Bioethics and Emerging Technologies Centre Host Conference at St Mary’s

The Centre for Bioethics and Emerging Technologies (CEBT) at St Mary’s University College, Twickenham is hosting a conference on Saturday 23^rd March. Entitled ‘Where ends the virtue? Is there a place for the virtues and conscience in contemporary healthcare?’ A number of academics in the field will present their research during the day including Dr Ann Gallagher (Editor, Journal of Nursing Ethics) and Dr Mark Campbell (Kings College, London). Throughout the day, the issues surrounding the current debate will be explored and show that, rather than dispensing with conscience and the virtues, both have never been more in need of urgent recovery in healthcare. Dr Trevor Stammers, Programme Director in Bioethics at St Mary’s, commented, “As the technology of medicine advances and we can treat more previously incurable disease than ever before, healthcare seems simultaneously to be unravelling. The fundamental systemic problems at Mid-Staffordshire were not due to lack of scientific expertise but of basic humanity. Against this backdrop, the virtues of integrity, courage, trustworthiness and respectfulness don't seem so remote and anachronistic as they are portrayed by an ethic dominated by unbridled utilitarianism and the NHS balance sheet. “The protest of conscience also appears increasingly unwelcome in contemporary healthcare, as prominent ethicists insist that healthcare workers are only there to do the state's bidding, whether this results in increased health or intentional death.” Dr Stammers will also be giving a brief lecture on the History of Conscience at the event. The conference is free and open to anyone wishing to attend. It will run from 10am to 3.15pm at St Mary’s Strawberry Hill Campus. For more information and to book your place please contact Dr Trevor Stammers, trevor.stammers@stmarys.ac.uk.