With contributions by Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf, Wolfram Henn, Stefan Huster, Sabine Salloch, and Amelie Wuppermann

9 March 2026
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Afterwards reception in the lobby of the Universitätsclub

Universitätsclub Bonn
Konviktstraße 9
53113 Bonn

The language of the symposium will be German.

Who bears the burden when individual lifestyle choices generate healthcare costs? Should the provision of medical care also be linked to how well we promote our own health? And who bears responsibility for systemically caused treatment errors that harm patients?

In many areas of life, the polluter pays principle applies: whoever carries out the action also bears responsibility for the consequences. In medicine and healthcare, however, the Hippocratic view that medical assistance must be provided unconditionally is predominantly held. At the same time, the culture of dealing with medical treatment errors is often insufficiently developed. Attempts to implement the polluter pays principle in prevention and healthcare regularly result in controversial discussions. This is evident in debates on non-smoker bonuses or the reimbursement of weight loss injections, for example.

The Ethik-Forum presents perspectives of authors and editors of the anthology „Selber schuld? Zum Verursacherprinzip in der Medizin“ (Blame yourself? The Cost Causation Principle in Medicine), published by Duncker & Humblot in 2025. The contributions of these selected experts from various fields invite participation in this discourse.

Programme

Welcome and Introduction

Prof. Dr. Dirk Lanzerath
Director of the DRZE, University of Bonn

Keynote Lecture

Prof. Dr. iur. Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf, LL.M.
Professor of Public Law, specialising in Constitutional and Social Law, University of Potsdam

Panel Discussion

with (in alphabetical order)

Prof. Dr. med. Wolfram Henn
Specialist in Human Genetics, Head of Genetic Counselling at the Institute of Human Genetics, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar

Prof. Dr. iur. Stefan Huster
Professor of Public Law, Social and Health Law, and Legal Philosophy, Director of the ISGR, Ruhr University Bochum

Prof. Dr. med. Dr. phil. Sabine Salloch
Head of the Institute for Ethics, History and Philosophy of Medicine, Hannover Medical School

Prof. Dr. oec. publ. Amelie Wuppermann
Professor of Economics and Public Finance, University of Bayreuth

Note on media recording

Please note that photo, video and audio recordings will be made during the Ethik-Forum.

The video recordings will be used for our YouTube channel. The audience will not be explicitly filmed, but might be seen from behind in some camera shots.

The audio recordings will be used for a podcast.

The photos of the event will be used for our websites, brochures, posters and social media channels. If you do not agree with a recording, please give us a hint in advance or on site.