The Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities (CBMH) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) held a lunch discussion and sharing of experiences with Professor Christoph Stückelberger, founder and Honorary President of Globethics.
The discussion, which took place at the Research and Development Building of FK-KMK UGM, focused on teaching ethics methods and how ethics-based policies can be applied across various sectors.
In the discussion, Professor Stückelberger emphasized the importance of teaching ethics from an early age. According to him, ethics education should start by introducing real-world dilemmas faced by society, such as accessibility to healthcare services and the cost of medical technology.
“Ethics must be taught in a way that brings theory closer to reality so that students not only understand the concept but are also able to apply it in real life,” he explained on Monday (Nov. 18).
Participants in the discussion agreed that this approach improves understanding and fosters the development of ethical values in each individual.
They also agreed on the importance of developing training guidelines and integrating ethics materials into the educational curriculum to strengthen the foundation of bioethics in society.
The discussion highlighted the need to strengthen bioethics education at various levels, from students to policymakers. At the beginning of the first session, speakers emphasized the importance of teaching relevant and practical ethics.
The discussion then shifted to formulating health policies aimed at creating fair and transparent regulations. One of the main issues addressed was the impact of corruption in the health and infrastructure sectors, which often hinders fairness in public services.
In this regard, Professor Stückelberger stressed the need for policies designed to minimize the risk of corruption by strengthening regulations and oversight. Corruption, he noted, not only erodes public trust but also limits access to essential services.
“This is an ethical challenge that requires solutions based on moral values,” he stated.
Dr. Retna Siwi Padmawati, Director of CBMH UGM, stated that this discussion marked an important step in strengthening collaboration between CBMH and Globethics.
CBMH UGM highly appreciated this discussion, which provided new insights into how ethics education and policy can support one another.
“It is hoped that the outcomes of this discussion will serve as a foundation for strengthening the role of bioethics in education and national policy,” expressed Dr. Padmawati.
The discussion concluded with a joint reflection on the importance of cross-sector collaboration and the development of training guidelines to support comprehensive ethics education.
Through activities like this, CBMH UGM remains committed to promoting bioethics as a foundation for sustainable education and public policy.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Afif