Swansea, Village Hotel

8th - 9th January 2010

This workshop will focus on a) whether theory should play a role in health care ethics (the 'normative question'); b) whether theory plays a role in health care ethics, e.g. in the debates within ethics committees (the 'descriptive question').

'Moral theory' can either refer to moral theories like utilitarianism, Kantianism etc or to moral theorizing, i.e. the business of 'doing' moral theory, for instance by developing a methodology to justify normative beliefs or by scrutinising moral theories. Again, the latter allows for a 'normative' and a 'descriptive' reading, because one might ask either what is the proper or what is the actual way of theorizing in ethics.

This workshop should be of interest to a wide audience in diverse spheres, e.g. ethics committee members, politicians, health care professionals, social workers, lawyers, as well as professional ethicists. The workshop is open to all free of charge, although we cannot cover the cost of travel or accommodation. If you wish to attend please save the attached registration form, complete and return to A.J.Bloodworth@swansea.ac.uk to make a firm commitment, as places are limited. Places will be allocated on a 'first come, first served' basis.

The conference is being held at the Village Hotel, Swansea. To book accommodation at the conference venue please see http://www.village-hotels.co.uk/Hotels/swansea/ or call 0844 8472970.

For more information on the project please see http://shsahrcproject.swan.ac.uk/index.htm