Community Health Care Ethics: A Documentary Part 1
Community Health Care Ethics: A Documentary Part 2

A two part documentary that captures the essence of what The Center for Ethics and Advocacy in Healthcare is all about through interviews with Peggy McDonnell, speakers, and the interns. The documentary is about 18 minutes long in total.

Mission Statement

The Center for Ethics and Advocacy in Healthcare, community initiated and community based, exists to help people make wise decisions as they move through our present healthcare institutions.

The Center affects a shift in decision-making authority so that individuals become part of their own healthcare decisions. The Center works towards changing public policy in our country's healthcare system and supports the extension of this work into the community through its programs.

Overview

The Center for Ethics and Advocacy in Healthcare is a nonprofit organization. We are based in the northern suburbs of Chicago but frequently have been involved with people from around the country and even internationally. We are continuing our support for local families, answering questions and responding to family crises that arise both locally and non-locally, and further updating our website.

Our Beliefs

The Center believes that each person is unique. This uniqueness is often referred to as human dignity. Human dignity is comprised of body, mind and spirit–all are inseparable–a totality. The Center believes that each person has an invaluable integrity of the human spirit, regardless of their physical capacity, and because of this each individual should be treated with respect and decency. However, human dignity is threatened by inadequate healthcare and by lack of patient participation in decisions about their care.

The Center is committed to help each person gain and preserve a quality of life that is consistent with his or her uniqueness and potential. The potential for spiritual, personal and social growth exists in aged or ill individuals just as it does in young, healthy people. Each life is of inestimable value.

Life as we know it–breathing, having a heartbeat–is not the highest value here. The Center values the dignity, promise and quality of each human life. At The Center, we assist individuals as they strive to continue self-fulfilling lives in spite of failing health. The Center exists in order to integrate the illness experience into each person's life and future. The Center also assists the sick, the vulnerable, their families and their caregivers during trying times. Personhood is not compromised by frailty. Although power, strength and beauty are worthwhile values, The Center endeavors to educate and to teach that: "When we are weak, then we are strong."

See The Center’s History

View Our Staff

View our Board of Directors

In the Words of the Founding Members

Located at Techny Towers: Conference and Retreat Center