OPMEDIC’s Ethics Committee informs and advises clinicians and researchers, and protects the dignity, welfare and rights of patients and research subjects. In fulfilling its mandate, among other things, the Ethics Committee is called upon to evaluate or suggest internal policies in accordance with professional ethics and applicable laws, to make recommendations to the Board of Directors, to make judgement calls on clinical cases and to evaluate and approve research projects involving OPMEDIC Group. It is required to provide continual supervision. The work of OPMEDIC Group’s Ethics Committee is based on an open and dynamic relationship between its members and the Company’s staff members.

The permanent members are:

Ms. Marie-Josée Bernardi, Ms Bernardi is President of the Company’s Ethic Committee. She is also President of the Review Ethic Board for the Centre de Santé et des Services Sociaux de Saint-Jérôme (Quebec) and vice president of the Ethic Committee of the CHUM research center. Ms. Bernardi is also substitute legal expert for the Review Ethic Board of the Health Sciences Department of the University of Montreal. She has been practicing law for over 15 years and has a Master in Health Law.

Ms. Susan Bermingham, psychologist. Ms. Bermingham has over 15 years of experience as a psychologist specialized in fertility treatments. To date, she has met with more than 3,000 couples;

Ms Lucienne Jetté, bioethicist (substitute member). Ms. Jetté is a member of the St-Jérôme Hôtel-Dieu-Hospital Ethics Committee. She holds a Ph.D Human Sciences, bioethics;

Dr. Hélène Lavoie, endocrinologist. Dr. Lavoie has over fourteen years of experience as an endocrinologist at the St-Luc Hospital in Montreal, Quebec. She has been with PROCREA Clinics since 1998;

Dr. Lamia Ouamara, public representative. Dr. Ouamara is one of PROCREA Clinics’ former patients. She was a registered physician in Algeria and is currently studying medicine in Quebec;

Ms. Louise Raymond, laboratory technician retiree. Ms Louise Raymond used to be one of PROCREA Clinics’ former employees and is now retired. She was Coordinator at the Fertility Laboratory for 15 years and one of the pioneers in the creation of the first sperm bank in Quebec;
Ms. Laura Robb, genetic counsellor. Ms Robb has over 15 years of experience as genetic counsellor.

Ms. Isabelle Turcot, public representative. Ms Turcot is a Quebec Notary and one of PROCREA Clinics’ former patients;

Ms. Brigitte St-Pierre, ethic counselor , coordinator of the Ethic Committee of the CHUM research center.