Learning History: A Crucial Foundation for an Ethical and Sustainable Future

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Yogyakarta, 16 July 2025 – In a rapidly changing world, studying history is not just about remembering the past, but also about understanding the direction of our future. History offers us essential lessons—particularly in ethics, justice, and humanity. The principle of “Jas Merah” (an Indonesian acronym for “Never Forget History”) is especially relevant to this edition of Raboan Research and Perspective Sharing, which raised the theme “Ethical Considerations in Historical Research: Locating Archives and Conducting Interviews.” This session featured Professor Hans Pols from the University of Sydney and was moderated by Ns. Wahyu Dewi Sulistyarini, M.S.N., from CBMH UGM.

Prof. Hans emphasized that history is no longer solely told from the perspective of those in power or from elite narratives. Today, it also serves as a space to amplify voices that have long been marginalized—such as those of women, laborers, and ethnic minorities—offering us a broader and more just understanding of the past.

He also highlighted the vital role of archives as key sources of information about past events and figures. However, working with archives also presents ethical challenges. For example, colonial-era Dutch newspapers archived on Delpher.nl contain rich data but are written in Dutch and largely reflect a colonial viewpoint. This makes it all the more important to balance such sources with materials that represent diverse Indonesian perspectives, including oral histories that are more inclusive and sensitive to cultural and social diversity.

According to Prof. Hans, ethics in historical writing means having the courage to explore stories that are unusual, overlooked, or hidden within the “silences” of history. It also means ensuring that history—through books, journals, and digital databases—can be accessed by everyone, regardless of background or academic privilege.

This topic closely aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, by promoting a critical and inclusive understanding of the past, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, by highlighting stories from marginalized communities, SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, by uncovering the roots of injustice and fostering transparent, equitable governance.

By learning from the successes and failures of the past—whether in managing resources, fostering social development, or upholding justice—we can craft wiser, more ethical, and more inclusive pathways for the future. A future that values not only progress but also fairness, diversity, and shared humanity.

Reporter: Ika Setyasari, S.Kep.Ns., M.N.Sc

Editor: Alvira Rahmasari, S.H.G.

[easy_youtube_gallery id=RdRt8uXzkK8 cols=1 ar=16_9 thumbnail=0 title=top]”Ethical Considerations in Historical Research: Locating Archives and Conducting Interviews”[/easy_youtube_gallery]

Care Without Distance: Opportunities and Challenges of Telemedicine After the New Health Law

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The Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities (CBMH) at Universitas Gadjah Mada held another session of its weekly forum, Raboan Research and Perspective Sharing, on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. The discussion was conducted virtually via Zoom and explored a timely and important topic: “Telemedicine After the Enactment of Law No. 17 of 2023 on Health.” The session featured Dr. Febriyolla SK Sjaawalz, MH, CIIQA, lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine, UPN Veteran Jakarta, as the main speaker, and was moderated by NS Wahyu Dewi Sulistyarini, M.S.N.

In her presentation, Dr. Febriyolla explained how digital technology has significantly transformed the way healthcare services are delivered. One key example is telemedicine—remote healthcare services that use communication technologies. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telemedicine, as both patients and healthcare providers needed a safe way to access and provide medical care during lockdowns and social restrictions.

Following the enactment of Law No. 17 of 2023, telemedicine in Indonesia now has a clearer legal foundation. This law officially recognizes telemedicine as part of the national health service system. It also mandates that telemedicine must be provided by licensed healthcare professionals through accredited healthcare facilities. Additionally, the law highlights the importance of maintaining high-quality service standards and ensuring the security and confidentiality of patient data.

During the session, participants were invited to explore the benefits of telemedicine, such as broader access to healthcare—especially for people in remote areas—and more efficient use of time and cost. However, Dr. Febriyolla also pointed out several challenges, including limited digital infrastructure, concerns about the accuracy of remote diagnoses, and the risks of data privacy breaches.

From both legal and ethical perspectives, telemedicine must still comply with existing regulations. Informed consent remains essential, and medical records must be securely stored. If malpractice or ethical violations occur, legal enforcement mechanisms continue to apply, just as they would in traditional clinical settings.

The topic closely aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Telemedicine has the potential to reduce health disparities by providing more equitable access to care, even in hard-to-reach regions.

Through this Raboan event, CBMH UGM reaffirms its commitment to fostering interdisciplinary discussions that not only contribute to academic discourse but also address real-world issues that impact communities. Telemedicine is not just a technological tool—it represents a major shift in how we understand and provide healthcare in ways that are inclusive, secure, and just.

Reporter: Alvira Rahmasari, S.H.G.

Editor: Rafi Khairuna Wibisono, S.Kom.

[easy_youtube_gallery id=Bw1BkI_ePdU cols=1 ar=16_9 thumbnail=0 title=top]TELEMEDISIN PASCA UU NOMOR 17/2023 TENTANG KESEHATAN[/easy_youtube_gallery]

Hundreds of Ethnicities, Hundreds of Values: Exploring Indonesia’s Indigenous Bioethics

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The Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities (CBMH), Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FK-KMK UGM), held its regular Raboan Research and Perspective Sharing Forum on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. This session featured a compelling and timely topic: “Ethno-Bioethics for Indonesia”, with Prof. Dr. Heddy Shri Ahimsa-Putra, M.A., M.Phil., Professor of Anthropology at UGM’s Faculty of Cultural Sciences, as the keynote speaker. The discussion was moderated by Mahmasoni Masdar, S.Kep., Ns., M.Kep. from CBMH FK-KMK UGM.

In his presentation, Prof. Heddy emphasized that the development of global bioethics is still largely influenced by Western paradigms, which prioritize principles such as autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. While these principles are important, they may not align directly with the diverse cultural values, social structures, and worldviews of the Indonesian people. He called on scholars and policymakers to consider more contextual and culturally grounded approaches to bioethics. To that end, he introduced the concept of “Ethno-Bioethics”, an approach rooted in local cultural values, indigenous knowledge systems (ethnoscience), and traditional ethical frameworks held by Indonesia’s many ethnic groups.

“Indonesia is not a single nation but a collection of hundreds of ethnic groups, each with their own ways of understanding life, health, birth, and death,” Prof. Heddy stated.

He explained that over 600 ethnic groups in Indonesia possess distinct ethical systems and traditional knowledge related to life and health. Unfortunately, much of this wisdom remains undocumented, passed down only through oral traditions, and has yet to be integrated into academic discourse or national health policy. As examples, he cited the Javanese principle of kerukunan (harmony) and the Balinese teachings on the welfare of all living beings, both of which reflect universal bioethical values.

Prof. Heddy highlighted the urgency of conducting ethnographic research across Indonesia to collect, document, and revitalize these local ethical frameworks. He proposed the formulation of a distinctive “Indonesian Bioethics” or even a “Pancasila Bioethics” as Indonesia’s unique contribution to the global bioethics dialogue. He also encouraged UGM—through CBMH—to become a national pioneer in bioethics education, documentation, and advocacy that is culturally inclusive, contextually relevant, and rooted in justice.

This Raboan discussion aligns closely with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It supports SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) by promoting culturally appropriate and widely accepted ethical approaches in healthcare. It also advances SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by amplifying the voices and ethical knowledge of marginalized ethnic communities often overlooked in national policies. Furthermore, the call for interdisciplinary collaboration and ethnographic research fosters partnerships in line with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

In closing, Prof. Heddy called for the national academic community to seriously pursue ethnographic bioethics research across regions and cultures to shape an inclusive, pluralistic, and culturally just bioethics framework—one that truly reflects the soul of Indonesia.

Reporter: Ardhini Nugrahaeni, M.K.M.

Editor: Alvira Rahmasari, S.H.G.

[easy_youtube_gallery id=0SBn4cNGgew cols=1 ar=16_9 thumbnail=0 title=top]Etnobioetika: Bioetika untuk/di Indonesia[/easy_youtube_gallery]