Medical Ethics

13 – 17 September 2010

Introduction

Members of the medical professions are repeatedly faced by ethical dilemmas in the course of their normal working lives. For instance, is it right or wrong to “facilitate” the death of someone experiencing irremediable pain in the late stages of terminal illness? How should scarce resources of time, money and skill be apportioned by medical practitioners and medical administrators between the diversity of medical needs that present themselves daily? What are the rights and wrongs of being “economical with the truth” when telling patients about their medical condition? How much should the doctor’s view of what should be done and not done to benefit a patient over-ride the patient’s view?

All too often, issues such as these have been confronted somewhat tangentially and briefly during the initial training of medical, nursing and allied professionals, and tackled subsequently with uneasy pragmatism by practitioners. In particular, reasoned argument was not encouraged in many traditional courses.

Course Aims

This course, which started in 1983, has been designed to provide medical, nursing and allied professionals - whether as teachers of emerging professionals, or practising professionals at different stages in their career - with an extended and intensive opportunity to review and update their approach to the analysis of key “medico-moral” issues, with the help of leading authorities in the field of medical ethics.

It is also designed to be helpful to members of ethics committees, whether or not they are health professionals, and to others professionally involved with the ethical issues of health care.

Specifically, the course will:

• Clarify the meaning and significance of key ethical concepts
• Outline important types of ethical theory, and their relevance to medical ethics.
• Offer a conceptual framework useful for ethical analysis of medico-moral problems in a variety of professional contexts.
• Give opportunities to participants - under supportive conditions - to articulate their current medico- moral attitudes, and explore reasoned arguments that challenge their existing assumptions and ethical stances.

Who should attend?

The course is intended to cater for medical, nursing and allied professionals and administrators who feel the need for an opportunity to review and update their thinking about ethical issues - including medical and nursing teachers, nurses, GPs, consultants, members of ethics committees, hospital administrators, and officials in government departments with responsibilities for health care.

All participants will receive an Imperial College London Certificate of Attendance at the end of the course.

Course Methods

The course consists of a series of lecture/seminars followed by small and large group discussions focused on the issues raised by the lecturers. One session will include presentation of arguments opposed to the position actually held by course members, in the context of a particular case.

CPD Approval

This course is approved by the Royal College of Physicians for 27 CPD credits.

In previous years when the PGEA approval scheme for general practice existed the course was always approved under the following categories:

• Health Promotion and Prevention of Illness (8 hrs)
• Disease Management (10 hrs)
• Service Management (8 hrs)

Comments from Previous Participants

"Excellent and knowledgeable presenters  and would be recommended to anyone wanting an introduction to medical Ethics."

"Very worthwhile, demanding and challenging."

"One of the best and most useful courses I have attended – should be obligatory!"

"An excellent course providing a sound theoretical grounding, supported, reinforced and developed by means of open and producing discussion of practical issues. Excellent networking opportunities with a geographically and professionally diverse group."

"A first class course to put your ethical thinking into perspective and relate to present day healthcare topics/issues. Recommend for new and older practitioners alike because it had something for everyone."

"The best ever course!"

"An amazing achievement in identifying a comprehensive and unde rstandable intr oduction to medica l ethics compressed into five days."

"Go on as you ar e and kee p it g oing/growing one of the best courses around for bringing tog ether w idely different disciples with common ne eds disciplines!"

" A very thorough course. It helps to equip you with different ways of thinking about ethical problems."

"Relevant to clinical practice, intellectually dem anding b ut enjoyable and refreshing break from cl inica l commitmen ts. Extremely valuable develo p ment exe r cis e for me."

"A w ell organised, en joyabl e course which has allowed me to begin to understand ethical proce ss in my day to day practise. Thank you!"

"Great – a privilege to be with the speakers and such an international audience/delegates."

"A fruitful and thought-provoking course. A rare opportunity to spend time on reflecting and discussion as well as to learn."

"Absolutely superb; one opposite of a disappointmen t – I hope to encoura ge my 2 GP partners to both do this course – and maybe our administrator and pract ice nurse."

"Excellent. A great deal of ground covered over 5 days – 'the penny is beginning to drop'. A friendly and approachable group of lecturers – certainly 'not in ivory towers'. Useful and fun to have time to mix with other delegates."

"A fantastic week – gave us the time to develop, debate ideas."

"Excellent. Has encouraged me to study further in this area."

Funding opportunities

Royal College of Nursing offers scholarships and awards for nurses, midwives and health visitors for study, research, travel and conferences.
http://www.rcn.org.uk/membership/scholarshipsawards/rcnmembers

The Florence Nightingale Foundation provides scholarships for nurses and midwives (who have a current registration with the NMC and are working in the UK) to study at home and abroad, to promote innovation in practice and extend knowledge and skills to meet changing needs.
http://www.florence-nightingale-foundation.org.uk/ 

Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke - The Research Training Scheme offers grants to support research training for nurses and Allied Health Professionals in Northern Ireland. Applicants may apply for support to attend individual courses/modules, e.g. research design and methodology including conducting clinical trials/focus groups, or for completing a research Masters Degree e.g. Master of Clinical Research. The value of the grant will range up to a maximum of £6,000. For full details on how to apply and the latest closing dates, please visit http://www.nichsa.com/research/nurses/

The Worshipful Company of Curriers provides an opportunity for primary healthcare professionals to enhance the healthcare of families and children in Inner London who, through socio-economic deprivation or other adverse social factors, are at high risk of physical and psychological illness. The Bursary provides funding for training courses and for pilot research projects.
http://www.curriers.co.uk/bursary.htm

Related links

The Medical Protection Society

Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland

Intensive Care Society