Dan Wikler
Encyclopedia
Daniel I. Wikler is currently Mary B. Saltonstall Professor of Population Ethics and Professor of Ethics and Population Health in the Department of Global Health and Population of the Harvard School of Public Health
in Boston. He is a core faculty member in the Harvard Program in Ethics and Health (PEH). His current research interests are ethical issues in population and international health
, including the allocation of health resources, health research involving human subjects, organ transplant
ethics, and ethical dilemmas arising in public health practice, and he teaches several courses each year. He is a fellow of the Hastings Center
, an independent bioethics research institution.
, including issues in reproduction, transplantation
, and end-of-life
decision-making. His current interests address bioethical issues arising in a population level and global perspective. His book series, Studies in Philosophy and Health Policy, was published by Cambridge University Press
, as was From Chance to Choice: Genetics and Justice, co-authored by Prof. Wikler and three other philosophers: Allen D. Buchanan, Norman Daniels, and Daniel W. Brock. His most current research and writing topics include Compensation and Redress, Ethics Committees, Research Experimentation upon Human Subjects, Informed Consent,
Patient Selection, Poverty, and War-Time Human Rights Abuses and Atrocities.
Dan Wikler earned Highest Honors in Philosophy
at Oberlin College
in Ohio, where he received the baccalaureate degree in 1967. He served for two years (1968–1970) as Social Science Analyst in NIMH
, the National Institute of Mental Health
, in Washington, DC. He completed his doctorate in philosophy
at the University of California at Los Angeles in 1976, where from 1972-1975 he was also awarded a Teaching Fellowship in the Department of Philosophy.
University of Wisconsin-Madison
At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he was Professor of Philosophy in the UW-M Department of Philosophy, Professor in the Department of the History of Medicine's Program in Medical Ethics, and Professor in the Medical School of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, serving from 1975-2002.
US Presidential Commission
From 1980 to 1981, he served on the President's Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine in Washington, D.C., as Staff Philosopher for Biomedical and Behavioral Research.
World Health Organization
He served as the first Staff Ethicist for the World Health Organization
, and remains a consultant to several WHO programs. Prof. Wikler was co-founder and second president of the International Association of Bioethics and has served on the advisory boards of the Asian Bioethics Association and the Pan American Health Organization
(AHO) Regional Program in Bioethics.
While at the World Health Organization
, he instituted an international collaboration among philosophers and economists on ethical, methodological, and philosophical issues raised by WHO’s work in measurement of the global burden of disease and in developing methods for improving health resource allocation.
, also of HSPH) of the Harvard School of Public Health
’s Program on Ethical Issues in Global Health Research (formerly Program on Ethical Issues in International Health Research, through June 2008), a program of both empirical and theoretical research on ethical issues in health research, particularly in developing countries. Versions of the course have been taught in over a dozen developing countries, including Mexico
, South Africa
, Nigeria
, India
, Pakistan
, and UAE. The Program offers fellowships for scholars in developing countries and sponsors an intensive each year for an international clientele.
He serves on numerous Harvard University
and other professional committees and advises several student groups, including the Harvard Undergraduate Bioethics Society (HUBS), sponsor in March 2008 of the National Undergraduate Bioethics Conference.
Dr. Wikler writes, lectures, and advises in bioethics and professional ethics, both internationally and in Greater Boston
, including at Harvard.
Ethics Topics
Collaborating Authors
Institutions
Also
Harvard School of Public Health
The Harvard School of Public Health is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University, located in the Longwood Area of the Boston, Massachusetts neighborhood of Mission Hill, which is next to Harvard Medical School. HSPH is considered a significant school focusing on health in the...
in Boston. He is a core faculty member in the Harvard Program in Ethics and Health (PEH). His current research interests are ethical issues in population and international health
International Health
International health, also called geographic medicine or global health, is a field of health care, usually with a public health emphasis, dealing with health across regional or national boundaries...
, including the allocation of health resources, health research involving human subjects, organ transplant
Organ transplant
Organ transplantation is the moving of an organ from one body to another or from a donor site on the patient's own body, for the purpose of replacing the recipient's damaged or absent organ. The emerging field of regenerative medicine is allowing scientists and engineers to create organs to be...
ethics, and ethical dilemmas arising in public health practice, and he teaches several courses each year. He 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.
Overview
Professor Wikler’s published work addresses many issues in bioethicsBioethics
Bioethics is the study of controversial ethics brought about by advances in biology and medicine. Bioethicists are concerned with the ethical questions that arise in the relationships among life sciences, biotechnology, medicine, politics, law, and philosophy....
, including issues in reproduction, transplantation
Organ transplant
Organ transplantation is the moving of an organ from one body to another or from a donor site on the patient's own body, for the purpose of replacing the recipient's damaged or absent organ. The emerging field of regenerative medicine is allowing scientists and engineers to create organs to be...
, and end-of-life
End-of-life (medical treatment)
In medicine, end-of-life care refers to medical care not only of patients in the final hours or days of their lives, but more broadly, medical care of all those with a terminal illness or terminal condition that has become advanced, progressive and incurable....
decision-making. His current interests address bioethical issues arising in a population level and global perspective. His book series, Studies in Philosophy and Health Policy, was published by Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII in 1534, it is the world's oldest publishing house, and the second largest university press in the world...
, as was From Chance to Choice: Genetics and Justice, co-authored by Prof. Wikler and three other philosophers: Allen D. Buchanan, Norman Daniels, and Daniel W. Brock. His most current research and writing topics include Compensation and Redress, Ethics Committees, Research Experimentation upon Human Subjects, Informed Consent,
Patient Selection, Poverty, and War-Time Human Rights Abuses and Atrocities.
Professional Career before Harvard
Dan Wikler is the son and third child of the late Abraham and Ada Wikler. He was born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky, where he graduated from Henry Clay High School.Dan Wikler earned Highest Honors in Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
in Ohio, where he received the baccalaureate degree in 1967. He served for two years (1968–1970) as Social Science Analyst in NIMH
National Institute of Mental Health
The National Institute of Mental Health is one of 27 institutes and centers that make up the National Institutes of Health...
, the National Institute of Mental Health
National Institute of Mental Health
The National Institute of Mental Health is one of 27 institutes and centers that make up the National Institutes of Health...
, in Washington, DC. He completed his doctorate in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at the University of California at Los Angeles in 1976, where from 1972-1975 he was also awarded a Teaching Fellowship in the Department of Philosophy.
University of Wisconsin-Madison
At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he was Professor of Philosophy in the UW-M Department of Philosophy, Professor in the Department of the History of Medicine's Program in Medical Ethics, and Professor in the Medical School of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, serving from 1975-2002.
US Presidential Commission
From 1980 to 1981, he served on the President's Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine in Washington, D.C., as Staff Philosopher for Biomedical and Behavioral Research.
World Health Organization
He served as the first Staff Ethicist for the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
, and remains a consultant to several WHO programs. Prof. Wikler was co-founder and second president of the International Association of Bioethics and has served on the advisory boards of the Asian Bioethics Association and the Pan American Health Organization
Pan American Health Organization
The Pan American Health Organization is an international public health agency with over 100 years of experience working to improve health and living standards of the people of the Americas...
(AHO) Regional Program in Bioethics.
While at the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
, he instituted an international collaboration among philosophers and economists on ethical, methodological, and philosophical issues raised by WHO’s work in measurement of the global burden of disease and in developing methods for improving health resource allocation.
Professional Career at Harvard
Currently, Professor Wikler is Co-Director (with Dr. Richard A. CashRichard A. Cash
Prof. Richard Alan Cash, MD, MPH is an American global health researcher, public health physician, internist, and Prince Mahidol Medal . He is a and Director of the Program on Ethical Issues in International Health in the of the in Boston...
, also of HSPH) of the Harvard School of Public Health
Harvard School of Public Health
The Harvard School of Public Health is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University, located in the Longwood Area of the Boston, Massachusetts neighborhood of Mission Hill, which is next to Harvard Medical School. HSPH is considered a significant school focusing on health in the...
’s Program on Ethical Issues in Global Health Research (formerly Program on Ethical Issues in International Health Research, through June 2008), a program of both empirical and theoretical research on ethical issues in health research, particularly in developing countries. Versions of the course have been taught in over a dozen developing countries, including Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, and UAE. The Program offers fellowships for scholars in developing countries and sponsors an intensive each year for an international clientele.
He serves on numerous Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and other professional committees and advises several student groups, including the Harvard Undergraduate Bioethics Society (HUBS), sponsor in March 2008 of the National Undergraduate Bioethics Conference.
Dr. Wikler writes, lectures, and advises in bioethics and professional ethics, both internationally and in Greater Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, including at Harvard.
See also
- American philosophyAmerican philosophyAmerican philosophy is the philosophical activity or output of Americans, both within the United States and abroad. The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy notes that while American philosophy lacks a "core of defining features, American Philosophy can nevertheless be seen as both reflecting and...
- List of American philosophers
Ethics Topics
- BioethicsBioethicsBioethics is the study of controversial ethics brought about by advances in biology and medicine. Bioethicists are concerned with the ethical questions that arise in the relationships among life sciences, biotechnology, medicine, politics, law, and philosophy....
- Liberal eugenicsLiberal eugenicsLiberal eugenics is an ideology which advocates the use of reproductive and genetic technologies where the choice of enhancing human characteristics and capacities is left to the individual preferences of parents acting as consumers, rather than the public health policies of the state.-History:The...
- Medical EthicsMedical ethicsMedical ethics is a system of moral principles that apply values and judgments to the practice of medicine. As a scholarly discipline, medical ethics encompasses its practical application in clinical settings as well as work on its history, philosophy, theology, and sociology.-History:Historically,...
- Transplant Ethics
Collaborating Authors
- Allen BuchananAllen BuchananAllen Buchanan is the James B. Duke Professor of philosophy at Duke University. He received his PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1975. He taught at the University of Arizona, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and the University of Minnesota before joining Duke's...
of Duke - Daniel BrockDaniel BrockDan Brock is an American philosopher and bioethicist. He is currently the Frances Glessner Lee Professor of Medical Ethics in the at Harvard Medical School, the Director of the at the Harvard Medical School, and the of the Harvard University...
of Harvard Medical Schools's DME - Norman Daniels of HSPH
- Richard A. CashRichard A. CashProf. Richard Alan Cash, MD, MPH is an American global health researcher, public health physician, internist, and Prince Mahidol Medal . He is a and Director of the Program on Ethical Issues in International Health in the of the in Boston...
of HSPH
Institutions
- Harvard Medical Schools's DME
- Harvard University's PEH
- National Institutes of HealthNational Institutes of HealthThe National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
- Harvard School of Public Health's Department of Global Health and Social Medicine
- HSPH Research Ethics Map
Also
- Ezekiel J. EmanuelEzekiel J. EmanuelEzekiel "Zeke" Jonathan Emanuel M.D. Ph.D. is an American bioethicist and fellow at the nonprofit bioethics research institute The Hastings Center. He opposes legalized euthanasia, sometimes called state-assisted suicide, and is a proponent of a voucher-based universal health care...
of NIHNational Institutes of HealthThe National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
External links
- Dan Wikler's HSPH Faculty Site
- Harvard Catalyst Profile for Professor Daniel Wikler - Searchable, with historical timelines of publications and concepts presented.
- The Ethics of the Organ Bazaar, March 28, 2008, HSPH
- Journal of the Norwegian Psychological Association, Vol 46, No. 11, 2009, p. 1077-1081 In the margin ...
- News at HSPH: Health Care Rationed in U.S., HSPH Ethicist Says
Online Photo and Video Collection of Dan Wikler
Audiofiles of Dan Wikler Lecturing or Teaching
- PRI's The World: Rationing Health - Who Lives? Who Decides? Special World Science Forum discussion
- Podcast: Daniel Wikler discusses the market for kidneys. Duration: 10:59
Videos of Dan Wikler Lecturing or Teaching
- Dilemmas in Health Care Rationing, April 8, 2010 in Bioethics 2010 Symposium at UWM School of Medicine
- American Philosophical Association, Pacific Division Meeting - March 29, 2001 Author Meets Critics: Allen Buchanan, Dan Brock, Norman Daniels, and Daniel Wikler, Co-Authors of From Choice to Chance: Genetics and Justice
- Cloning Conundrum: A promising technology, or a slippery slope?