WORLD BIOETHICS DAY 2018

World Bioethics Day was celebrated on 12^th October 2018 at Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Research Institute according to the “Common Program” suggested by Hon’ble Chair and WBD Committee. Student from all the constituent colleges under Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research – Medical, Dental, Pharmacy, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Allied Health science, Biomedical science, Management College were actively involved. Steering committee members of International Network of UNESCO Chair in Bioethics, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research organized various competitions with the view of imparting knowledge of ethics in health care in a palatable way to the students.

The inaugural program was held at 10.00 am which was presided over by chief guest of the day Dr. Gireesh Kunjuraman, Deputy Dean / VP, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Center.

Dr. P.V.Vijayaraghavan, Head of Bioethics unit at Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research gave the welcome address. He highlighted the history of emergence of International Network of UNESCO Chair in Bioethics at Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research.


Special address was given by Dr. S.Anandan, Dean-Medical College and Dr.Somasundaram, Advisor (Academics), Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research. They sensitized the students
on the importance of bioethics how it as evolved over time.

Dr. P.V.Vijayaraghavan felicitated Dr.Gireesh Kunjuraman.

Dr.Gireesh Kunjuraman presented the “Most Active Bioethics Member” award to Dr.V.P.Karthik, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research.

Dr.Gireesh Kunjuraman addressed the gathering he gave a detailed overview of history, evolution and importance of bioethics. He then went on to add about the basic principles of Bioethics.

Following which Dr.A.Ravikumar, Co-chair of Bioethics Unit at Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research delivered the presidential address outlining bioethics education at Sri Ramachandra
Institute of Higher Education and Research.

The panel discussion, “Ethical issues in Health Care”, was moderated by Dr. Usha Vishwanath, Secretary, UNESCO Chair in Bioethics at SRU with the Panelists Dr.Gireesh Kunjuraman, Deputy Dean / VP, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Center, Dr. Latha Ravichandran, Associate Dean, Medical Education, Dr. Dr Arathi.G, Professor and HOD, Conservative Dentistry And Endodontics, Dr. V.P.Karthik, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, A. Seethalakshmi, Reader, Nursing foundation, Ms. Smriti Sarathi, Secretary, UNESCO Bioethics Student Wing, Ms. R. Supriya, Member, UNESCO Bioethics Student Wing, Ms. K. Bathmapriya, Member, UNESCO Bioethics Student Wing, Ms. V R Naomi Josphine, Member, UNESCO Bioethics Student Wing, Ms. K.Sai Vaishnavi, Member, UNESCO Bioethics Student Wing. They deliberated on the common ethical issues faced by health care professionals which engaged the audience by the sharing of their personal experiences.


Oral papers were presented by students on the theme “Solidarity & Cooperation”. Students from various educational institutions under Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research participated in “Just a minute” (JAM) competition.Students of all constituent colleges under Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research pro-actively organizing and took part in Ludicrous headlines competition which were very interesting interspersed with many ethical senariors.

Dr. Usha Vishwanath felicitated judges for all the events at WBD 2018 celebration.

The Program concluded with Dr.Sowmiya, Professor of Biochemistry, SRIHER distributing prizes for winners of various competitions. The prize winners were awarded gold, silver and bronze medals.