Strengthening Medical Ethics in Indonesian Healthcare Practice: HELP Batch 7 – 2nd Series

Yogyakarta, 26 May 2025 — The Master’s Program in Bioethics, Universitas Gadjah Mada, through the Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities (CBMH UGM), successfully conducted the HELP Certified Training Program Batch 7 – Second Series, entitled “Basic Medical Ethics in Healthcare Practice”, from 19–26 May 2025. The program was delivered online via Zoom Meeting and formed part of UGM’s commitment to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and SDG 4 (Quality Education), by strengthening the ethical capacity of healthcare professionals in responding to contemporary challenges.

This series featured interdisciplinary experts from CBMH UGM, the Faculty of Medicine UGM, Universitas Sanata Dharma, UIN Sunan Kalijaga, and Dr. Sardjito General Hospital. The speakers delivered in-depth and practical sessions covering biomedical ethical principles, clinical empathy, socio-cultural dimensions of care, justice in healthcare, and digital ethics in modern health systems.

On the first day, Dr. Nur Azid Mahardinata, M.Bio.Et., opened the course by emphasizing the importance of integrating medical science with the humanities to understand patients holistically. Erlin Erlina, SIP, MA, Ph.D., highlighted socio-cultural dynamics in patient–healthcare provider relationships, while another session explored justice in healthcare resource allocation through locally grounded case studies.

The second day featured Dr. CB. Kusmaryanto, SCJ, who elaborated on the four core principles of bioethics—autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice—followed by Dr. dr. Ronny Triwirasto, Sp.KJ, who discussed ethical conflicts within healthcare teams from multidisciplinary perspectives.

On the third day, Dr. Indria Laksmi Gamayanti, M.Psi., Psychologist, underscored the role of clinical empathy in improving the quality of doctor–patient relationships. This was followed by sessions led by Dr. Wika Hartati, MIH, and Dr. Nur Azid Mahardinata, focusing on ethical considerations in healthcare policy and resource distribution.

The fourth day featured Prof. Syafaatun Almirzanah, Ph.D., D.Min., who highlighted the importance of cultural and religious sensitivity in healthcare practice, emphasizing that understanding patients’ spiritual backgrounds is essential for ethical decision-making. The discussion continued with drg. Agnes Bhakti Pratiwi, Ph.D., who stressed the need for ethical analysis in Indonesia’s public health system.

On the fifth day, Dr. CB. Kusmaryanto, SCJ, offered a constructive critique of Western principlism in bioethics, noting its limited applicability within local cultural contexts. Subsequently, Dr. dr. Darwito, Sp.B(K) Onk., addressed ethical challenges in teaching hospitals, including patient advocacy and the protection of patient rights in clinical education settings.

The program concluded on the sixth day with a session by Dr. Lutfan Lazuardi, Ph.D., who examined the ethical implications of digital transformation in healthcare, particularly the use of Artificial Intelligence and the importance of data protection in medical decision-making.

In addition to up-to-date and relevant content, participants received a certificate accredited by the Indonesian Ministry of Health, full course materials, and opportunities for credit transfer to the Master’s Program in Bioethics UGM. Participants came from diverse professional and regional backgrounds across Indonesia, including lecturers and educators in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, midwifery, and other health sciences; healthcare professionals from public and private hospitals; primary care providers; and private practitioners such as doctors and nurses. This diversity reflects the growing demand for contextual, inclusive, and sustainable medical ethics education in Indonesia.

For more information on upcoming programs, please visit bioethics.fk.ugm.ac.id or follow @cbmh_ugm on Instagram.

Editor: Rafi