Mission of the Programme
The aims of the Programme
are the following:
(a) to promote research in bioethics, to
encourage ethical reflections in clinical
practice and to support patients’ rights
(b) to collaborate with Faculties, Institutes
and Centres in the teaching of bioethics
at the University, including supervision of
dissertations in relevant areas
(c) to promote the teaching of Good Clinical
Practice guidelines (GCP) and to provide
certification thereof for researchers in clinical
medicine and in biotechnology
(d) to conduct research in bioethics and
collaborate with individuals and institutions,
both local and foreign
(e) to offer ethical advisory services, including
assessment reports and advice on applications
for ethical approval from Research Ethics
Committees
(f) to provide the training of members of
Research Ethics Committees and Hospital
Ethics Committees
(g) to raise public awareness in bioethics and
patients’ rights
The programme intends to promote the study,
research and public awareness of bioethical
issues, especially those contemporary issues
relevant to the country. As a centre of excellence
it participates as a partner / coordinator in
research projects especially those funded locally
or by the European Union. The members of the
programme all offer expertise in their relevant
area in order to give the best advice possible.
The programme aims to help the medical
and research community in practical ethical
guidelines, including obtaining proper consent
from individuals, data protection and privacy,
and also guidance in filling out relevant forms.
The Programme also has as its mission to tackle
issues which need legislation in collaboration
with the Medicine and Law Programme of the
Faculty of Laws, by promoting academic studies
and research, including Masters’ degrees,
organising meetings with relevant authorities,
disseminating awareness through seminars and
courses for public and professionals, and finally
to induce parliament, through Parliamentary
Social Affairs committees and the like, to
recommend changes to relevant legislations.
Research
At the moment the Bioethics Research Programme
is concerning itself with:
• Palliative Care
• Confidentiality and trust in the young adult
population
• Cross-border health care
• End-of-Life decision-making and legislation
• Research and support in legislation on
Reproductive Technology
• Ethical issues in the elderly population
• Ethical issues in Primary health care and
Family Medicine
• Ethical education and research in the
Vocational Training Programme for primary
health care physicians conducted by the
Ministry of Health.
Education
The Programme will also organise courses and
seminars from time to time for legal and health
care professionals.
Masters in Clinical Ethics having a European
orientation which will help the reader understand
and compare the various European States’
legislations and help in the understanding of
advancing European law in medicine will be
encouraged.
Staff:
Prof. Pierre Mallia (Chairman)
Prof. Richard Muscat (Pro-Rector)
Prof. Alex Felice
Dr Bridget Ellul
Dr Janet Mifsud
Rev. Prof. Emanuel Agius
Rev. Dr. Ray Zammit
For further information on the Faculty for
Medicine and Surgery please go to
http://www.um.edu.mt/ms.
The programme falls under the Office of the
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery.
A brief history of the
University
The University of Malta traces its origins to
the founding of the Collegium Melitense
by the Jesuits in 1592. The College was
raised to university status by Grand Master
Manoel Pinto de Fonseca in 1769. Situated
in Msida, the University of Malta is the
highest teaching institution in Malta.
The supreme governing bodies of the
University are the Council and the Senate.
There are some 11,000 students including
over 650 international students from 77
different countries, following full-time or
part-time degree and diploma courses,
many of them run on the modular/credit
system. The University regularly hosts
a large number of Erasmus and other
exchange students.
The University is geared towards the
infrastructural and industrial needs of
the country so as to provide expertise
in crucial fields. Almost 3,000 students
graduate in various disciplines annually.
The degree courses at the University are
designed to produce highly qualified
professionals, with experience of research,
who will play key roles in industry,
commerce and public affairs in general.
There are a further 2,800 pre-tertiary
students at the G.F. Abela Junior College
which is managed by the University.
FACULTY OF
MEDICINE
AND SURGERY
Mater Dei Hospital
Bioethics Research Programme