Newcastle University

Simon Woods and PhD student Alexis Paton ran a U3A (University of the 3rd Age) Bioethics Day at the Life Conference and Banqueting Centre on 12th November.

Approximately 100 delegates enjoyed a one day programme of interactive sessions which provided them with an opportunity to meet and debate with PEALS bioethics scholars. The programme addressed such themes as: ‘What is bioethics?’  - offering a definition of bioethics from its origins as a branch of philosophy and ethics through its evolution as an interdisciplinary subject involving law, social science and other disciplines.

Subsequent sessions during the day  addressed some of the common ‘problems’ of bioethics at the beginnings of human life, assisted conception and neonatal care,  issues from the end of life such as life sustaining technologies, withholding and withdrawing treatment, assisted suicide and euthanasia, to cutting edge research in stem cell science and genetics. The interactive day involved group discussion and debate around cases and scenarios. Delegates were active participants and highly vociferous.

Attendees said it was: 'An absolutely brilliant day, I feel I learned a lot' and 'I found it interesting and able to apply my own experiences to the material'