27th Annual Ethics Speaker Series – End of Life and No-CPR Orders: Indigenous Perspectives

This speaker series is a collaboration between The Centre for Clinical Ethics and The Indigenous Health Program and explores the experiences of Indigenous patients within hospital settings, with a particular focus on end-of-life care, no-CPR orders, and the process of death and dying. Grounded in perspectives from both Indigenous healthcare providers and non- Indigenous allies, the sessions acknowledge the ongoing impacts of colonialism— including systemic racism, historical trauma, and mistrust of healthcare institutions— that continue to shape Indigenous peoples’ experiences in hospitals at the end of life. Through descriptions of lived experiences, Indigenous understandings of death and dying, and the role of ceremony, this series aims to support healthcare providers in developing greater cultural awareness and understanding. The goal is to foster care that is compassionate, culturally safe, and rooted in relationship, so that Indigenous patients and families are treated in a good way during one of the most sacred times of life.