FAQ about the IDC M3-ELSI Conferences

What are the ELSI conferences?

The ELSI conferences are case discussions in which students analyze challenging social conflicts with the assistance of outside consults from such areas as bioethics, law, hospital administration, nursing, social work, hospital chaplaincy, and communication studies.

What does "ELSI" stand for?

Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications. We have borrowed the acronym from medical research where at the NIH it is used to designate funding that is set aside for research directed at the social implications of medical research and technology.

What are the goals of the sessions?

The sessions give students the opportunity to think systematically through issues in clinical practice with special attention to the social, moral, and legal perspectives on these issues.

How do these conferences differ from the M3 Ethics conferences?

While there are still ethics conferences in many clinical rotations, those discussions focus on the cases that students encounter during that rotation. The ELSI cases, by contrast, are provided by clinicians from various specialties. Unlike the clinical ethics conferences, these discussions are enhanced by consulting with experts in other disciplines who provide essential information. ELSI sessions also allow students to see how professionals of different disciplines think through these issues; that is, they allow student to observe what Donald Schön refers to as "self-reflexive practitioners." For example, students learn not only what Illinois law is for surrogate decision-making but also how a lawyer approaches the issue.

Why use taped case presentations? Why not just have clinicians come and tell the case to the class during the session?

There are several advantages to having the cases taped ahead of time. First, it eliminates the need to insure that a clinician is present at the class session. Second, it gives us some control over the amount of time for the class presentation. Third, not having the clinician present allows students and the consultants to discuss the case more freely.

Why not use student cases?

While the discussion of student cases is important (and that is why we continue to have the clinical ethics conferences) we also want students to think through cases their attendings are struggling with, one's they may face as clinicians in the near future.

Should I watch these videos before the session?

No, we think it best for you to actively reflect on the case with the amount of information that is presented. The videotaped cases usually consist of two parts. First the clinician recounts the case up to the point where he or she had to make a decision. The second part involves the clinician describing the outcome of the case. We would like the discussion to focus on what the students think should be done without an awareness of how the case finally ended.

Who gets the cases?

The Medical Humanities and Bioethics program finds the clinicians, tapes the cases, and brings them to class.

How is the discussion structured?

We have tried several structures and have found the best form to be one that was developed by Jonsen, Sigler and Winslade. This involves a focus on four aspects of a case: 1) indications of medical intervention, 2) patient preferences, 2) quality of life, and 4) contextual factors. We hand out work sheets prior to showing the first part of the case and students are asked to fill it out. We then open the discussion to look at these various aspects of the case as a group?

Where can I learn more about this approach to ethics analysis?

See Albert Jonsen, Mark Sieger, and William Winslade, Clinical Ethics . 4th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1998.

How should I prepare for my part as a consultant?

While we want you to respond to the questions asked of you by the students and the discussion leader, often it is best to think of a few key points that you want M3 students to remember about this particular issue. Think of providing the students with a nugget of knowledge. Your presentation should be no longer than 3-5 minutes.

How are the cases selected?

Generally we try to look for interesting and challenging cases in which a decision needed to be made by the health care professionals and the clinician believes an outside consultant would have been particularly helpful in deciding what to do. We are especially interested in cases that led the clinician to rethink an issue.

Do consultants get honorariums?

No, I am afraid that we do not pay consultants. We can provide stickers for free parking.

When and where do the ELSI conferences take place?

From 2:20pm to 3:20pm.  Please call the office for place (see number below).

Where should I park?

In the parking garage directly across Northwestern Memorial Hospital, between E. Superior and E. Huron. View map (PDF format · 72 KB).

What do I do if I am going to be late or cannot make the conference?

Please call the Medical Humanities and Bioethics program at 312-503-7962.