The six-year experience of the Italian Master in “Clinical Bioethics Consultation” (2013-2018)

This work will aim at critically illustring the six-year experience of the master in “Clinical Bioethics Consultation” (2013-2018). This advanced second-level master was promoted by the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart of Rome, and co-worked by other Italian clinical as well as academic institutions (University Campus Bio-medico of Rome, Insubria University of Varese, “Federico II” University of Naples, Lanza Foundation of Padua, Local Health and Social Care Unit n. 7 (ULSS) of Veneto Region, Treviso; Ospedale San Giovanni Calibita Fatebenefratelli - Isola Tiberina, Rome, and Italian Group for clinical ethics consultation (GIBCE)). To this aim, it first will discuss two points: firstly, an epistemological one, i.e. the defence of the activity of ethicist consultant in clinical settings supported by the authors; and a pedagogical one, i.e. the identification of the learning needs clinical bioethics gives birth to. The second part of the work will focus on the experience of the Master, explaining its basic features (objectives, methods, contents, evaluation tools, etc), offering a critical review, and identifying the challenges this initiative has to face in the next future.