Medical Ethics and Bioethics: between Science and Morality
The cycle of round tables "What science will give to society in the XXI century. The open Dialogue of French and Russian scientists" is held by the Embassy of France with the support of the Dmitry Zimin Foundation "Dynasty", the international news agency "RIA Novosti" and "universcience". The purpose of open discussions is to popularize science and promote productive intercultural dialogue.
The round table on the topic "Medical ethics and bioethics: between science and morality" will be held on April 22, 2010 at 18.30 at the RIA Novosti International Press Center. The live broadcast of the discussion with simultaneous translation on the Internet can be viewed at the following sites: in Russia – rian.ru , russia-france2010.ru , elementy.ru , in France – fr.rian.ru , france-russie2010.fr , universcience.fr (the start time was not indicated by either RIA Novosti or Elements – only took care of this russia-france2010.ru , for which they have a great Russian gramercy – VM :)
Organ transplantation, artificial insemination, genetic engineering and gene therapy, human cloning, stem cell therapy... These and other fantastic achievements of science open up new opportunities for mankind to influence living matter.
But is everything acceptable from the standpoint of ethics? What about the flip side of the discoveries in biology and medicine that gave rise to eugenics, "genetic" discrimination, surrogate mothers, trafficking in human organs, euthanasia? Should all this be prohibited or allowed? Should society set the limits and boundaries of scientific research of man and living matter and experiments with them? Who should have the final say – doctors, biologists, geneticists, lawyers or philosophers?
The national specifics of France and Russia influence the nature of discussions about the moral and legal component of all these problems. The round table will allow Russian and French specialists to exchange opinions and compare approaches to medical ethics and bioethics in Russia and France.
Panelists
Didier Sicard, Professor Emeritus of Medicine at Paris-Descartes University, for many years headed the Department of Pathology of Internal Diseases at the Cochin Hospital in Paris, and from 1999 to 2008 headed the National Advisory Committee on Ethics in the Field of Natural Sciences and Health. Didier Sicard is the largest French specialist in the field of medical ethics, as well as an active supporter of special education and training of doctors on medical ethics. Didier Sicard is a publicist and writer, his latest book "Medical Ethics and Bioethics" was published in France in 2009.
Jacques Testard, Honorary Director of Scientific Work at the National Institute of Health and Medical Research, dedicated his scientific activity to reproductive medicine and biology. Professor Testard created a scientific base for in vitro fertilization, thanks to which the first test tube baby was born in France in 1982. Jacques Testard is the author of two novels: "Transparency of the egg" (1999), "What will happen to science?" (2006).
Alexander Grigoryevich Chuchalin, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, one of the founders of the modern school of pulmonology in Russia, expert of the World Health Organization and chief therapist of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation. Alexander Grigorievich has been the head of the Pulmonology Research Institute since its opening in 1990. In 2006, under the leadership of Chuchalin, the first successful bilateral lung transplantation in Russia was performed. In 2003, Alexander Grigorievich became the first laureate of the Golden Hippocrates International Prize in Russia.
Boris Grigoryevich Yudin, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Philosophy, Head of the Department of Complex Problems of Human Studies at the Institute of Philosophy of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Boris Grigorievich represents Russia in the Steering Committee on Bioethics of the Council of Europe, works as Deputy Chairman of the Russian Committee on Bioethics at the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO and heads the Bioethics Center of the Institute of Fundamental and Applied Research (IFPI) of the Moscow University for the Humanities. Editor-in-chief of the magazine "Man".
The moderator of the debate is the scientific journalist Lyubov Strelnikova.
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13.04.2010