The History of Medical Ethics - Fariha Ramay
Hometown: Paramus, New Jersey
Class Year: 2009
Major: Leadership in Medicine: Biology & Economics
Research Advisor: Prof. Robert Baker
Project Description:
My fellowship work this summer at the Center for Bioethics and Clinical Leadership, which focused on "The History of Medical Ethics," has offered me the unique opportunity to study the evolution of American codes and policies related to medical ethics over the past three hundred years, as well as the reconceptualization of medical ethics into new categories, and the relationship between medical ethics and society. As a student in the Leadership in Medicine Program, the history of medical ethics is of great interest to me- both professionally and personally. I worked as a student research assistant with Professor Robert Baker of the Philosophy Department on cross-referencing and indexing A History of Medical Ethics, a 2,100 page manuscript that will be published by the Cambridge University Press in late 2007 or early 2008. I developed a system for creating a concordance file that was used to index the 2,100 page manuscript. Furthermore, I learned of the complexities involved with the development of a scholarly book. The project was both personally interesting as a prospective physician, as well as academically beneficial, as a student learning alongside a professor and contributing to his ongoing research in medical ethics. Moreover, by reading these literary works, I have learned about the history of the formalizations of American medical ethics. Learning the history behind codes from homeopathic medical societies, American nursing societies and medical specialty societies has also helped me better understand these institutions in the present day.
Because this fellowship program integrated medicine with the discipline of bioethics, it fulfilled both my academic interest in the medical profession, and my personal interests in studying the historical development of policies related to medical ethics. This sort of experience that holds both academic and personal importance while preparing me for the professional world ahead is a rare find and I have certainly made the most of this unique opportunity.