Humanist Doctors Views on Secularism in Indonesia [Raboan Discussion Forum]

The Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities (CBMH FK-KMK UGM) again held the Raboan Discussion Forum on Wednesday (07/12). The weekly forum raised the topic When Secular Humanist Doctors Talk About Bioethics in Indonesia. On this occasion, the speaker was Albert Adiputra, M.Sc. Meanwhile, the moderator of the discussion was dr. Tiea Khatija.

The existence of a secular humanist minority is considered inappropriate in public discourse, so it lags in formulating policies related to bioethics in Indonesia. Albert’s qualitative research aims to explore the views of secular humanist doctors on bioethics issues as well as their positions, perceptions, and knowledge of the functions, benefits, and developments of bioethics in Indonesia. In his study, the sample consisted of 11 secular humanist doctors who were selected purposively snowball. The results show that secular humanist doctors have different positions and attitudes towards bioethical issues based on non-uniform claims within the spectrum of secularism. Although there is no consensus regarding attitudes and positions towards elective abortion and voluntary active euthanasia, respondents have a relatively consistent pattern of views regarding technology supporting the transhumanism movement. In this respect, the secular humanist doctor is not as monolithic as the public narrative suggests. The hope for medical secularism to materialize in the future is the response of secular humanist doctors to the problems of education and the medical profession that are not secular today. Thus, this study provides an overview of the views of secular humanist doctors on bioethics and its social implications for public discourse and policy in Indonesia.