Tag Archive for: Bioethics

PRESS-RELEASE CONFERENCE EVENT IBHC 2024 Bioethics to Preserve Humanity: Navigating through environmental crisis and rapid technology advancement

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Yogyakarta, November 6-8, 2024 – The International Bioethics and Humanities Conference (IBHC) 2024 gather global experts to discuss critical issues in bioethics, humanity, technology, and environmental sustainability. Held at Alana Hotel Yogyakarta, this multidisciplinary event explores themes such as biobanking, bioethics education, precision medicine, and ethical considerations for environmental sustainability.

Prof. dr. Ova Emilia, M.Med.Ed., Sp.OG(K)., Ph.D officially opened the IBHC 2024 conference by striking the gong

Prof. dr. Ova Emilia, M.Med.Ed., Sp.OG(K)., Ph.D officially opened the IBHC 2024 conference by striking the gong

IBHC 2024 Participants

IBHC 2024 Participants

The IBHC 2024 symposiums cover key topics in bioethics, such as biobanking ethics in Southeast Asia, focusing on informed consent, privacy, and equitable data management to support health innovation. Bioethics education is discussed in the context of its integration into higher education through interactive methods to nurture ethical leadership. Precision medicine addresses challenges in data privacy, dynamic consent, and equitable access to genomic technologies, while healthcare ethics explores dilemmas in palliative care, rare diseases, and the importance of cultural values in medical decision-making. Other topics include the integration of traditional medicine, ethical research practices, and the role of local culture in environmental sustainability through eco-village development and natural dye revitalization.

Discussions with plenary symposium speakers: Dicky Sofjan, Ph.D., Ir. Laretna T. Adishakti, M.Arch., and Prof. Dr. Ir. Edia Rahayuningsih, MS., IPu., on critical topics in bioethics and sustainability.

Discussions with plenary symposium speakers: Dicky Sofjan, Ph.D., Ir. Laretna T. Adishakti, M.Arch., and Prof. Dr. Ir. Edia Rahayuningsih, MS., IPu., on critical topics in bioethics and sustainability.

 

As part of the conference, oral and poster presentation competitions are also held on November 7. The oral presentation competition features participants from various institutions, evaluated by judges who are experts in their respective fields. Meanwhile, the poster presentations take the form of a poster exhibition, where participants are similarly assessed by expert judges. Both oral and poster presentations follow specific themes based on the established guidelines. The winners, three top participants from both categories announced on the final day of the conference.

The winner of oral presentation and poster presentation

The winner of oral presentation and poster presentation

 

Aligned with key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions)—IBHC 2024 reinforces bioethics as a foundation for addressing global challenges through inclusive and sustainable approaches.

Welcoming Dinner IBHC 2024

Welcoming Dinner IBHC 2024

Photo session showcasing participants and speakers united in discussing bioethics, humanity, and sustainability

Photo session showcasing participants and speakers united in discussing bioethics, humanity, and sustainability

PRESS-RELEASE PRE-CONFERENCE IBHC 2024 Bioethics to Preserve Humanity: Navigating through environmental crisis and rapid technology advancement

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The International Bioethics and Humanities Conference (IBHC) 2024 successfully commenced at the Alana Hotel, Yogyakarta, bringing together academics, professionals, and practitioners from across the globe to address pressing issues in bioethics, health, and humanities. Held from November 5-8, 2024, the event featured a pre-conference day on November 5 and the main conference from November 6-8.

A group photo with participants at the pre-conference workshop

A group photo with participants at the pre-conference workshop

The pre-conference included workshops on several key topics. “Decolonizing Bioethics” which organized by South-East Asian Bioethics Network (SEABION) focused on the need to prioritize local perspectives in addressing ethical challenges. Another session, “Clinical Ethics Support” introduced tools like Moral Case Deliberation (MCD) to help healthcare professionals handle ethical dilemmas and make better decisions. This session was delivered by Professor Albert Molewijk from Amsterdam UMC. A workshop on “Palliative and End-of-Life Care” highlighted the importance of compassionate communication, involving family and spirituality to provide better support for patients. There was also a session on “Pelatihan dan Pengembangan Komite Etik Penelitian” which covered how to build strong, independent committees to oversee ethical research, especially in the era of big data and advanced technology.

 

Participants engaging in discussions during the pre-conference workshop at IBHC 2024.

Participants engaging in discussions during the pre-conference workshop at IBHC 2024.

 

Opening remarks by Professor Dr. Sharon Kaur from South-East Asia Bioethics Network

Opening remarks by Professor Dr. Sharon Kaur from South-East Asia Bioethics Network

The pre-conference activities contributed to advancing several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Discussions on palliative care and ethical health research aligned with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by improving patient care and societal health outcomes. Comprehensive bioethics training supported SDG 4 (Quality Education) by enhancing healthcare professionals’ capacities and ethical research practices. The principles of transparency, accountability, and cross-disciplinary collaboration emphasized throughout the sessions reflected SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

The pre-conference set the stage for deeper discussions on how ethics can shape better healthcare and research practices. By bringing people from different fields together, IBHC 2024 aims to inspire more compassionate, fair, and sustainable approaches to healthcare around the world.

The Asia-Pacific Regional Stakeholder Consultation on The First Draft of UNESCO Recommendation on The Ethics of Neurotechnology

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UNESCO Chair on Bioethics Universitas Gadjah Mada (UCB UGM), in collaboration with the UNESCO Jakarta office, had successfully held an Asia-Pacific Regional Consultation to discuss the draft UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Neurotechnology. The event took place on June 21st 2024, virtually via Zoom Meeting platform. This consultation session was part of the process to develop the timely standard-setting instrument, UNESCO
recommendation on the Ethics of Neurotechnology. The 1st draft text of the recommendation had been produced by UNESCO Ad Hoc Expert Group (AHEG), through its 1st meeting earlier this year on 22nd – 26th April. This activity was in alignment and contributing to the realization of Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 in ensuring healthy life and promote wellbeing for all at all age, SDG 10 in reducing inequality within and among countries and SDG 17 in strengthening implementation measures and revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable development.

This regional consultation was commenced with opening remarks from The Dean of Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing (FMPHN) UGM, Dr. Yodi Mahendradhata, M.Sc, Ph.D, FRSPH, and the Director of Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities (CBMH), Dr. Dra. Retna Siwi Padmawati, MA, who also represented Prof. Dr. Yati Soenarto S, Sp.A (K)., Ph.D as the Chairholder of UNESCO Chair Bioethics UGM.

The UNESCO resource persons and also members of UNESCO AHEG attended this consultation session to provide background context and highlights for the draft recommendation text, as well as discussing interactively with participants. Dr. Dafna Feinholz Klip, as Chief of the Bioethics and Ethics of Science Section, within UNESCO’s Social and Human Science Sector, conveyed the process of preparing UNESCO’s draft recommendations on the Ethics of Neurotechnology. Dr. Ryota Kanai, experienced expert in neuroscience and member of UNESCO AHEG spoke on highlights of “Setting the scene: Neuroscience in the context of the draft UNESCO Recommendation”. Prof. Qingming Luo, experienced expert in neuroimaging and UNESCO AHEG member emphasized on the importance of integrating ethical frameworks into neurotechnology practice, and the role of international collaboration. The consultation session were led by two moderators dr. Rusdy Ghazali Malueka, Ph.D, Sp.S(K), expert neurologist, and dr. Wika Hartanti, MIH, bioethics faculty and executive manager of UCB UGM, both also teaching faculty at Master Bioethics UGM.

The event was attended by 58 invited participants who originated from 14 countries in Asia-Pacific region, and represented various stakeholders concerning neurotechnology development and implementation. Participants were from various backgrounds representing scientific community, healthcare providers, bioethicists, patient groups, and civil society. The interactive and lively consultation session facilitated participants’ inquiries and
feedbacks from various perspectives to improve the draft recommendation text. The discussion highlights important aspects about definition and scope of neurotechnology, and ethical concerns arising from it. Suggestions regarding values, principles and policy recommendations were made to encourage ethical, humane and sustainable development and practice of neurotechnology. Feedbacks and suggestions from this consultation session were documented, and reported back to UNESCO as representation of stakeholders’ perspectives from Asia – Pacific Region. Further details and information regarding subsequent process towards the final recommendation for Ethics in Neurotechnology is available in the UNESCO page (https://www.unesco.org/en/ethics-neurotech/expert-group?hub=83294#).

Keywords: Bioethics, Ethics, Neuroethics, Neurotechnology, Neuroscience, UNESCO, SDGs, SDGs 3, SDGs 10, SDGs 17.