• Dr. med. Felix Thiele, M.Sc. 

12.–13.6.2003 

The controversial discussions concerning the reform of the health service in Germany are characterised by a fundamental antagonism between efficiency-mindedness and moral claims, inferred from the normative implications of the physician-patient relationship. In the discussion, this situation demands a more thorough reflection on the relationship between economic and ethical categories. In principle, namely, these are not necessarily in opposition to one another. For example, in certain contexts it is absolutely legitimate to speak of a moral obligation towards acting efficiently, while, on the other hand, efficient action strategies may well be marked by “wise” consideration of moral norms. 

The expert discussion meeting, conducted by the Europäische Akademie together with the Medico-Philosophical Working Group of the Hagen General Hospital (Allgemeines Krankenhaus Hagen GmbH) and the Forum Philosophicum of the FernUniversität Hagen attempted to overcome the antagonistic face-off by highlighting the limited justification and complementary character of economic and ethical categories from the economic, juridical, medical and ethical points of view. Furthermore, conclusions were drawn for the normative foundation of a democratic health care service. 

Participants: Dr. med. Dietmar Herberhold (Wetter), Priv.-Doz. Dr. Rainer Souchon (Hagen), Professor Dr. Hans-Heiner Raspe (Lübeck), Priv.-Doz. Dr. Dr. Nikola Biller-Adorno (Geneva), Dr. Ullrich Freudenberg (Essen), Professor Dr. Martin Kolmar (Mainz), Professor Dr. Carl Friedrich Gethmann (Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler).