The field of oncology, as a front-line specialty that involves intense and often dramatic circumstances and outcomes, magnifies the experience of the common ethical dilemmas that physicians and nurses encounter encountered in clinical practice.

Furthermore special issues arise in clinical oncology related as the severity and uncertainty of the cancer patient’s condition and her physical and psychological suffering; the tension inherent in patientdoctor communication about cancer; the complexity of cancer diagnosis and treatment; and the toxicity of many cancer therapies, coupled with the prominent role of experimental treatments; and the fact that cancer is not only the illness of a person but also of her entire family.

Thus, on a daily basis, the health-care workers caring for cancer patients face the ethical implications of cultural diversity vis-à-vis communication of diagnosis and prognosis and of end-of-life decisions.Most oncologists and oncology nurses are involved in the development and/or conduct of clinical trials and must deal with the moral implications of enrolling cancer patients in human experimentation.Moreover, emerging fields such as that of genetic testing and therapeutics have raised new ethical quandaries.

This course is designed to provide in-depth exposure to theoretical and practical ethical issues in oncology, as well as to provide clinical guidelines for the solution of common ethical dilemmas. The course will be extremely interactive, with ample time for general and one-to-one discussion between participants and speakers.

Course venue

Grand Hotel Toplice

C. svobode 12

4260 Bled, Slovenia

Tel.: +386 4 579 10 00
Fax: +386 4 574 18 41
E-mail: info@hotel-toplice.com

www.hotel-toplice.com/en-index.html

Secretariat

Rita De Martini

European School of Oncology

V.le Beatrice D’Este, 37

20122 Milan – Italy

Tel: +39 02 85464527

Fax: +39 02 85464545

E-mail: rdemartini@esoncology.org

Official language

The official language of the course will be English. No simultaneous translation will be provided.

Certificates

All participants will be issued with a certificate of attendance at the close of the course and will also be entitled to European CME credits.

Badge

The badge is the only official evidence of registration and should be worn at all times during the course. Loss of badge means loss of registration.

Insurance

The organisers bear no responsibility for untoward events in connection with, before, during and after the course. Participants are strongly advised to take out their own personal and travel insurance coverage.

Important deadlines

18/03/2006: accommodation deadline

18/04/2006: cancellation deadline

05/05/2006: replacement deadline

05/05/2006: registration deadline (after this date, registration will only be available on-site)