The newest member of the Ethics Center, James Hynds, PhD, comes to UCLA Hospital System from Toronto where he was senior post-doctoral clinical ethics fellow at the Joint Center for Bioethics and the Centre for Clinical Ethics, both affiliated with the University of Toronto. Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, Dr. Hynds earned a law degree and a master’s degree in theology there. He then earned his doctorate in bioethics from St. Louis University in Missouri. Dr. Hynds specializes in end-of-life ethics, theological ethics, and the interface of bioethics and the law. He firmly believes “the primary goal of all our work in clinical ethics is excellence in patient care.”

“I feel very privileged to have been appointed the Clinical Ethicist here at UCLA. Clinical ethics demands considerable analytic rigor,” Dr. Hynds says. “While UCLA enjoys a formidable national and international reputation, our job is to apply our critical thinking to resolve the daily practical challenges we encounter in clinical practice.”

Why UCLA?
UCLA has a stellar national and international reputation for excellence in patient care. Many UCLA programs are breaking new ground in the treatment of illness and disease; however, contemporary developments in medical science are often attended by new and complex ethical challenges. Joining UCLA’s Healthcare Ethics Center offers me the unique possibility of participating in and perhaps shaping ethical debate in these new and exciting areas of inquiry.

What is ‘clinical’ ethics?
Clinical ethics has a very practical goal; it concentrates on identifying, analysing and (hopefully) resolving ethical issues when they arise in the care of a particular patient. It is less abstract than other more theoretical approaches to medical or healthcare ethics. That does not mean that theory and analytical rigor are irrelevant in clinical ethics; rather, these skills are placed at the service of resolving real-life ethical issues as they arise in every day clinical practice. The practical resolution of these issues requires melding theoretical constructs with clinical sensibilities.

What is your role?
Clinical ethicists assist in the resolution of ethical dilemmas arising in the course of patient care when what is medically possible or appropriate differs from the values and goals of the patients’ or their families. Ethicists serve as a resource to healthcare professionals, patients and family members to facilitate, advise on and support decision making during these difficult circumstances.

In addition to our role as consultants, the members of the Healthcare Ethics Center are actively involved in ethics education, research and policy development throughout UCLA Healthcare.

First impressions of UCLA?
I have been incredibly impressed by the dedication of the healthcare professionals here in pursuing the very best care for their patients. There is a genuine openness and welcome on the part of staff to the contribution our Healthcare Ethics Center can make to achieve excellence in patient care. Already I feel at home in many of the units on which I have been asked to consult.

Talking of home (which for me is Scotland), I would not be being entirely honest if I did not mention how incredibly impressed I am with your warm and sunny California climate . . . another reason I am happy to be here at UCLA.