Scientific prizes and awards / General

Abbyann D. Lynch Medal in Bioethics

Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada

Description

The Abbyann D. Lynch Medal in Bioethics was established in 2001 by RSC and Associated Medical Services Incorporated. The award was created to honour bioethicist and Past-President of AMS, Professor Abbyann D. Lynch, C.M., Ph.D., for her substantial achievements and support of biomedical ethics in Canada. Its purpose is to raise the profile of ethics in medicine and science by honouring leading Canadian exponents in these fields and bring recognition to their work.

The medal is awarded for a major contribution in bioethics by a Canadian. The contribution may be a book, a report, a scholarly article, a monograph or series of articles, which will normally be published in the two years preceding the nomination. The bronze medal and a cash amount of $2,000 are offered every year if there is a suitable candidate.

The selection committee consists of four Fellows: one from the Academy of the Arts and Humanities, one from the Academy of Social Sciences, and two from the Life Sciences Division of the Academy of Sciences. One of the four members must be a bio-ethicist. Each committee member shall serve for three years and the senior committee member, by yearly rotation, shall act as Chair.

Recipients

2008 : Arthur Frank’s book, The Renewal of Generosity, addresses the ethics of what he calls fundamental
medicine: "face-to-face encounters between people who are suffering bodily ills and other people
who need both the skills to relieve this suffering and the grace to welcome those who suffer". The
book gathers stories of generosity in the work and lives of ill people, physicians, and nurses. Each of
these stories alone is anecdotal; together, they become a model for training and practice.