The Bulgarian section of the International Bioethics Network and the Faculty of Public Health “Prof. Dr. Tsekomir Vodenicharov, MD” at MU-Sofia celebrated for another year October 19 – World Bioethics Day.
The scientific conference on the topic “Bioethics and Peace” was organized in cooperation with the World Medical Association and led by the Dean Prof. Alexandrina Vodenicharova, MD. The event took place in the crowded Aula of the University Hospital “St. Catherine”, in the presence of the Rector of MU-Sofia Prof. Boycho Landzhov, MD, Head of the Department of Bioethics. Secretary of the University Assoc. Prof. Vidin Kirkov, deans, deputy deans and directors of MU-Sofia units, representatives of the Student Council, lecturers, students and guests.
World Bioethics Day has been celebrated since 2005, when on October 19, 191 countries adopted the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights. The declaration identifies 15 bioethical principles that provide a common global platform through which bioethics is implemented in the medical practice of all countries.
The conference at MU-Sofia was divided into three sessions, with the first session presenting a report on the topic:
“Bioethics and Peace” by Prof. Magdalena Alexandrova, MD.
The following presentations were presented in the second session:
- Bioethics and Peace: What happens to values in times of peace? – lecturer Assoc. Prof. Dr. N. Leventi, MD
- Bioethics and Peace: Lessons from the War in Ukraine – lecturer Prof. Dr. V. Zahariev, MD
- Authentic or Artificial Peace? Bioethical Nuances of Pharmacological “Induced Calmness.” – lecturer Assoc. Prof. S. Garov, MD
- The Gelsinger Paradox: When Biotics Enters the Courtroom. – lecturers Prof. Evgeni Grigorov, PhD, Asst. Hristina Georgieva
- The Label “Drug Addict” and the Future – lecturer Assoc. Prof. Elina Petkova – Georgieva, PhD
The third session was dedicated to the student competition for an essay, poster, photo or video illustrating the theme of the event “Bioethics and Peace.” 20 students from all specialties of the university participated and sent their visions to the jury, all of whom received certificates of participation, and the best received awards from the Student Council at MU-Sofia, presented to them personally by Prof. Vodenicharova.
“The event dedicated to World Bioethics Day is part of the INGENIUM Well-Being Days initiatives, which aim to promote health and well-being, inclusion, and the creation of a supportive university environment. In this context, the celebration of World Bioethics Day brings together the principles of bioethics with the values of the European university alliance INGENIUM, emphasizing human dignity, ethical responsibility, peace, and respect for the individual. The initiative affirms the importance of bioethical values for the well-being of the academic community and contributes to the development of a university culture based on health, mutual respect, and social responsibility.”
