Albert R. Jonsen
Encyclopedia
Albert R. Jonsen Ph.D., is a biomedical ethicist and author. He is Emeritus Professor of Ethics
in Medicine
at the University of Washington
, School of Medicine, where he was Chairman of the Department of Medical History and Ethics from 1987-1999, and currently is Co-Director of the Program in Medicine and Human Values at California Pacific Medical Center
in San Francisco.
Jonsen joined the Society of Jesus
(Jesuits) in 1949 and was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1962; he resigned from the active priesthood in 1976. He received a doctorate in religious studies from Yale University
in 1967. In 1969, he was chosen as president of the University of San Francisco
where he served until 1972. The medical school of the University of California, San Francisco
invited him to join the faculty and create a program in medical ethics.
Jonsen was one of the first bioethicists to be appointed to a medical faculty. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute selected him as a member of the first NIH committee to deal with ethical, social and legal issues of a developing medical technology, the totally implantable artificial heart (1972-73). The U.S. Congress established the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research (1974-78), charged with formulating regulations governing the use of humans in research. Jonsen was a Commissioner and participated in development of regulations regarding use of the human fetus, children and mentally incapacitated persons as research subjects; he also assisted in the writing of the Belmont Report
, the statement of ethical principles that has become the leading statement on research ethics. In 1979, Jonsen was appointed to the successor body, the President's Commission on the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine (1979-82) which devised reports on brain death, foregoing life-support, informed consent and other topics that have become the main subjects of bioethics.
Jonsen was a pioneer in the practice of "clinical ethics", in which an ethicist serves as a consultant to those making ethical decisions about appropriate care of patients.
Jonsen joined John Fletcher as founders of the Society for Clinical Ethics which merged with the Association for Bioethics and Humanities in 1991. In 1987, Jonsen assumed the chairmanship of the Department of Medical History and Ethics, School of Medicine, University of Washington. He remained there until his retirement in 1999.
Jonsen is a fellow of the Hastings Center
, an independent bioethics research institution. He has served on the National Board of Medical Examiners, the American Board of Medical Specialties, the ethics committee of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and as consultant to the American Board of Internal Medicine. He was president of the Society for Health and Human Values and chair of the Committee to Monitor the Social Impact of AIDS of the National Academy of Sciences. He was elected to the Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences in 1981.
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
in Medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
, School of Medicine, where he was Chairman of the Department of Medical History and Ethics from 1987-1999, and currently is Co-Director of the Program in Medicine and Human Values at California Pacific Medical Center
California Pacific Medical Center
California Pacific Medical Center is one of the largest private, non-profit, academic medical centers in Northern California. The Medical Center is a combination of four of San Francisco's oldest medical institutions: Pacific Presbyterian Hospital, Children's Hospital of San Francisco, Davies...
in San Francisco.
Jonsen joined the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
(Jesuits) in 1949 and was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1962; he resigned from the active priesthood in 1976. He received a doctorate in religious studies from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1967. In 1969, he was chosen as president of the University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco , is a private, Jesuit/Catholic university located in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1855, USF was established as the first university in San Francisco. It is the second oldest institution for higher learning in California and the tenth-oldest university of...
where he served until 1972. The medical school of the University of California, San Francisco
University of California, San Francisco
The University of California, San Francisco is one of the world's leading centers of health sciences research, patient care, and education. UCSF's medical, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing, and graduate schools are among the top health science professional schools in the world...
invited him to join the faculty and create a program in medical ethics.
Jonsen was one of the first bioethicists to be appointed to a medical faculty. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute selected him as a member of the first NIH committee to deal with ethical, social and legal issues of a developing medical technology, the totally implantable artificial heart (1972-73). The U.S. Congress established the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research (1974-78), charged with formulating regulations governing the use of humans in research. Jonsen was a Commissioner and participated in development of regulations regarding use of the human fetus, children and mentally incapacitated persons as research subjects; he also assisted in the writing of the Belmont Report
Belmont Report
The Belmont Report is a report created by the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research. Its full title is the Belmont Report: Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research, Report of the National Commission...
, the statement of ethical principles that has become the leading statement on research ethics. In 1979, Jonsen was appointed to the successor body, the President's Commission on the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine (1979-82) which devised reports on brain death, foregoing life-support, informed consent and other topics that have become the main subjects of bioethics.
Jonsen was a pioneer in the practice of "clinical ethics", in which an ethicist serves as a consultant to those making ethical decisions about appropriate care of patients.
Jonsen joined John Fletcher as founders of the Society for Clinical Ethics which merged with the Association for Bioethics and Humanities in 1991. In 1987, Jonsen assumed the chairmanship of the Department of Medical History and Ethics, School of Medicine, University of Washington. He remained there until his retirement in 1999.
Jonsen is a fellow of the Hastings Center
Hastings Center
The Hastings Center, founded in 1969, is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit bioethics research institute based in the United States. It is dedicated to the examination of essential questions in health care, biotechnology, and the environment...
, an independent bioethics research institution. He has served on the National Board of Medical Examiners, the American Board of Medical Specialties, the ethics committee of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and as consultant to the American Board of Internal Medicine. He was president of the Society for Health and Human Values and chair of the Committee to Monitor the Social Impact of AIDS of the National Academy of Sciences. He was elected to the Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences in 1981.