Research
New working group at MHB: “Ethics and history of medicine”
Neuruppin, 8 April 2025
Ethical reflection is more important than ever in times of rapid advances in the field of medicine. A new integrated working group “Ethics and history of medicine” was therefore set up at the MHB. Today the MHB has almost 20 interdisciplinary working groups (IAGs) which collaborate across different locations to connect research and practice, support young researchers and transfer research findings into clinical routines. The direct involvement of clinicians and young scientists in research questions brings new perspectives on topical issues and ultimately serves to improve patient care.
The new group aims to integrate and optimize topics of ethics in medicine, scientific reflection and clinical practice. It is not restricted to the MHB but open to interested individuals from the associated university hospitals, MHB teaching practices, the Faculty of Health Sciences jointly run by MHB, University of Potsdam and BTU, and the MUL-CT (Medical University Lausitz).
These are three primary objectives:
- a clinical ethics committee, to be founded at the university hospital Ruppin-Brandenburg (ukrb) in support of decisions of medical-ethical relevance,
- integration of historical and ethical issues in student education at the MHB,
- promotion of interdisciplinary exchange on ethically challenging topics (for example, an “ethics café” as an appropriate setting).
Supervisors of the group are Magdalena Ruppert (research assistant / medical didactics) and Prof. Dr. Andreas Jüttemann (Institute of Anatomy, History of Medicine).
Magdalena Ruppert reports positive feedback from many interested persons of different disciplines. 26 people attended the first meeting, and further individuals from teaching and research, students and hospital staff would like to join. First topics to be addressed in the working group are usage of artificial intelligence, commercialization in medicine, and better integration of training and clinical practice.
The working group plans to prepare students better for ethical challenges and for this purpose to include course content from health sciences in the medical curriculum, such as case studies on historical medical mistakes or ethical dilemmas. It was suggested to involve students and address ethical issues in an interactive and practice-oriented manner using case vignettes from the POL (problem oriented learning) format. An “Ethics Café” is also planned as an appropriate setting for discussion of ethically problematic decision-making in clinical routines among students and physicians.
The working group is still being established. Dedicated people with an interest in research, PR and further training are invited to register and proactively join in debates and projects. “Ethics in Medicine”, so Magdalena Ruppert, attracts a lot of attention. A representative of the Federal Health Ministry has expressed interest in supporting the scientific monitoring of the working group to build a bridge between science and practice. The ukrb department of neurosurgery is also willing to participate and reflect upon ethical questions based on case studies.
Contact:
Magdalena Ruppert
Phone: 03391 3914513
E-Mail: magdalena.ruppert@mhb-fontane.de