STUDENTS AND STAFF URGED TO PRACTICE MEDICAL ETHICS

Medical students and staff members of the Fiji National University have been encouraged to honestly practice medical ethics for the benefit, trust and wellbeing of patients and towards research studies. This was said during the celebration of World Bioethics Day at the campus yesterday. Students from the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences’ (CMNHS) were out in numbers to attend the event. FNU’s acting vice-chancellor, Dr William May said, “Bioethics is critical when we consider the rights of vulnerable people such as people living with some form of disability; that they be given special consideration regarding all aspects of their health.

“When we link Bioethics to health care, we refer to the rights of patients to make informed decisions over their own lives and in that scenario, we will also anticipate risks that must be managed and minimised.”

Acting dean CMNHS, Dr

Donald Wilson, also highlighted the importance of ethics and its impact in health workers.

“We are not only advocating for the vital importance of ethics in our daily practice and lives as students, staff and health professionals,” Dr Wilson said.

“We are also creating awareness on the roles and functions of the College Human Health Research and Ethics Committee (CHHREC), the recently accredited body within the college, that can now vet health research proposals in the country.”