whereconsent is obtained from the patient or a substitute decision-maker. A patient’s prior capablewish to refuse treatment is upheld and respected where it is applicable in the circumstances.Withdrawal of Life Support and the ‘Best Interests’ TestLora Patton, Consent and Capacity Board, Toronto, Canada (lorampatton@gmail.com)Ruzica Jokic, Queen’s University (jokicr@providencecare.ca)By 2013, the Supreme Court of Canada will have rendered its decision in Rasouli (Litigationguardian of) v. Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, [2011] O.J. No. 2984, a case on end-of-lifeissues under the Ontario Health Care Consent Act. Mr. Rasouli’s physicians argued that noconsent was required for withdrawal of life support, claiming that it was not a ‘treatment’ here48