doc.ThDr. Ing. Inocent M. Szaniszló, PhD., OP

doc. ThDr. Ing. Inocent M. Szaniszló, PhD., OP

Author works in the field of general and special theological ethics, as well as political philosophy and was named the best expert assistant at the Faculty of Theology in Kosice in 2008 and the best associate professor in 2009 and 2010 for his scientific outcomes. He works with Prof. Matthias Vogt from College Zittau-Goerlitz on the projects Cultural Management of Churches and in two networks of CEEPUS: bioethical network ACEBE of Prof. Sigrid Mueller (association of bioethics specialists for central and eastern Europe located in Vienna at the Institute of Systematic Theology of the Vienna University) as well as social-ethical network of Prof. Ingebor Gabriel at the same University. At the same time he gives lectures in bioethics at the Specialized College of St. Paul at the Faculty of Pedagogy of the Benedek Elek West-Hungarian University in Sopron (also the Erasmus program) for 2 years and cooperates with colleague Prof. W. Schaupp in Austrian Graz in formation of Ph.D. students in the field of moral theology.

The ethical analysis of the development of the relationship between patient and  his physian in modern era

If we want to deal with the development of the relationship between a patient and his physician we can‘t forget the philosophical background of an era which influenced this relationship in a significant way. That is how thanks to the modern progress this relationship has got through many phases such as eccessive bureaucracy, powerlessness by laws, and the agreement of a patient instead of so called paternal authority (paternalism). A physician when fulfilling the medical ethos is himself going through several phases of the transformation of modern medicine: this profession often becomes just a job instead of a vocation, or, the credibility comes out from the scientific competence instead of a personal integrity. Despite being in a significantly christianity-practising part of the Central Europe, our scientific (as well as medical) world has set off predominantly the modern direction which is not always a positive philosophical way for Christianity. Then a significant paternalism between a patient and a physician points out at the non-elaborated reflexion of recognition of moral authonomy (set up by Kant) as an ethical imperative and principles of self-determination and human rights. The most difficult thing is to recognize this principle in border situations when people due to their illness are partly or permanently unable to live a life individually and indipendently. In spite of this the important European ethicists agree that in these border situations it will be necessary to underline the validity of the moral authonomy and distributive justice, even though there has to be a demand to respect and actively require responsibility of those who participate, at least by the informed consent of a patient. Thanks to the modern reflexion of ethical principles we will be able to avoid a tension from the medical authoritarianism.

Contact

doc. ThDr. Ing. Inocent-Mária V. Szaniszló, Ph.D.

Inštitút aplikovanej etiky prof. Alexandra Spesza
pri Teologickej fakulte Katolíckej univerzity Ružomberok v Košiciach
Hlavná 89
041 21 Košice

E: vladimir.szaniszlo(at)ku.sk

ORGANIZER OF THE CONFERENCE              

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