The collaboration between the Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Colombo, and the Center for Medical Ethics, University of Oslo, started in 1992 after a request from the Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo. During the past three years a number of activities have been carried out within this collaborative project. The Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo continues to support this collaboration. From September 1, 1995 the collaborative partner in Norway is the Center for International Health at the University of Bergen.
CO-DIRECTORS
Professor Nalaka Mendis, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Colombo
Professor Reidar K. Lie, Department of Philosophy, University of Bergen
FINANCES
From 1992 to 1995 NORAD has supported this project. From 1996 until 1999 the project is financed by NUFU..
WORKSHOPS ON ETHICAL ISSUES OF HEALTH POLICY FOR A NUMBER OF TARGET GROUPS
During this three year period a number of workshops on ethical issues in health policy have been organized. The workshop participants have included between 20 - 30 key resource persons, with a variety of backgrounds (such as Medicine, Law, Sociology, Philosophy). A number of representative case studies have been prepared as the basis for the discussion.
Meeting on ethical issues in the compulsory screening for HIV in Sri Lanka, Colombo, June 1992
This meeting resulted in the change of policy in relation to screening for HIV in Sri Lanka.
Meeting on distribution of health care resources, Kandy. February 1993
This was the first of a series of workshops. A core group of professionals were invited to this meeting.
Ethical issues in health care policy, November 1993
This meeting was augmented with key representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Sri Lankan Parliament, and the Universities of Colombo and Peradeniya
Ethical issues confronting health care administrators, August 1994
This workshop on "Ethical aspects of Resource Allocation, organized as a joint venture with Director General of Health Services, Dr. Reggie Perera, for the College of Medical Administrators. Among the participants were Dr. Reggie Perera - Director General of Health Services, Dr. N.W. Vidyasagara, Consultant WHO and several other senior administrators from the Department of Health Services.
Consultative meeting on ethical issues in health policy, June 1995
This was a workshop on health policy, with invited participants from a number of key institutions in Sri Lank. The aim of this workshop was to be a consultative meeting which will facilitate the preparation of a policy report on key recommendations for the Sri Lankan Health Care System. An executive summary of this meeting is available.
WORKSHOPS ON GENERAL ISSUES IN MEDICAL ETHICS
Workshop on "Ethical aspects of Biomedical Research"
was organized together with the Ethical Review Committee in Colombofor members of research ethics committees, August 1994
Workshop on the Teaching of Medical Ethics for clinical Faculty, University of Peradeniya, November 1993
This workshop was organized by the Medical Education Unit at the University of Peradeniya.
GUEST LECTURES IN MEDICAL ETHICS
Professor Reidar K. Lie has given a number of guest lectures on various topics in Medical Ethics for a number of target groups. These include the Sri Lanka Medical Association, Kandy General Hospital, Sri Lanka Association of Professionals, University of Colombo Medical School, and the University of Ruhuna
REGULAR RESEARCH MEETINGS OF A CORE GROUP OF RESEARCHERS
There is now a core group of people in Colombo working on issues of Medical Ethics. These include Professor Nalaka Mendis, Dr. Saroj Jayasinghe, Dr. Damani de Silva and Dr. Varuni de Silva. All of them take part in various activities, such as lectures and workshops, on topics of Medical Ethics. In addition, a number of people from Medical, legal, philosophy and social science backgrouns have taken part in regular meetings and deliberations. They continue to contribute to the development of the programme a great deal.
MEDICAL ETHICS TEACHING IN THE MEDICAL SCHOOL CURRICULUM, UNIVERSITY OF COLOMBO
Medical Ethics continues to be taught in the undergraduate curriculum of the Colombo Faculty of Medicine by Dr. Varuni de Silva, for 3rd and 4th year Medical students. Apart from the lectures on theoretical issues, a number of regular clinical seminars have been introduced. Dr. Varuni de Silva occupies a permanent faculty position that has been established in the University of Colombo.
GUEST RESEARCH VISITS BY RESEARCHERS FROM SRI LANKA
Professor Nalaka Mendis visited Norway in August 1993. He participated in the yearly meeting of the European Society for Philosophy of Medicine and Health Care, as well as the first meeting of the International Association of Bioethics in Amsterdam. Professor Nalaka Mendis, together with Drs. Damani de Silva and Saroj Jayasinghe, visited Norway in February 1995 to work on the joint project, take part in the activities of the Center for Medical Ethics, and prepare the grant application to NUFU.
Dr. Nimal Kasturiaratchi from the University of Peradeniya visited Norway in August 1993 and participated in the yearly meeting of the European Society for Philosophy of Medicine and Health Care. Dr. Kasturiaratchi visited Norway again in 1994 to take part in the activities at the Center for Medical Ethics in Oslo, and spent two months at the Center for Clinical Medical Ethics at the University of Chicago. He also participated in the "Mega-meeting" in Pittsburgh of the four professional organizations in Medical Ethics in the US.
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
A research project was developed with the assistance of professor Reidar K. Lie to be conducted by Dr. Varuni de Silva of the Department of Psychological Medicine. The pilot study has already been conducted and the actual study will be commenced soon. The study is titled "Ethical judgement and analytical framework in Medicine". Miss Indunil Abeykoon of the Faculty of Law has undertaken a thesis on "Informed Consent". Apart from them, two research assistants continue to work in the project. They are Dr. Ishani de Silva and Ms. Sayrini Siriwardena.
Professor Nalaka Mendis, Dr. Damani de Silva and Dr. Saroj Jayasinghe have worked in the area of allocation of resources. Professor Mendis has presented a paper at the scientific meeting of the European Society of Philosophy of Medicine on this topic, and all three have prepared a paper, together with Reidar Lie, to be submitted to Social Science and Medicine.
Dr. Nimal Kasturiaratchi is developing a research project in cross-cultural Medical Ethics.
LIBRARY
The effort to build a library of core books in Medical Ethics has also continued with funds from the project grant. The University of Colombo and the University of Peradeniya subscribe to a number of key medical ethics journals.