Accreditation of a religiously affiliated medical school

Australia's first religiously affiliated medical school

“…The AMC has already noted 2 that its processes enabled it to raise questions about religious and related ethical issues with the University, and that they did so.…”

“…The accompanying comment from the Australian Medical Council (AMC) 2 acknowledges the problems and indicates that there are several key points that remain to be resolved, namely: “concerns over the theological context of the medical course”, the need to “develop a process for handling potential conflicts over the inconsistency between the medical school's teaching program and the canonical statute defining the purpose of the University”, and the possibility that “students of some backgrounds may perceive themselves to be effectively discriminated against on the basis of their own religious conviction (or lack thereof)”. It is arguable that these issues are so important that the commencement of the course should not be contemplated until they are resolved.…”

“…To the Editor: In their articles on the new University of Notre Dame Australia (NDA) medical school, Kerridge and colleagues 1 and Frank and Walters 2 have revealed rather more than they may have intended.…”

“…We are told by Kerridge et al that Australia's “secular, pluralist society” is in favour of “diversity of beliefs and values”, 1 and by Frank and Walters that “the Australian Medical Council supports diversity” 2 . But the authors reject diversity in favour of their firm commitment to a particular, positive, proselytising version of medical ethics, from which no deviation should be tolerated in Australian medical education.…”

“…To the Editor: As a Foundation Professor of the University of Notre Dame's Graduate School of Medicine, I would like to add a comment to recent writings on the subject of a religiously affiliated medical school 1 , 2 . In the process of accepting my honorary appointment, I looked into the issue of possible religious bias in the curriculum and was eventually reassured and convinced that there was no cause for concern.…”