The 27th Congress of the World Association for Medical Law (WAML) has opened at Mykolas Romeris University (MRU), where legal scholars, healthcare and bioethics professionals, human rights activists and policy makers from five continents will discuss the complex legal aspects of innovation in healthcare, ethics, regulation and patient rights. Mykolas Romeris University won the right to host the Congress in Vilnius during the 2019 WAML Congress in Tokyo.
MRU Rector Dr. Prof. Inga Žalėnienė, addressing the participants, partners and supporters of the Congress, noted that in these changing times, as societal norms shift and diseases emerge and re-emerge, the role of legal scholars, health care specialists, human rights activists and politicians become increasingly crucial. The Rector is convinced that this Congress, taking place at Mykolas Romeris University, is an ideal platform for discussing topical issues such as the legality of experimental treatments, the ethical implications of genomic medicine, and equal access to healthcare for all.
"Our rapidly changing world, coupled with current challenges such as the COVID pandemic, security threats caused by Russia’s brutal aggression in Ukraine, and technological development, necessitate careful monitoring, evaluation, and regulation to counter possible threats to our existence, freedom, and democracy," said MRU Rector Prof. Žalėnienė. She added that academic communities and universities must act as agents of change, generating, supporting, and promoting sustainability and social innovations while contributing to the decision-making process with their knowledge and expertise.
According to Rector Prof. Žalėnienė, medical law and social sciences play a vital role in shaping a new reality for the public benefit: scientific research will open up new opportunities for the implementation of justice, public health and welfare.
Seimas Speaker Viktorija Čmilytė - Nielsen opened the Congress with her Welcome Address noting that the topics of the Congress are relevant to the Lithuanian Seimas, the Parliament, which for the past few years has been dealing with challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the availability and efficiency of healthcare.
WAML President Prof. Roy Beran thanked MRU Rector Prof. Inga Žalėnienė and the entire academic community for their hospitality and efforts in organizing this international event.
“MRU is an innovative university, a reliable partner that brings together a community of world-leading medical and legal experts," said the president of WAML.
The Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, addressing the participants of the Congress, said that the main goal that unites the efforts of legal scholars, health care professionals, human rights activists and policy makers from all over the world is a healthy and safe society in all countries.
The World Association of Medical Law (WAML), founded in 1967, unites lawyers, scientists, lawyers, doctors from various countries of the world working in academic and practical fields. The World Medical Law Congress is a prestigious event with long traditions, which every year takes place in a different country. In 2019, it took place in Japan (Tokyo). In 2022 it was held in Australia, and in 2024 the Congress is expected to be held in Canada (Toronto). During the congresses, topical issues of medical law are discussed.
WAML publishes a scientific journal - Medicine and Law, in which authors from more than 100 countries have published more than 2000 articles. A monthly newsletter is also distributed to WAML members.
