Swinburne driving medical ethics and bioethics education through International Chair in Bioethics network

The Iverson Health Innovation Research Institute at Swinburne University of Technology has become Australia’s newest hub in the International Chair in Bioethics (ICB) network, which boasts more than 260 institutions worldwide.

The status cements Swinburne investigators as global best practice leaders in medical and bioethics education. 

Swinburne announced its membership of the ICB’s worldwide community ahead of World Bioethics Day on 19 October 2024.

World Bioethics Day celebrates a commitment to practising bioethical principles documented in the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights. 

Preparing students for ethical healthcare careers

Swinburne students will gain access to the ICB’s contemporary curriculum, integrating medical ethics and bioethics into their daily practice as future healthcare and medical professionals.

Students will be introduced to non-medical aspects of healthcare, including sociology, psychology, economics and health administration. A particular focus for the ICB is promoting the ethical and sustainable use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare.

The approach is future focused, aiming to increase student engagement and appreciation for the values involved in healthcare delivery.  

Swinburne’s Dr Evie Kendal, a bioethicist and public health scientist specialising in the ethics of emerging technologies, will lead the new ICB unit at the Iverson Health Innovation Research Institute.

“Medical ethics and bioethics training is critical for Swinburne students, who’ll work as health professionals in a changing world of digital health and emerging medical and assistive technologies,” Dr Kendal said.

“I’m grateful for the support of Professor Rui Nunes, Head of the International Chair in Bioethics, for accepting Iverson Health Innovation Research Institute’s application to become Australia’s newest unit in the International Chair in Bioethics community.”

As leader of Swinburne’s Ethical, Legal and Social Implications of Emerging Technologies (ELSIET) research group, Dr Kendal is proud to offer Swinburne’s expertise in the ethics of medical technology and assistive devices. 

“Establishing ethical guidelines for emerging technologies involves practical challenges. Ethical issues need to be considered early in technology development, to anticipate future devices and algorithms, their applications, and the personal and social consequences of adoption,” she said.

Dr Kendal will be joined by a Steering Committee whose members include Swinburne’s Professor Gavin Lambert, Director of Iverson Health Innovation Research Institute, and representatives from several other Australian universities.

“The establishment of Australia’s International Chair in Bioethics unit at Swinburne, under the direction of Dr Kendal, will hold us in good stead as we develop and implement technologies like AI, bioelectronics, cloud computing, human-machine symbiosis, robotics and VR/AR,” Professor Lambert said.

“Swinburne’s involvement reflects the university’s commitment to combine science, technology and innovation with humanity, to deliver genuine social impact.” 

Improving relationships between health professionals and patients

The International Chair in Bioethics aims to improve relationships between health professionals and patients, by transforming how medical ethics and bioethics are taught worldwide.

Originally created by UNESCO in 2001, the ICB has grown to become a highly influential independent global collaboration. Today, the ICB is recognised by leading international organisations, including as a Cooperating Centre of the World Medical Association.

Continuously improving education in medical and bioethics ensures graduates who will work in medicine, life sciences and related technologies are grounded in practices that uphold the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights.