The Moral Compass of Contemporary Health Researchers and Professionals
Full course description
This FiA-week deals with the question: ‘what is a good health scientist?’ As researcher, professional or policymaker, health-scientists work in complex networks in which they face question about integrity, conflicting interests, professional conduct, money, norms for success and quality. As individuals, health scientists need to find a way of relating to these questions. To be a ‘good health scientist’ it is not enough to be skilled and knowledgeable, it is at least as important to have a moral compass and to reflect on this compass. In this FiA-week students reflect on developments in healthcare and research using two normative theoretical perspectives.
Course objectives
Knowledge and insight
After this week, the student has insight in:
- Philosophical theories that are used for analysis and reflection on norms for a good professional, scientist, policymaker and person.
Application of knowledge and insight
After this week the student is able
- To use these theories for an analysis of- and reflection on concrete practices of professionals, scientists, policymakers and one’s own experiences.
Forming opinions
After this week the student is able
- To form a judgement about existing practices of health-promotion, science and policy on the basis of these theories, and to support ones position with arguments.
Communication
After this week the student is able
- To give expression to one’s own moral compass supported by theoretical arguments in writing.