RRT, PhD
Carolyn [dot] ells [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Email)
Academic background
Carolyn Ells is an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine, based at the Biomedical Ethics Unit. She is an Associate Member of the Division of Experimental Medicine and an Associate Researcher at the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research.
Research
Dr. Ells’ current research activities are directed to 2 foci:
1) Patient-centered care theory and its implementation in practice
Her current research collaborations involve this theme. See for example, The Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network (SPIN)
2) Research ethics review process and policy
Her publications and policy analyses in the area of research ethics review have been used by policy makers in recommending revisions to normative texts, including the Declaration of Helsinki by the World Medical Association; the Tri-Council Policy Statement for Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans by the Social Sciences and Humanities Working Committee of the Panel on Research Ethics; and the American Association for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Consent Task Force.
Teaching
Dr Ells teaches BIOE-680 (Bioethical Theory), a required course in the Specialization in Bioethics Master’s Program. She supervises graduate students in that program, teaches in the medical school, and provides continuing education lectures in bioethics to local health professionals.
Dr Ells co-authored a 5-module on-line research ethics tutorial targeting research ethics board members and support staff within the Quebec health and social services network.
Professional Activities
Dr Ells is currently serving her second two-year term as Co-Coordinator of the International Network of Feminist Approaches to Bioethics (FAB). She has been a member of the Advisory Board and Archivist of the same organization since 2001. She serves on the Editorial Board of The International Journal of Feminist Approaches to Bioethics (IJFAB] ), and reviews manuscripts for several journals.
Selected Publications
1) Patient-centered care theory and its implementation in practice
Hunt MR, Ells C. A Patient-Centered Care Ethics Analysis Model for Rehabilitation, American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Accepted February 2013)
Ells C, Hunt M, Chambers-Evans J. Relational Autonomy as an Essential Component of Patient-Centered Care. IJFAB. 4:2 (2011), 79-101. Relational Autonomy as an Essential Component of Patient-Centered Care [.pdf]
Hunt M, Ells C. Partners Towards Autonomy : Risky Choices and Relational Autonomy in Rehabilitation Care, Disability and Rehabilitation. 33;11 (2011), 961-967. Partners Towards Autonomy [.pdf]
Lotan G, Ells C. Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Participation in Decision Making: Ethical Considerations for Professional–Client Practice, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. 48:2 (2010), 112-145. Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Participation in Decision Making [.pdf]
Lemoignan J, Ells C. ALS and Assisted ventilation: How patients decide, Palliative and Supportive Care. 8:2 (2010), 207-213. ALS and Assisted Ventilation [.pdf]
Ells C. Levels of Intervention: Communicating with more precision about planned use of critical interventions. The American Journal of Bioethics. 10:1 (2010), 78-79. Levels of Intervention [.pdf]
2) Research ethics review process and policy
Ells C. Communicating Qualitative Research Study Designs to Research Ethics Review Boards, The Qualitative Report. 16: 3 (2011), 881-891. Communicating Qualitative Research Study Design [.pdf]
Ells C. There's No Going Outside the Lines: Ethical Considerations in the Conduct of Clinical Trials. Chapter 4 In: What You Need to Know to Conduct a Clinical Trial and How to Avoid Common Pitfalls, Craig Leonardi & Kim Papp (Program Chairpersons), an on-line educational program jointly sponsored by the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine, BioCentric, Inc., and the International Psoriasis Council, June 1, 2009. http://www.psoriasiscouncil.org/resources/publications/clinicaltiralshandbook.htm
Goodyear MDE, Eckenwiler LA, Ells C. Fresh thinking about the Declaration of Helsinki: A comprehensive approach to ethical research, BMJ (2008) 337:a2128. (Commissioned editorial) Fresh thinking about the Declaration of Helsinki [.pdf]
Eckenwiler LA, Ells C, Feinholz D, Schonfeld T. Hopes for Helsinki: reconsidering "vulnerability", Journal of Medical Ethics. 34:10 (2008), 765-766. Hopes for Helsinki [.pdf]
Eckenwiler LA, Feinholz D, Ells C, Schonfeld T. "The Declaration of Helsinki through a Feminist Lens," The International Journal of Feminist Approaches to Bioethics. 1:1 (2008), 161-177. The Declaration of Helsinki through a Feminist Lens [.pdf]
Ells C, Gutfreund S. "Myths about Qualitative Research and the Tri-Council Policy Statement," The Canadian Journal of Sociology. 31:3 (2006), 361-373. Myths about Qualitative Research and the Tri-Council [.pdf]