This course deals with a variety of topics in the domain of palliative care: autonomy and dependence; scientific research in palliative care; palliative sedation and euthanasia; death, suffering and palliative care; quality of life and a good death; spirituality and palliative care and cultural aspects of death and dying. There will be time for intensive discussions.

The key-note lecture will be held by prof. Richard Harding, reader in Palliative care, Director of Global Programmes and Partnerships. King's College London, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Cicely Saunders Institute, Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation.

Speakers are, among others, Kris Vissers, professor of palliative care in Nijmegen; Evert van Leeuwen, professor of medical ethics in Nijmegen; Ghislaine van Tiel, assistant professor of Medical Ethics in Utrecht; Gerrit Kimsma, general practitioner and philosopher in Amsterdam, Gert Olthuis, assistant professor medical ethics in Nijmegen and Joanna Wojtkowiak, assistant professor in Utrecht.

This course is designed for participants from diverse professional backgrounds, such as nursing, medicine, health care administration, ethics, philosophy, theology and pastoral care, and PhD students undertaking courses of study in these areas.

Objective of the course is to educate the participants on two main aspects: ethical questions of palliative care and medically assisted death, and philosophical, theological and medical reflections on the concepts of death and suffering. Attitudes towards death and dying, and the ethical aspects of continuing or foregoing medical treatment, and of medically assisted death receive considerable attention. In addition, the dimensions of spirituality, rituals and intercultural diversity are covered.

The intensive course Suffering, Death and Palliative care is part of the post-initial Erasmus Mundus Master of Bioethics program organized by a consortium of three European universities: the KU Leuven (Belgium), Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen (The Netherlands) and the Università degli Studi di Padova (Italy). Due to this collaboration, participants of the advanced course Suffering, Death and Palliative Care, will join Master students from all over the world.