THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE OF SOUTH AFRICA
INVITE YOU TO A PUBLIC LECTURE BY
Professor Simeon E H Davies
Sport Management Department, Cape Peninsula University of Technology
on
‘Moral and Economic Challenges Facing Health Care Corporations’
Abstract
Many of today’s successful health care corporations, notably large pharmaceutical companies are heavily reliant on research to ensure market relevance and to optimise their profit making potential in the world economy.
However, the unique legal-moral dimensions that characterise modern corporations are not necessarily easily reconciled with the moral principles underpinning research bioethics. While corporations may be construed in law to be legal persons, do they have moral obligations and responsibilities that go beyond what law requires of them?
There appears to be an inherent tension between the profit making prerogatives of health care corporations and the ethical principles of medical research. This talk suggests that a resolution to these moral tensions may be achieved by way of moral reasoning using arguments based on the reconciliation of divergent moral principles via Richardson’s (2007) pragmatist notion of practical intelligence that seeks to inform us that we must remain open to revising our conception of what is good and what is right. Such an approach would advance the assertion that morally responsible corporations are better placed to conduct bioethically sound research, thus ensuring their reputation and critically enhancing their profit making potential.
Prof. Davies has extensive experience in the field of sports and exercise science, and is a registered sports scientist with the South African Sports Medicine Association. He is presently the Treasurer of the South African Association for Human Movement Science.
Prof. Davies is a Council member of the Ergonomics Society of South Africa, and is a registered member with the Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors. Prof. Davies is particularly interested in research concerning sports/exercise science, ergonomics and human functional capacity, as well as ethical issues in research and business ethics.
Prof Davies has published many articles in peer-reviewed journals and has presented his findings at numerous national and international conferences. He is also chair of the Faculty of Business Ethics Committee and vice-chair of the Institutional Ethics Review Board at CPUT. His recent research work has been investigating the effects of rooibos on physical performance, and a prospective and study is scheduled to investigate Prophylactic benefits of Rooibos supplementation for sojourners at the high altitude.
Date: Wednesday 19th February 2014
Time: 17h00 (Tea will be served from 16h30)
Place: South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) Auditorium, Observatory Road, Observatory*
*Directions to SAAO Auditorium : From the N2, turn off to the M57 – Liesbeek Parkway; turning in the direction of Cape Town and continue until the traffic lights with Hartleyvale (hockey and football) on your left. Turn right at traffic lights into Observatory Road, pass the River Club; the S A Astronomical Observatory is next on the left. Once through the security gates bear left following the SALT signs to the auditorium i.e. last building on the left (white with stoep & ramp).
NO BOOKINGS / ALL WELCOME