Sri Guru Ram Das University of Health Scinecs Conducted National Conference

Amritsar, Sept. 1 (Punjab Post Bureau) – The 2nd National Bioethics and Medical Research Conference  – ETHOS – 2018 was held at Sri Guru Ram Das University of Health Sciences, Sri Amritsar from 31^st August – 2^nd September 2018. The formal inauguration of ETHOS was done on September 1^st 2018 by Dr. Ved Prakash Mishra, Chairman, Academic Committee, MCI, New Delhi who was the honorable chief guest along with Dr. Sandeep Sancheti Vice Chancellor, SRM Institute Chennai, President Association of Indian Universities (AIU), New Delhi who was the Guest of Honor. Both Dr. Mishra and Dr. Sancheti exhorted the young medical students to practice medicine in an ethical way and practice empathy and compassion in the way of dealing with the patients. They further stressed upon the art of listening and communicating effectively with patients.

                The inauguration was followed by key note lectures amongst them Dr. Geetha Laxmi, Vice Chancellor, Dr. MGR Medical University, Tamil Nadu who spoke on importance of cross cultural respect and tolerance and to practice with proper morals and ethics in such a challenging scenario, Dr. O P Kalra, Vice Chancellor, Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma University of Health Sciences, Rohtak who spoke in details about how to be vigilant and act in an ethical and professional manner in the present digital era which can land a working medical professional in legal tangles. Conference was also enriched by the views of Dr. Tejinder Singh, Vice Principal Christian Medical College Ludhiana who spoke in details about importance of incorporating medical ethics in MBBS and BDS curriculum and Dr. Mary Mathew, Professor, Pathology, KMC Manipal who gave a very real and stark grim realities of surrogacy hence deconstructing the image of glamour attributed towards the concept of surrogacy and talked in details about the laws and legal opinions regarding various issues arising out of it. Dr. Rajiv Mahajan, Professor and Head Department of Pharmacology, AIMSAR, Bathinda by means of videos and his exemplary presentation skills helped the students about grasping the concept of privacy and confidentiality in medical practice and the loci stand of doctors in various conditions where confidentiality has to be forsaken. In last two lectures of the day Dr. Siddharth Dubashi, Director Academics and Professor of Surgery, MGM Medical College, Navi Mumbai and Dr. Satheesh Bhandary, Vice Chancellor, NITTE University, Mangalore explored the contribution of Bioethics and its need in Health care profession. Many off stage events on theme of medical ethics such as debate, Ethi-scans, treasure hunt, sharp tank and short films made by students (Medflix) were held simultaneously. The institute was honored by the presence of internationally renowned personality Dr. Russell D’ Souza, Chairperson, Asia Pacific Bioethics Network, (UNESCO) who talked in details about the importance of bioethics curriculum in health care sciences.

                      The conference started on 31^st August 2018 with pre conference workshops exploring varied topics of bioethics by experts hailing from different parts of the country by means of theater of oppressed conducted by Mr. Ravi Swamy from Bangalore and other skill workshops such as Inter – professional team building by Dr. Derek D’Souza from Pune, innovations in community based research by Dr. Abhay M. Gaidhane from Nagpur, Politics of research publications by Vikram Palimar from Chennai, UNESCO – Identifying Values by Dr. Princy Platty from Kochi and Communication skills by Dr. Rajiv Mahajan and Dr. Sandeep Kaur from Bathinda.

                   Hence ETHOS 2018 in the end discussed its theme: “Implications and Application of Bioethics in Human Rights / Human Dignity and Celebration of Cultural Diversity in Current Clinical Practice and Medical Research” in details.

The deliberations of the scientific sessions by world renowned authorities in the conference advocated the need to improve the quality, relevance and application of bioethics in curriculum of Health sciences.  A rich feast of keynote lectures helped in sensitizing the undergraduates and postgraduate students about bioethics, its place in health care practice and medical research. The conference ended with a declaration and pledge by all to develop and inculcate a dynamic academic program exploring emerging issues in Bioethics, public ethics and Law in the present medical education.

The conference was one of the largest congregations of bioethics experts and students pursuing health sciences in the country. More than 850 undergraduate medical, dental, nursing and allied sciences students from various parts of the country (such as Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Chandigarh) registered making it one of the most heavily attended workshop of its kind. It was also the first of its kind in north of India and in Punjab focusing exclusively on ethics and professionalism in medical field targeting young undergraduate of medical, dental, nursing and other allied health sciences.

On this occasion Dr. Roop Singh, Secretary, Sri Guru Ram Das Charitable Hospital Trust, Sri Amritsar, Dr. Kulwant Singh Ded, Vice Chancellor, Sri Guru Ram Das University of health Sciences, Sri Amritsar,    Dr. A. P. Singh, Dean, Sri Guru Ram Das University of Health Sciences, Sri Amritsar, Dr. Russell D’ Souza, Chairperson, Asia Pacific Bioethics Network, (UNESCO), Dr. Manjit Singh Uppal, Director Principal, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of medical Sciences & Research, Sri Amritsar, Dr. Sahiba Kukreja, Prof. & Head, Biochemistry & Coordinator MEU, S. Amandeep Singh, Deputy Registrar, Sri Guru Ram Das University of Health Sciences, Sri Amritsar, Doctors & faculty members from all over India and other vital personalities were present conducting the preceding.