A Cross-Cultural Dialogue on Health Care Ethics

Preface

Preface This book is the result of the work of a Canada-Thailand interdisciplinary research team of the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society at the University of Victoria in Canada. The research team is interdisciplinary, composed of medical scientists, sociologists, anthropologists, psychologists, philosophers, and nursing, law, and religious studies scholars, split between Canada and Thailand. In Thailand, Mahidol University served as our research partner. In Canada, this project was co-sponsored by the Centre for Applied Ethics at the University of British Columbia, the Westminster Institute at the University of Western Ontario, and the Department of Native Studies, Brandon University. In terms of ethnic background, the research team included Caucasian, Aboriginal, Chinese, and Thai scholars. Community partners in Canada (all of whom serve a wide culture mix of clients) included: St Joseph's Hospital, Vancouver, B.C.; the Health Department, Vancouver, B.C.; the Open Arrow Clinic, Carberry, Manitoba; and the Inter-Community Health Centre of London, Ontario. The research work which spanned three years was funded by grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Ford Foundation. Special thanks are due to Centre staff June Bull and Ludgard De Decker for the support they provided the project. Ludgard De Decker saw the XI xii_ A Cross-Cultural Dialogue on Health Care Ethics manuscript through the many steps required for publication. I also want to thank my colleagues Pinit Ratanakul, Michael McDonald, Joan Anderson, Barry Hoffmaster, Michael Burgess, and Patricia Rodney for their work in co-ordinating and editing various parts of the book. This book is the result of the work of a large team encompassing many cultures, religions, and disciplines. To accomplish our research and writing, we had to learn to embody the kind of cross-cultural sensitivity and intercultural dialogue that we call for in health care ethics. This was not always easy, and was made possible only by the commitment and dedication to the project shown by all members of the research team. My thanks goes to each of them. Harold Coward Director Centre for Studies in Religion and Society University of Victoria Victoria, B.C. ...