By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
From Oct. 15 to 18, Seoul will be hosting the World Medical Association General Assembly, one of the largest meetings of medical doctors in the world.
More than 400 medical delegates from 50 countries will gather to discuss ethical and technical issues doctors are facing at the moment. ``The event will be the largest ever and full of in-depth discussion,'' Dr. Moon Tae-joon, honorary president of the Korean Medical Association, said.
In an interview with The Korea Times, the former president of the World Medical Association hinted at the possible announcement of a Seoul Declaration. ``It will highlight doctors' autonomy in performing treatment and making the best environment for the patients. Talks have been underway among membership countries and we expect to impress the world with the outcome,'' he said.
Under the theme of ``Health and Human Rights,'' Moon called for self-reflection of each doctor in guaranteeing human rights in the medical field. In 1964, the WMA adopted the Helsinki Declaration, setting guidelines for doctors on medical research involving humans. With the guideline being amended five times since, the Seoul meeting will seek the latest amendment.
``I know that there are human rights infringements taking place all over the world but we have been rather passive about it. This time we will be inviting experts as well as United Nations officials to discuss the issue in depth,'' he said.
Removing organs for illegal trade will be denounced while welfare and medical care for inmates at prisons will be openly requested. Relations between poverty, environment and human rights will be reviewed while upcoming issues such as climate change, chemical use and safe water supplement will be introduced. Embryonic stem cells used for research use will be reviewed while standards for collaboration between the medical and veterinary sectors will be considered.
The WMA was founded in 1947 to achieve the highest international standards in medical education, medical science, medical ethics and healthcare.
Through its rows of declarations ― Helsinki in 1964, Tokyo in 1975 and Geneva in 1984 ― the group has earned recognition both inside and outside the medical world. The group currently has members from 86 countries, representing more than 8 million doctors.
Korea has played an active role in the society after Moon took the chair in 1985. Now the country has seats in ``Task-shifting'' and ``Environment'' sectors.
The Seoul meeting was allocated to mark the 100th anniversary of the KMA. During the four-day meeting, there will also be an exhibition and cultural performances to promote Korea as well as other events to show the history of doctors in Korea.