Get Talking! Balancing Autonomy and Ethics in Healthcare
From The MHSc in Translational Research Program (TRP) hosted by TRP instructor, Dr. Edyta Marcon.
Get Talking! is an in-person discussion series focused on the most challenging issues facing healthcare today including equitable access to care, legislation, funding, delivery, and innovation. It is intended to showcase multiple perspectives and create a forum for a constructive, respectful discussion. See the TRP website for the full series.
Session six: Balancing Autonomy and Ethics in Healthcare - “Dying with your rights on”
Talks and panel will run from 4 - 5:30 pm with 30 minutes afterwards for networking. Audience participation is encouraged.
Coffee and tea will be provided! Space is limited, please register early.
“Dying with your rights on” - exploring the tension between personal autonomy and the duty to care. This discussion will explore the ethical and policy questions raised by Ontario’s proposed legislation on involuntary addiction treatment: do we have the right or duty to decide, and who decides what care is in someone’s best interest when they are unable or unwilling to seek it themselves?
Speakers
Sergeant August Bonomo
Sergeant August Bonomo #10326 began his policing career in 2007 with the Peel Regional Police Service before transferring to the Toronto Police Service in 2009. He has served in various roles including uniform patrol, community response, and the divisional Criminal Investigative Bureau.
For three years, Sgt. Bonomo worked as a Mobile Crisis Intervention Team (MCIT) officer, serving 12, 13, and 31 Divisions. In 2014, he was selected to join the Iacobucci Implementation Team, where he played a key role in operationalizing recommendations from the Iacobucci review of police interactions with persons in crisis. The team also implemented findings from several related coroner’s inquests, reinforcing the Service’s commitment to accountability and community safety.
In 2017, Sgt. Bonomo assumed the position of Mental Health/MCIT Coordinator for the Toronto Police Service. He provided strategic oversight for 13 operational MCIT teams and led initiatives focused on mental health both within the Service and in collaboration with external partners. During this time, he contributed significantly to a range of police reform projects arising from the 81 recommendations issued in August 2020 by the City of Toronto and the Toronto Police Services Board.
Currently, Sgt. Bonomo serves at the Toronto Police College as a supervisor in officer safety and incident response training. He is responsible for delivering training to both recruits and serving officers, with a focus on mental health, substance use disorders, and de-escalation techniques. His approach integrates evidence-based strategies and recognized best practices to ensure effective and compassionate policing.
Before joining law enforcement, Sgt. Bonomo had a distinguished career in healthcare as a rehabilitation specialist. He operated a private practice that offered Osteopathic Manual Therapy, Sports Therapy, and acupuncture, demonstrating his longstanding dedication to care and service.
Gilbert Sharpe
With over 40 years of legal practice and advisory roles, Gilbert Sharpe brings a wealth of experience in healthcare public policy and regulation. As the former Director of the Legal Branch for the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the legal and policy landscape of healthcare in Canada. His work has influenced numerous key legislative and policy reforms aimed at improving both the Ontario and Canadian healthcare systems.
Gilbert's impact extends beyond Canada through his advisory roles with international organizations such as the World Bank, the Inter-American Bank, and the World Health Organization. His expertise in global healthcare regulation also led him to contribute to U.S. healthcare reforms during his time as a professor at Loyola University in Chicago.
Gilbert earned his LLB and LLM from Osgoode Hall Law School, and his contributions to healthcare policy and strategy continue to shape both academic and public health discussions. For many years, Gilbert Sharpe was a Professor at Mental Health Law, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto. Currently, Gilbert Sharpe, is an Adjunct Professor with the Faculty of Medicine and a member of the teaching team at the Translational Research Program at the University of Toronto. Gilbert is the Editor-in-Chief of Health Law in Canada Journal. A prolific author and speaker, he has published numerous books and hundreds of articles on healthcare law and continues to be a key opinion leader in the field.
Dr. Edyta Marcon
Dr. Edyta Marcon is the Program Director of the Translational Research Program in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine. With a background in biomedical research and a passion for teaching, she now leads a graduate program that empowers students to address real-world health challenges through innovative, equity-driven interventions. Dr. Marcon is deeply committed to improving health outcomes, particularly by advancing approaches that are both evidence-based and grounded in empathy. Currently, she is interested in engaging in critical conversations around policy—such as Ontario’s proposed legislation on involuntary addiction treatment—and exploring how we can balance autonomy, care, and public health in ways that are ethical, effective, compassionate, and centered around the needs of individual patients.
When & where
Tuesday, May 20, 4 - 5:30 pm
This event will be held in person only.
The Translational Research Program, University of Toronto
Auditorium, 263 McCaul Street
Toronto, M5T 1W7