Psimopoulos C.
Ethics for the Clinician/Patient in Adaptive Sports Medicine. Harvard Medical School, Center for Bioethics, Capstone Projects booklet, 2023 . In Preparation.
Abstract
Ethics for the Clinician/Trainer/Patient in Adaptive Sports Medicine
In the realm of Disability Sport and Adaptive Sport Medicine, the ethics of care of the provider are unique. The nature of a rehabilitation hospital warrants an authentic and specific perspective, by virtue of the reality of that ecosystem. Individuals with disabilities who are rehabilitating after a disease or injury may have different needs than most other patients. This scholarly project uncovered the rich process of making meaning of the intricacies of Adaptive Sports Medicine at Spaulding. When ethics was the lens through which the participant observer approached this project, it necessitated delving deeper into this relatively nascent treatment of this subject, that is largely absent from the bioethics literature. Methods for addressing clinical and organizational ethics issues in an environment involving disability ethics came into play. The researcher apprenticed in an ethics advisory committee and developed focused educational programming for the adapted sports team of clinicians, conducting a qualitative review. The objectives of this capstone project were to: a) understand the elements of the unique nature of disability bioethics, b) accommodating discussions of bioethics principles in a disability/adaptive sport medicine context, and c) learn how to be a more inclusive clinical ethicist and practitioner. With freedom of movement as a goal and self-determination as an ideal, it was shown that rehabilitation is more a quality of life (rather than/compared to life or death) matter and domain. It has to do with purpose, and meaning, participation and empowerment leading to human flourishing.
Word Count: 250
Capstone Mentor: Lynne Brady Wagner, MA, CCC-SLP, MRMC, HEC-C
Chief Learning and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer
Associate Director, Spaulding Stroke Wellness Institute
Chair, Ethics Advisory Committee
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Affiliated Faculty member, Center for Bioethics, Harvard Medical School
ethics_in_adaptive_sport_medicine_capstone_poster_-_kosti.pdf final_capstone_lit_review_-_psimopoulos_1.04.22.docx