Medical Ethics Education in Qatar
Pablo Rodríguez del Pozo, M.D., J.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Public Health, represents the Division at the Doha, Qatar, campus of Weill Cornell Medical College. He directs the entire Medical Ethics curriculum at that campus, for both medical and pre-medical students, using videoconferencing to be in close consultation with colleagues in New York. Dr. Rodríguez del Pozo and Dr. Fins co-authored the first publication from the medical college branch, “The Globalization of Education in Medical Ethics and Humanities: Evolving Pedagogy at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar” (Academic Medicine, Vol. 80, No. 2/February 2005), which discussed their experiences in implementing a Medical Ethics and Humanities course for premedical students. Drs. Rodríguez del Pozo and Fins and are also co-editors of a new section of Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics called “Spanish Bioethics.”
Dr. Rodríguez del Pozo's innovative educational initiatives have included organizing and moderating debates on current controversial health topics. The participants have been second-year pre-medical students in the Medical Ethics and the Humanities course. In 2006, the students argued for and against the motion: "This House believes that Terry Schiavo had the right to die by having her feeding tube removed." The topic for the second debate, held in February 2007, was whether or not medical drugs that enhance mood and cognition should be made available over the counter. Dr. Rodríguez del Pozo has vigorously promoted these debates as an important way to foster academic and civic values.
Currently, a new course in palliative care for fourth-year medical students is being developed.
CONTACT US
Medical Ethics
Joseph J. Fins, MD, Chief
Cathleen Acres, Administrative Director
435 E. 70th St. 4J
Tel: (212) 746-1126
Fax: (212) 746-8738
[email protected]
Kerrine Simone Carter, Administrative Assistant
435 E. 70th St. 4J
Tel: (212) 746-4246
Fax: (212) 746-8738
[email protected]
