Article explores ethics of involving bereaved families in pediatric education
Brian Harrell, NEOMED Writing Center Specialist, has coauthored a new article with Akron Children’s Hospital (ACH) and NEOMED faculty members examining the ethical responsibilities involved in including bereaved family members in pediatric healthcare education.
“Bereaved Parents and Spouses as Educators in Pediatric Simulation: Ethical Reflections” was published online July 1, 2026, in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. In it, Harrell reflects on his life before academia, when he became a single father after his wife died of cancer, and connects that experience to the article’s focus on bereavement, family experience and compassionate care.
Harrell collaborated on the article with Cassandra D. Hirsh, D.O., director of the ACH's Haslinger Family Pediatric Palliative Care Center. Daniel H. Grossoehme, D.Min., M.S., senior research scientist, Rebecca D. Considine Research Institute at ACH; Gwendolyn Richner, clinical research coordinator at ACH; and Sarah Friebert, M.D., pediatric palliative care physician at ACH and NEOMED professor of pediatrics, were also part of the team. Their work examines pediatric palliative care simulation programs in which bereaved parents, spouses and other family members help healthcare professionals prepare for the difficult conversations that arise when caring for children with serious illnesses and their families.
Although the perspectives of bereaved family members can make simulation experiences more authentic and meaningful, their participation also raises important ethical questions. The authors consider how educational programs can honor these individuals as valued partners while protecting their emotional well-being, respecting the significance of their lived experiences, and avoiding practices that could unintentionally cause harm or treat personal loss primarily as an educational resource.
The article highlights the importance of thoughtful recruitment, informed consent, preparation, ongoing support and opportunities for bereaved educators to reconsider or end their participation. Through this collaboration among specialists in writing, medical education, pediatric palliative care, ethics, and spiritual care, the authors offer guidance for developing simulation programs that benefit healthcare learners while maintaining respect, care, and accountability toward the families who make such learning possible.
The article is available through the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management and has the DOI 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2026.06.018.