Ethical patient engagement in healthcare governance.

Abstract

Health leaders are faced with a lack of public trust in healthcare governance. This waning trust relationship was further solidified through the pandemic. Improving the relationship between health organizations and the community/citizens/patient partners is a moral imperative of which ethical governance is a significant factor. This article will structure the ethical analysis of patient partners in governance through reviewing who we are, how we function, and what we do on governance boards. Taking an ethical approach will enable the promise of the value and impact of the patient partner to be actualized. Ethical governance that recognizes the significant contributions and value of engaged patient partners can be achieved and may be one of the significant levers required to transform healthcare.