KC Old Boy, Dr. Derrick Aarons, was recently elected the first president of the newly formed Bioethics Society of the English Speaking Caribbean (BSEC). Aarons is the first in the region to attain a doctorate in bioethics. His expertise on the subject is sought after locally, regionally and internationally and it came as no surprise therefore that he heads up the first regional organization.
The BSEC arose out of a series of fora dating back to 1993 when the concept was first introduced. It culminated with the launch during the recently concluded second Research Ethics Conference at the University of the West Indies, Mona. The organization will concern itself with such issues as homosexuality, genetic engineering, ganja smoking, mercy killing, medical malpractice and other topics.
According to the KC deputy headboy of 1971, “The Society hopes to get a national bioethics committee established in Jamaica and in other English speaking countries, to provide expert advice on ethical matters related to health and health care, research, the life sciences, and public policy in health and health care."
The current membership of the BSEC is 40 representatives from some 19 territories. No doubt Dr. Aarons will be treading on some controversial subjects.
Congrats, Dr Aarons, the KC family is very, very proud of you.
