New Delhi, Apr 21 (ANI): A new course on bioethics that would bring some cheer to both animal and human rights activists is on the anvil, courtesy Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).

IGNOU, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), will draft the module of courses in bioethics, the study of ethics in bio-medical sciences.

Under the project “Centrally Coordinated Bio-ethics Education for India” workshops will be conducted on bioethics through the teleconference mode using IGNOU’s multimedia facilities.

“It is proposed to begin with workshops in bioethics in teleconference mode using multimedia facilities of IGNOU. It is also planned to telecast lectures on bioethics on the IGNOU educational TV stations,” said Dr. Nandini K. Kumar, Deputy Director General of the ICMR’s Division of Bio-Medical Ethics.

The ethics committee members, medical scientists and social scientists at their own convenience, can take up this workshop, she said.

A six-month certificate course in bioethics in collaboration with IGNOU is also on the anvil. This would then be upgraded to a diploma programme in due course.

At present bioethics is not a separate subject.

“Presently, in the medical curriculum only a few hours are devoted to bioethics, which are not sufficient to digest the essence of ethics to be followed while engaging animal and humans in research work,” said Dr Kumar.

The study module for bioethics certificate course is being designed.

“The curriculum committee will determine the course content. The course content will include cultural, social and religious elements as well. It will comprise of one-month’s foundation course and electives or optional subjects for the specialised professionals such as on clinical ethics, research ethics, and social research related to health,” she said.

The self-instructional material will also be prepared and digitalised for radio and television.

“This course can also be shared with other developing and commonwealth countries,” she added.

“Ultimately we may have Masters Degree in bioethics that matches international courses like on Human Rights,” Dr Kumar said. (ANI)