The Minnesota COVID Ethics Collaborative (MCEC)

MCEC worked statewide to develop ethical guidance for COVID-19 response in Minnesota, in partnership with MDH, the Minnesota Hospital Association, and the State Healthcare Coordination Center. MCEC also closely collaborated with the Minnesota Critical Care Working Group. Interdisciplinary experts from every major health system in the state participated in MCEC, along with experts on tribal health and from governmental agencies, nonprofits, and academia. Disciplines represented included ethics, law, public health, medicine, nursing, disaster planning, and spiritual care, among others.

Guidance produced by MCEC was reviewed by MDH and its Science Advisory Team, and, if approved, promulgated by MDH. Many of the guidance documents developed by MCEC can still be found on the MDH website.

Debra DeBruin, PhD, served as co-lead of MCEC. In addition, the following members of the Center for Bioethics were part of MCEC:

Jennifer Needle-Suarez, MD, MPH, HEC-C, Associate Professor
Joel Wu, JD, MPH, MA, HEC-C, Clinical Ethics Adjunct Professor
Don C. Postema, PhD, Affiliate Faculty
Joan Henriksen, PhD, RN, HEC-C, Affiliate Faculty

All of the individuals who worked with MCEC volunteered their time in support of pandemic response in the state.