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.

This event is open to the public and free of charge, but prior registration is required.

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, in particular Constitutional Law and Social Law, University of Potsdam

Panel Discussion

with (in alphabetical order)

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

Prof. Dr. iur. Stefan Huster
Professor of Public Law, Social and Health Law, and Philosophy of Law, 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, in particular Public Finance, University of Bayreuth

Moderation: Denis Nasser

Note on image documentation

We would like to inform all participants that the DRZE will be taking photos and possibly filming presentations and discussions in the event room during the event.

These recordings will be used for DRZE public relations purposes, for example on the DRZE website and social media channels such as LinkedIn and YouTube.

By participating, you agree to the possible publication of the recordings.