Dr. Roy founded the Centre for Bioethics of the Clinical Research Institute of Montreal in 1976, from which the journal was born in 1985, and acted as its director until May 2008. Subsequently, Dr. Roy was director of the Ethics and Aging Laboratory, at the Research Centre of the Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal du CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Ile-de-Montréal, where he worked until his death.
Dr. Roy served as consultant to doctors, health care professionals, and governments on ethical problems in medicine and clinical research; coordinated and taught university courses in medical ethics and jurisprudence; and published extensively on a broad range of ethical issues. In the 1990s, he chaired Health Canada’s National Planning Forum for HIV/AIDS Research. In 2002 he founded the Genetic-Ethics Observatory and, as director of the Centre for Bioethics’ Telehealth Ethics Programme, dealt with the ethical, legal, and social problems linked to the use of information and communication technologies and networks within the health care system.
Dr. Roy earned degrees in mathematics, philosophy, and theology, and received two honorary degrees: Doctor of Laws and Doctor in Sacred Letters. In January 2000, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada and in April 2000, Officer of the Ordre national du Québec. In 2012, he was presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of his contributions to Canada in the field of palliative care.
More recently, in the spring of 2015 he was invited to give a presentation at a Pope Pontificia Academia Pro Vita Workshop; “Assisting the elderly and palliative care” was delivered to a Vatican audience that included Pope Francis. David Roy will be remembered for his great humanity, sharp intellect, lively sense of humour, and for being a highly engaging and effective speaker.
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