Msc in Global Health Science

The Ethox Centre provides core teaching on international research ethics on the University of Oxford Department of Public Health MSc in Global Health Science. Ethox also provides a ten week optional module on international research ethics. The objectives of the teaching are to help students to:

• understand ethical frameworks underpinning debates in research ethics
• develop a critical appreciation of current controversies in international research ethics
• understand relevant international guidance and regulation
• identify and analyse ethical issues raised by research protocols and develop appropriate responses

Topics covered in the course include:

• Ways of thinking about ethics
• Ethics and global public health
• International guidance and regulation
• Current controversies in international research ethics
• Evaluating risks and benefits
• Good research practice
• Consent to research
• Engaging research communities
• Post-trial access to research interventions and benefit-sharing
• Ethical review of research
• Capacity-building, policy-development and empirical ethics research

The ethics module is led by Dr Susan Bull and Professor Michael Parker. More information about the MSc in Global Health Science can be obtained from the Department of Public Health website. If you would like more information about the ethics content of this course contact admin@ethox.ox.c.uk

Global health Summer School

The Department of Public Health runs an annual one-week Global Health Summer School with a major ethics component provided by the Ethox Centre. The Summer School comprises three interrelated themes with sessions on each theme every day. The three themes are: research methods in global public health; health promotion and programme evaluation; and, international research ethics, each of which provides one third of the summer school curriculum. Details of the dates, costs and application process are on the Department of Public Health website. The ethics stream of the Summer School is led by Dr Susan Bull and Professor Michael Parker. For more information about the ethics component of the Summer School contact Ethox on admin@ethox.ox.ac.uk More information about the next Global Health Summer School and how to apply can be found by following this link:
http://www.publichealth.ox.ac.uk/global-health/global-health-summer-school

Research ethics for biomedical researchers 

The Ethox Centre regularly runs a short course in research ethics for biomedical researchers in Oxford. This course is led by Dr Mark Sheehan. Each session is based around a case study designed to elicit discussion and to stimulate reflection.  There is an element of small group work, and time at the end for participants to raise cases and issues within their own research.

The course includes sessions on the following topics:

• Introduction to research ethics (Mark Sheehan)
• Ethical issues in informed consent (Mark Sheehan and Matthew Liao)
• Confidentiality in research (Mark Sheehan and Mike Parker)
• Harms and benefits in research (Mark Sheehan)
• Ethical Issues in International Research (Mark Sheehan and Jantina de Vries)
• Ethical issues in the use of human tissue (Mark Sheehan and Jane Kaye)
• Ethical issue in the use of biobanks (Mark Sheehan and Jane Kaye)
• Ethical issues in questionnaires and interviewing (Mark Sheehan and Catherine Heeney)
• Research involving vulnerable or non-competent subjects (Mark Sheehan and Michael Dunn)
• Ethical issues in qualitative research (Mark Sheehan and Michael Dunn)

For more information about the course content and about dates and venues contact mark.sheehan@ethox.ox.ac.uk

Courses for medical students

The Ethox Centre is responsible for teaching medical ethics and law to all medical students in the Oxford Medical School, both on the standard course and the Graduate Entry course. The textbook for these courses is Medical Ethics and Law: the Core Curriculum (2nd Edition), Hope, T, Savulescu, J. and Hendrick, J. (2007) Edinburgh: Churchill-Livingstone. The teaching materials and tutor notes for this course are available here.

The Ethox Centre also runs a one-month optional Special Study Module for medical students in the fourth year of their course.

Clinical ethics workshops

Twice yearly, the Ethox Centre runs a two day workshop for members of clinical ethics committees and those considering setting up a committee. One day of this workshop focusses on the role of the clinical ethics committee in providing education, policy development and case consultation. The other day focusses on providing delegates with skills for identifying and analysing ethical issues arising in health care practice and management. Further information about these workshops, including information about the dates of the next workshop and registration details can be found at www.ethics-network.org.uk

Other workshops and courses

In addition to the above, the Ethox Centre also runs occasional seminars and workshops on other topics. These are announced as events on the Ethox Centre homepage.