CV

József Kovács, MD, PhD, DSc,  Semmelweis University, Faculty of General Medicine, Department of Behavioural Sciences, Division of Bioethics. Head of Division, Professor Emeritus. Chief Physician.
Deputy Director General of the Department of Behavioural Sciences.
Address: 1089 Budapest, Nagyvárad tér 4.
Postal Address: 1428 Budapest Pf. 2.
Telephone: 210-2930/56115 or 210-2940/56115
E-mail: kovacs.jozsef@semmelweis.hu
Website: https://semmelweis.hu/magtud
Personal Website: https://scholar.semmelweis.hu/kovacsjozsef

 

Education, Higher Studies:
• 1973—High school diploma (Budapest, Mihály Fazekas Municipal Practice School and Gymnasium) (3rd place in the National High School Competition in Biology)
• 1973-1979—Semmelweis University of Medicine, Faculty of General Medicine; General Medicine Diploma (“Summa cum laude”)
• 1980-1983—Eötvös Loránd University, Faculty of Humanities, Philosophy supplementary program, Philosophy Teacher’s Diploma (with honors)
Professional Qualifications:
• 1985—Licensing examination in Social Medicine
• 2002— Licensing examination in Psychotherapy (Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy)

Scientific Degrees:
• 1995—Candidate of Medical Sciences (Title of Candidacy Thesis: Justice in Healthcare. Ethical Issues of Healthcare Macro-allocation.)
• 2006—Habilitation title in Social Sciences (Bioethics) from Semmelweis University.
• 2010—Doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences title (Philosophy). Title of Doctoral Thesis: Bioethical Issues in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy.

Foreign Study Visits:
• 1990—Hastings Center (USA) (6 weeks) (studying bioethics)
• 1990-91—Centre for the Study of Philosophy and Health Care (Swansea, United Kingdom) (3 months) (studying bioethics)
• 1993 – King’s Fund College. London (3 weeks) (studying the healthcare management aspects of bioethics)
• 1994—King’s Fund College. London (2 weeks) (studying the healthcare management aspects of bioethics)
• 1995—Hogeschool van Amsterdam (2 weeks) (studying the healthcare management aspects of bioethics)
• 1999—USA, State of Massachusetts (10 days) (studying the patient rights aspects of psychiatric care)

 

Previous Workplaces:
• 1979-1982—Institute for Postgraduate Medical Training (OTKI), Department of Social Medicine; Research Assistant
• 1982-1993—Semmelweis University of Medicine, Institute of Social Sciences; University Assistant Lecturer, then University Lecturer from 1990.
• 1985-1995—Part-time Research Fellow at the Department of Social Medicine, University for Postgraduate Medical Training (OTKI).
• From 1993 onwards continuously Semmelweis University, Faculty of General Medicine, Institute of Behavioural Sciences, as Head of the Bioethics Division; from July 1, 1997, as Associate Professor, from September 1, 2010, as Professor, and from July 1, 2025, as Professor Emeritus and Chief Physician.
• Between 2001-2016 and continuously from 2020 onwards– Deputy Director General of the Institute  of Behavioural Sciences.
• 2016-2020—Director of the Institute  of Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of General Medicine, Semmelweis University.

Higher Education Experience:
• Continuously since 1982—Teaching medical ethics through seminars and lectures, initially in Hungarian, then in Hungarian and English. Currently responsible for the English-language “Medical Ethics – Bioethics” courses on three faculties (Faculty of General Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Faculty of Pharmacy).
• 1993—Development of the curriculum for mandatory bioethics courses for students on all three Hungarian-language faculties (Faculty of General Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Faculty of Pharmacy), as well as on all three English-language faculties (also General Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy). Continuous involvement in student examination, supervision of theses, and direction of student research and demonstrator activities.

  • 1996-2001—Participation in the doctoral (PhD) training program within the Semmelweis University Doctoral School. Supervision in the bioethics sub-program of the Behavioral Sciences sub-program within the Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry doctoral program of Semmelweis University.
    • 2001—Founding member of the Semmelweis University Doctoral School of Health Sciences. Continuous bioethics supervisor since then.
    • First semester of the 2002/2003 academic year—Leading an optional special course titled “Bioethical Issues in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy.” (6 sessions, total 12 hours.)
    • First semester of the 2010/11 academic year—Initiating the elective course “Surgical Ethics” (jointly with Dr. László Harsányi, Associate Professor (1st Department of Surgery)).
    • From the second semester of the 2013/14 academic year onwards: Leader and organizer of the compulsory elective PhD course “Ethical Issues in Clinical Research” at Semmelweis University. The course has been offered every two years and is going on every since

Scientific Student Conference (TDK):
• Participation in the evaluation committee for “Behavioral Sciences, Psychiatry” at the 2010 Semmelweis University Medical, Dental, and Pharmacy Student Science Conference (February 17, 2010).
• Participation in the evaluation committee for “Behavioral Sciences, Psychiatry I” at the 2011 Semmelweis University Medical, Dental, and Pharmacy Student Science Conference (February 16, 2011).

Mentoring
• Mentor in the Semmelweis University Kerpel-Fronius Talent Support Program since September 2014.

 

Continuous Education Experience:
• 1993-1998—Regular participation as a lecturer in the continuous education courses titled “Bioethics in Healthcare,” organized by the Bioethics Working Group of the Imre Haynal University of Health Sciences.
• 1993-1996—Development and leadership of the 30-hour “Bioethics” module within the management training program at the Semmelweis University of Medicine’s Health Management Training Center, supported by Tempus and the World Bank.
• Since 1996—Continuous participation as the developer and leader of the 30-hour “Ethical Problems in Healthcare Management” course within the postgraduate training program at the Semmelweis University’s Health Management Training Center.
• 1994-1995—Developer and leader of the 25-hour annual “Bioethics” module at the Canadian Healthcare Management Training Institute.
• 1996-97—Co-developer and lecturer with Ilona Jenei for the bioethics module at the Public Health School in Debrecen.
• 1999- Participation as a lecturer in the “Flagship” program of the Semmelweis University, Institute of Health Management and the World Bank Institute.
• 2003-2004—Participation as an invited lecturer in the “Mental Disability Advocacy” course at the Central European University’s Legal Studies Department. (Course leader: Oliver Lewis)
• Regular participation as a lecturer in PhD courses and continuous education programs.

Clinical Activity:
• Continuous participation in patient care as a psychotherapist at the Psychosomatic Outpatient Clinic of the Semmelweis University’s Institute of Behavioral Sciences since 2002, currently as a Chief Physician.

Publication List: https://m2.mtmt.hu/
MTMT ID: 10012238
• Single-authored books: 5
• Edited books: 1
• Book chapters: 33
• Scientific articles: 65
• Reviews, letters to the editor, comments, scientific interviews: 35
• International conference presentations: 38 (36 as invited speaker)
• National conference presentations: 125 (117 as invited speaker)
• Other national presentations: 251
• Media appearances: 305
• Reviewer activity: 11 books or notes reviewed.

My specialist book  and textbook, “Fundamentals of Modern Medical Ethics. Introduction to Bioethics,” (Medicina: 1997, second revised edition: 1999, 2006; e-book: 2019), third revised edition as a textbook in 2025 (460 pages); a specialist book (2025) available as both an e-book and print (1163 pages). It is currently an official textbook for medical, dental, and pharmacy training in Hungarian universities of medicine, as well as in the postgraduate management training programs and management continuous education courses offered by the Semmelweis University Institute of Health Management. The book is also used as mandatory or recommended literature in law and theology higher education institutions.

My second specialist book, “Bioethical Issues in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy” by Dr. József Kovács (Budapest, 2007. Medicina Publishing House, 677 pages), is a mandatory textbook for the postgraduate management training program at the Semmelweis University, Institute of Health Management and recommended reading for numerous CME courses.
• My third edited book, “Ethical Issues in Biotechnology,” edited by Dr. József Kovács (2017, e-book, Semmelweis Publishing House, www.semmelweiskiado.hu, 287 pages), serves as a supplementary textbook in medical education.

 

Expertise, consulting experience, expert projects:

1991-1994 — Member of the Bioethics Advisory Board operating alongside the Parliament’s Health and Social Affairs Committee.

  • Since 1995 — Member of the Scientific and Research Ethics Committee of the Health Science Council. (ETT-TUKEB)
  • 1996–Member of the delegation representing Hungary at the conference of health ministers of the Council of Europe member states on medical ethics and patients’ rights. (November 7-8, 1996, Warsaw)
  • 1996-97–Invited as an expert member of the working group drafting the new health care act. I participated in the drafting and formulation of the new health care act adopted in 1997 (Act CLIV of 1997 on Health Care) and developed and formulated the first draft of the section on patient rights, which was later adopted by Parliament.
  • 1997-1998–As a consultant, I participated in the work of the working group that drafted several government- and ministerial decrees supplementing the 1997 Health Care Act. (e.g., Government Decree 117/1998. (VI. 16) on the “Detailed rules for the refusal of certain health care services” and the Minister of Welfare’s decree regulating the order of waiting lists.)
  • 1997—I participated as an expert in the hearing of the Environmental Protection Committee of the National Assembly on the committee debate on the draft law on genetically modified organisms
  • 1998—I participated as an invited expert in the preparation of the government decree related to Act XXVII of 1998 on genetic engineering activities, as a member of the preparatory committee led by Dr. Károly Méhes, academician.

1999—I participated as a delegate of the Ministry of Health in the Council of Europe’s “Strasbourg Conference on Health and Human Rights.”

2004- Member of the Hungarian UNESCO Committee COMEST (Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology) National Subcommittee.

  • In 2005, at the request of the Ministry of Health, I was a member of the drafting committee for the OGYI methodological letter (on the guidelines for the use of placebo controls) specified in the annex to Decree 24/2002 of the Ministry of Health. (Methodological letter of the National Institute of Pharmacy and the Clinical Pharmacology Ethics Committee of the Health Science Council on the use of placebos in clinical trials) (Methodological letter of the National Institute of Pharmacy and the Clinical Pharmacology Ethics Committee of the Health Science Council on the use of placebo preparations in clinical trials. In: Health Gazette LV. Volume 16, No. 16, September 19, 2005 (p. 2431)
  • Since 2005, as a registered expert, I have been participating in the ethical committee’s evaluation of research proposals submitted to the European Commission in Brussels within the framework of EU framework programs. Participation is on an ad hoc basis, upon request.
  • In 2007, I participated in the development of the Health Regulations. (Decree No. 30/2007 (VI. 22) of the Ministry of Health on the regulations governing healthcare workers. )
  • In 2007, at the request of the Ministry of Health, I wrote a study entitled “The directions and framework of legal regulation that is likely to become necessary due to the new moral dilemmas of modern medicine.” (Manuscript, p. 58)
  • 2010/2011—Participation as a committee member in the work of the ad hoc committee established by the ETT Presidium to develop “Ethical guidelines for epidemiological studies.” (Chair: Dr. Zoltán Vokó)
  • On November 29, 2011, appointed as a member of the ad hoc committee established at the request of Minister Miklós Réthelyi, head of the Ministry of National Resources (chair: Dr. Péter Sótonyi, other member: Dr. Dezső Embey Isztin), which examined the legal, ethical, and professional issues surrounding the use of narcotics in terminally ill patients. I prepared a report on this topic entitled: Dr. József Kovács: Domestic professional, ethical, and legal issues surrounding the alleviation of suffering in terminally ill patients. (pp. 1-17) (Manuscript) (Report.) (December 15, 2011)
  • 2013, 2014: Member of the EU Research Ethics Committee in Brussels for the evaluation of FP-7 research plans (Ethics Remote Review Panels)
  • In 2014-15, Participation in the preparation of certain changes to organ transplantation legislation  (the legal formulation of so-called “exchange donation” and  a position statement  on the ethical issues surrounding the placement of non-Hungarian  citizens on organ transplantation waiting lists).
  • In 2015, participation in the development of the ETT Bioethics Code at the request of the ETT Presidium. The code was published under the following title: Health Science Council, (ed.: József Mandl, 2022): Bioethics Code. On the principles and practice of biomedical/clinical research. Third, expanded edition. Semmelweis Publishing House, Budapest. https://ett.aeek.hu/bioetikai-kodex/
  • 2015—2016– Participation in the development of standardized patient information templates (general information; disease- and intervention-specific  information) within the framework of the National Center for Patient Rights, Care Rights, Children’s Rights, and Documentation.
  • April 2020—Participation in the working committee of the Hungarian Medical Chamber in developing principles for the equitable distribution of medical resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. The recommendation was published under the following title: MOK Ethics Committee (2020): Ethical considerations for the distribution of medical resources during the COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary. https://mok.hu/koronavirus/tajekoztatok/etikai-megfontolasok-az-orvosi-eroforrasok-elosztasahoz-covid-19-pandemia-idejen-magyarorszagon
  • From 2022 onwards: Member of the Ethics Board of the “Taming the European Leviathan” project. The project is a research project funded by the European Research Council.
  • From 2023 onwards: Member of the Ethics Advisory Board of Remedi4All (Repurposing Medicines 4All. The European Platform for Medicines Repurposing).
  • May 12-16, 2025: I represented Hungary as an expert at the meeting of the intergovernmental special committee at the expert level on the development of a Recommendation on the Ethics of Neurotechnology, held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris from May 12 to 16, 2025. At this forum, I was elected Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Special Committee Bureau and, in this capacity, I chaired several meetings during the consultation. During the preliminary consultations, a total of 7,000 amendments from 110 countries were submitted. These were discussed at the intergovernmental expert meeting held from May 12 to 16.
  • November 13-15, 2025. 35th National Ethics Councils Forum, Copenhagen, Denmark, November 13-14, 2025. I represented Hungary as Vice-President of ETT TUKEB.

 

Research projects:

  • 1993-1994– Head of the research project “The relationship between traditional and modern critical-philosophical medical ethics” at the SOTE Institute ETK project.
  • 1993-1995– Member of the Council of Europe’s international teaching working group (Teaching and Research Network On Bioethics), whose aim was to develop a uniform bioethics curriculum  in Europe and to assist in the teaching of bioethics through educational programs,  topics, and recommendations that could be used by individual member states.
  • 1994-1995– Participant in the European Commission’s ongoing international research project entitled “Fertility, Infertility and the Human Embryo.” The project’s task was to develop European ethical and legal recommendations regarding embryo experiments and assisted reproductive technologies. The results of the working group are available in two English-language volumes: (Donald Evans (ed.) (1996): Conceiving the Embryo. Ethics, Law and Practice in Human Embryology. The Hague—London: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, and Donald Evans (ed.) (1996): Creating the Child. The Ethics, Law and Practice of Assisted Procreation. The Hague—London: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers.)
  • 1993-1995– Supervisor of a two-year OTKA grant program entitled “Current Issues in Bioethics.” (OTKA T—013712, 200Eft)
  • 1993–1995—Recipient of research support from the Open Society Institute’s Research Support Scheme. (Research topic: “Writing a Hungarian Textbook of Bioethics.”) (Registration number: 154/93)
  • 1996-99—With the support of the Soros Foundation, one of the leaders of the research program entitled “The feasibility of introducing the institution of hospital ombudsman in Hungary. Pilot project” (20 million HUF) within the framework of the Szószóló Foundation for Patients’ Rights.
  • 1999-2002—Széchenyi Professor Scholarship recipient. (Research topic: Ethical problems in psychiatry and psychotherapy.)
  • 1999—2000—One of the developers and leaders of the Hungarian psychiatric ombudsman program. (Pilot project for the introduction of a psychiatric ombudsman in Hungary.) In cooperation with Mental Disability Rights International (Eric Rosenthal) within the framework of the Szószóló Foundation (HUF 3.1 million).
  • 2002—2004—Research on the subtopic “Mental health and quality of life from the perspective of bioethics” within the framework of the OTKA grant (Support for Scientific Schools) awarded to the Institute of Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University (TS-040889).
  • 2005-2007—Research on the subtopic “The role of philosophical counselling in the prevention of psychiatric disorders” within the framework of the OTKA grant (Support for Scientific Schools) awarded to the Institute of Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University (TS-049785).
  • 2005—2007—Member of the Hungarian group of the EU BIOTHETHICS grant (Biotechnology Ethics). (Dr. Imre Szebik, Dr. Ágnes Dósa, Dr. József Kovács). The program’s task was to develop and teach an international biotechnology ethics curriculum.
  • 2005—2009—Member of the Hungarian group of the EU EUROPREVALL project (The Prevalence, Cost and Basis of Food Allergy across Europe) (Dr. Kristóf Nékám, Dr. Attila Naszlady, Dr. József Kovács) The Hungarian research group participating in the program on food allergies, involving 15 European countries, was responsible for developing the ethical aspects of the program. (Work Package WP 5.1)
  • 2006-2008—Leader of the Ministry of Health (ETT) 153/2006 ministerial research project entitled “Ethical Issues in the Development of Biotechnology”. (3×900,000 HUF)
  • 2009-2011—Member of the SYBHEL (Synthetic Biology for Human Health: Ethical and Legal Issues) EU (FP7) international project. (Domestic leader: Dr. Imre Szebik) (Grant agreement No: 230401)
  • September 2011–June 2012—Sabbatical (Research topics: Ethical issues in synthetic biology; Psychiatric and psychotherapeutic ethics—neuroethics; Research ethics)
  • 2012–2014—Semmelweis University, Merit Award
  • 2015—Participation in the FOEDUS (Facilitating Exchange Of Organs Donated In EU Member States (May 1, 2013–April 30, 2016) EU grant working group responsible for dissemination (Workpackage 2) (led by the National Blood Supply Service)
  • 2016—Participation in the processing of the results of a survey conducted as part of the EURONIC (EU) research project (survey of doctors and nurses working in perinatal centers). (Leader: Feith Helga Judit, SE, Faculty of Health Sciences)
  • February 1, 2017–January 31, 2019—Participation in the Big Data for Better Outcomes, Policy Innovation and Healthcare Systems Transformation (DO-IT) program. The program was launched as part of the IMI Program (Innovative Medicines Initiative Program). The IMI Program was financed 50% by the EU Horizon 2020 Program and 50% by the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) in a PPP structure. The University, including the Health Management Training Center,  was a member of the consortium.  I participated in the work as a member of the EMK research group. (Work Package 4: Data Protection – “Development of standards, training and educational guidance on some aspects of data privacy laws and regulations, data protection mechanisms and consequences of their application”)
  • 2021-2023—Member of the Dataethics project. (Leader: Dr. Csaba Bödör). This project was launched within the framework of the Eurolife consortium, of which SE was also a member. (http://eurolifeuniversities.org) Project website: https://www.dataethics-eurolife.eu
  • From 2021: 1+MG (1 Million Genomes) (European Commission collaboration launched in 2018 to create 1 million sequenced genomes) I am a member of the National Mirror Group of this collaboration. (Leader: Dr. Attila Patócs)

 

Positions:

  • 1991–1994—Member of the University Parliament of Semmelweis University of Medicine.
  • 1991–1994—Member of the Faculty Council of the Faculty of General Medicine (ÁOK).
  • 1991-1994—Member of the ÁOK Education and Training Committee
  • Since 1995—Member of the Scientific and Research Ethics Committee of the Health Science Council (ETT-TUKEB), Vice-Chair of the Committee since August 2025
  • 1997-1999—Member of the Professional College of Social Medicine.
  • 1997-2016—Member of the Study Committee at the Faculty of General Medicine, SE.
  • 1999-2011 Member of the SOTE Hospital Ethics Committee (Living Donor Ethics Committee)
  • 2001—Founding member of the Semmelweis University Doctoral School of Health Sciences, supervisor of bioethics.
  • April 2001—April 2004 Member of the Semmelweis University Doctoral Schools Review and Quality Control Committee.
  • 2001-2016 and from 2020 onwards– Deputy Director General of the Institute of Behavioral Sciences.
  • Since 2002, member of the Hungarology Examination Committee, which conducts naturalization exams for foreign doctors. (Semmelweis University)
  • Since 2006, at the request of the President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, member of the Agricultural Ethics Committee of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
  • 2006- member of the MOTESZ Medical Ethics and Social Issues Committee
  • January 1, 2015-December 31, 2017 Semmelweis University Ethics Committee, member
  • 2016-2019—Member of the Education and Credit Committee of the Faculty of General Medicine, Semmelweis University.
  • 2017-2021 Member of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Bioethics Committee (IGBC)
  • 2018-2024—Member of the Habilitation Committee of the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Szeged
  • 2019-2022—Chair of the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University
  • 2022-2025—Chair of the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University
  • 2025-2028– Member of the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University
  • From August 2025, Vice-Chair of the Scientific and Research Ethics Committee of the Health Science Council (ETT-TUKEB)

 

Domestic scientific societies:

  • Since 1995: Member of the Hungarian Bioethics Society
  • Since 1995: Member of the Hungarian Philosophical Society
  • 1997-2005: Founding member of the János Selye Society for Behavioral Science and Behavioral Medicine
  • Member of the Hungarian Psychiatric Association since 2004

International scientific societies:

  • Founding member of the International Association of Bioethics in 1991
  • Member of the European Society for Philosophy of Medicine and Health Care since 1990

 

Board membership:

  • Member of the Board of Trustees of the Szószóló Foundation for Patients’ Rights (1995-2014)
  • Member of the Board of Trustees of the Soteria Foundation (2009-2014)

 

Journal editing:

  • 1995-1998: Member of the editorial board of Magyar Bioetikai Szemle (Hungarian Bioethics Review)
  • Since 1999: Member of the editorial board of Egészségügyi Menedzsment (Health Care Management)
  • Since 2001: Member of the editorial board of Lege Artis Medicinae
  • Since 2004: Member of the Advisory Board of the Editorial Board of IME (Informatics and Management in Healthcare)
  • Since 2007: Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Lege Artis Medicinae
  • 2010-2012: Member of the editorial board of the Journal of Clinical Research and Bioethics
  • Since 2010: Member of the Editorial Board of Medicolegal and Bioethics
  • Since 2011: Member of the Editorial Board of the international electronic journal Meditor
  • 2017—Member of the Editorial Board of the journal Orvosképzés (Medical Education)

 

Organization and chairing of scientific conferences

  • The dignity of living beings, or who has the right to decide on life and death? Ethical and legal dilemmas based on the ideas of Peter Singer. (As chair of the scientific meeting. April 26, 2001. Organizer: INDOK Human Rights Information and Documentation Center.
  • Health Care and Human Rights. (Workshop organized by the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union.) April 2002. Moderator as section chair. Section title: Rights of the Mentally Ill. (Budapest)
  • 2005-2009: Member of the presiding committee of the poster section of the Semmelweis University PhD Scientific Days (every year.)
  • Organization of the 12th independent scientific meeting of Semmelweis University’s Interdisciplinary Doctoral School No. 4. (Location: OPNI. Date: December 15, 2006.) Chair of the three-member jury of the Plenary Section of Psychological Sciences at this conference.
  • Workshop on the UNESCO-CELAB Joint Project: Local, Regional or International? Laws, Standards and Codes for Biotechnology. Budapest, November 7-8, 2008. Moderator as section chair. Section title: Bioethics and Law
  • June 28-29, 2011 Member of the organizing committee of the XI. Behavioral Science Days conference entitled “From Stress to Happiness.” (Location: Gödöllő—Máriabesnyő, Mater Salvatoris Retreat House)
  • March 31-April 2, 2016—Member of the Advisory Board of the II. Hungarian Patient Safety Conference
  • November 23, 2016—Organization of the Euthanasia Forum conference in cooperation with the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Hungary (H.E. Gajus Scheltema). (Title: Legal, medical, and ethical aspects of euthanasia.) Venue: Residence of the Dutch Ambassador in Budapest (1125 Budapest, Mátyás király út 32.) (Moderator, chair)

 

Referent,  reviewer:

 

 Reviewer, committee member, opponent  in PhD and MTA Doctoral qualifications, PhD comprehensive examinations,  PhD complex examinations, habilitation and application  procedures.

 

I was the reviewer of the following textbooks and notes:

 

  • Rozsos, Erzsébet (1996): Cases of Health Ethics. Haynal Imre University of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences;
  • Gaizler, Gyula (1997): Fundamental Questions of Bioethics. Budapest: Hungarian Bioethics Foundation;
  • Rozsos, Erzsébet (2000): Nursing Ethics. Budapest: Medicina Publishing House;
  • Szarka, Géza—Gárdai, Miklós (eds.) (2000): Philosophy—Health care Ethics. Collection of Texts. Budapest: Semmelweis University;
  • Antal Ferencz (2001): Fundamentals of Bioethics. Budapest: Szent István Társulat.
  • Géza Szarka—Miklós Gárdai (2003): General and Health care Ethics. Budapest: Semmelweis University, Faculty of Health Sciences;
  • Szarka, Géza (2004): Philosophy. (Notes and Study Guide) Budapest: Semmelweis University, Faculty of Health Sciences.
  • Dr. Ilona Pálfiné Szabó—Mariann Raskovicsné Csernus (2011): Ethical aspects of the nursing profession
  • Erzsébet Rózsa (2017): Autonomy and Paternalism. Ethical Issues in the Doctor-Patient Relationship in Modern Medicine. Debrecen: Debrecen University Press. (Meditor bioethics series 7.) (I also wrote the foreword to the book).
  • János Pilling (2018): Medical communication in practice. (Budapest: Medicina Publishing House.)
  • Antal Z., László—Ferencz, Zoltán—Páldy, Anna (2020): Climate change and health. Proofreading of the report. (The report was prepared at the request of the State Secretariat for Health of the Ministry of Human Resources (Dr. Ildikó Horváth, State Secretary).

 

I have been asked to review articles for the following journals:

 

  • Orvosi Hetilap
  • Lege Artis Medicinae
  • Hastings Center Report
  • Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy
  • Integrative Medicine Insights
  • Journal of Medical Ethics
  • Psychiatria Hungarica
  • Scientometrics
  • Pro Futuro (legal journal) http://profuturo.lib.unideb.hu

 

Review committee memberships

  • 1997-1999– Vice-chair of the Ministry of Welfare’s Ministry-level Research Topic Competition No. XII (Social Medicine and Medical Ethics) Committee.
  • 1999-2002—Member of the Ministry of Welfare’s Ministry-level Research Project Competition No. IX (Quality of Life, Social Medicine—Public Health Prevention) Committee.
  • 2004-2008—Member of the Ministry of Welfare’s Ministry-level Research Topic Competition Committee No. VIII (Environmental Health, Public Health).
  • In 2007, I was a member of the committee evaluating the LAM (Lege Artis Medicinae) awards. (chair: Dr. János Banai)
  • June 1, 2009—December 31, 2011—Member of the Environmental Health and Public Health Committee of the ETT Research and Development Committee.
  • 2012—OTKA grant reviewer (invited by Dr. Tihamér Margittay, chair of the jury)
  • January 2017—Member of the committee evaluating applications for the title of Excellent Teacher at Semmelweis University.
  • May 2017—Participation in the evaluation of Premium Postdoctoral Applications (2017). (Commissioned by László Lovász, President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences)

 

Scientific awards and honors:

  • 1986–Rector’s Commendation for teaching work.
  • 1989–Ministry of Culture Commendation for “Outstanding Work.”
  • 1994–SOTE “Outstanding Teacher” Award, Level II.
  • 2012-2014—Semmelweis University, Merit Award
  • 2013: Semmelweis Award (Ministry of Human Resources): “In recognition of his bioethical and pioneering work, his extensive and high-quality teaching and research, and his work in patient care.”
  • June 2020—“Semmelweis University Publication Award 2020” for Jozsef Kovacs: Honorary authorship and symbolic violence (Medicine, Health Care  and Philosophy)—for an article published in 2017
  • September 2021: Ágoston Trefort Award (Ministry of Innovation and Technology). “In recognition of his outstanding work in the field of education over a long period of time.”

 

Doctoral training:

  • Core member of the Doctoral School of Mental Health Sciences at Semmelweis University, supervisor of bioethics.
  • From July 2012 to November 2025, program director of the School’s 4/2 doctoral program.
  • I regularly give lectures to PhD students at the doctoral school and participate in the admissions committees that evaluate potential PhD students applying to the doctoral school.
  • From the second semester of the 2013/14 academic year to the present: Ethical Issues in Clinical Research. Head and organizer of a compulsory elective PhD course at Semmelweis University. This course is offered every two years.

PhD students supervised (5.5 students):

  • Erzsébet Kapocsi: The medical profession and professional ethics in the 20th and 21st centuries. (Defense: June 23, 2005)
  • Dr. Gábor Élő: End-of-life decisions in intensive care—the ethical implications of resuscitation. (Defense: May 20, 2006)
  • Dr. Katalin Gábor: The importance and possibilities of teaching specific areas of management in higher education in healthcare. (Defense: March 22, 2010) (Joint supervision with another doctoral school)
  • Dr. László Zubek: Legal and ethical aspects of end-of-life decisions. (Defense: September 28, 2011)
  • Sándor Mihály: The mutual effects of donation activity and donation attitudes in Hungarian intensive care units. (Defense: October 20, 2017)
  • Ingrid Krisztina Lengyel: Patient information as a patient right in primary care for hypertensive patients. (Decensé: March 3, 2022)

 

Language skills:

  • English: advanced level, state language exam equivalent to type “C.” (1991)
  • German: basic level, state language exam equivalent to type “C” (“A”+”B”). (1995)

 

Other scientific organizational activities:

  • As a result of a study trip in 1990-91, a basic library of 400 volumes (worth approximately $16,000) of English-language bioethics books was established in the institute’s library (through the Nuffield Foundation and the Patricia Kendall Donation), which created the infrastructural basis for domestic bioethics research.
  • 1992-1999– In cooperation with Wytham Hall Hospital in London, a student exchange program was organized, enabling Hungarian students to travel to London to study the medical treatment of homeless people.

 

Summary of the main theoretical results of scientific activity to date

(For more details and references, see separate sheet)

 

  • Analysis of the concepts of health and illness and contribution to the development of a normative definition of health in the field of somatic medicine
  • Analysis of the concept of disability and examination of the beneficial effects of the social constructionist model on ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities. Contribution to the introduction of an integrative, biopsychosocial model of disability
  • Contribution to the development of the concept of informed consent to medical interventions and its adaptation to domestic conditions
  • Examination of issues of fairness arising in connection with the distribution of resources in healthcare (macro- and micro-allocation). Argument for the wider application of hard rationing.
  • Analysis of the moral status of embryos and fetuses. Argument for the “concept of brain-birth” as a criterion to establish full moral status of the fetus
  • Examination of the ethical consequences of the concept of “doctor as  medicine” created by Mihály Bálint. Argument in favor of the development and maintenance of a proper medical personality as an ethical obligation
  • Analysis of the ethical issues involved in informing patients with incurable diseases and poor prognoses. Argument in favor of providing objective information to patients with a poor prognosis and contributing to the development of a more honest doctor-patient relationship
  • Analysis of the ethical issues surrounding suicide and examination of the moral acceptability of so-called rational suicide
  • Argument in favor of the right to refuse certain life-saving and life-sustaining treatments. Contribution to the creation of modern legal mechanisms (living wills, durable powers of attorney, substitute decision-making) in Hungary.
  • Analysis of ethical issues related to organ- and tissue transplants. Arguments in favor of allowing certain transplant procedures that were previously not permitted by law in Hungary (e.g., so-called “exchange” donations from living donors)
  • Analysis of issues related to animal experimentation and the treatment of animals, and arguments in favor of adopting a moderate animal protectionist position.
  • I was the first person in Hungary to present Peter Singer’s ideas on the moral status of animals in my textbook published in 1997. I wrote the foreword to the Hungarian translation of Peter Singer’s book Animal Liberation, published in 2019.
  • Examination of ethical issues in human research
  • Contribution to the formulation of patient rights in Hungary and the development of institutional mechanisms for the protection of patient rights in Hungary (patient rights representative system, mediation, ethics committees, etc.)
  • Contribution to proving the domestic viability of the patient rights representative system in a pilot project prior to the adoption of Act CLIV of 1997.
  • Analysis of the differences between modern bioethics and traditional medical ethics, contribution to the domestic development of the modern bioethical approach
  • Comparative study of the „principlist” and casuistic approaches to medical ethics. Presentation of the “functioning” of the two methods and initiation of their dissemination in domestic practice
  • Contribution to the domestic dissemination of the science of bioethics and the acceptance of its approach, and to the dissemination of its curriculum in domestic medical, dental, and pharmaceutical training, as well as in health management training
  • Contribution to clarifying the role of values in defining the concept of psychiatric illness
  • Contribution to the theoretical definition of psychiatric concepts of health and illness and the development of a normative definition of health
  • Critical analysis of anti-psychiatry and the social constructionist approach to mental illness
  • Critical analysis of the concept of medicalization in the field of psychiatry
  • Contribution to defining the concept of competence and developing a sliding standard of it
  • Review of decision-making mechanisms that can be used in psychiatry, along with  arguments for developing the mechanisms necessary for their domestic implementation
  • Ethical analysis of the conditions and principles of involuntary psychiatric treatment. Comparison of these with domestic constitutional principles, with particular regard to the right to freedom of opinion
  • Contribution to the development of the limits and conditions of involuntary psychiatric treatment in Hungary
  • Examination of ethical issues in psychiatric research. Contribution to the clarification of criteria for the feasibility of placebo-controlled research in Hungary and the development of special rules for research conducted in poorer countries
  • Contribution to the analysis of general ethical issues in psychotherapy and the examination of specific issues in individual-, group-, and family therapy.
  • Contribution to proving the domestic viability of the system of psychiatric patient rights representatives and to mapping the feasability of psychiatric patient rights in Hungary within the framework of a pilot project
  • Examination of the applicability of the precautionary principle in averting probable but scientifically unproven environmental hazards
  • Examination of the bioethical implications of the concept of quality of life
  • Analysis of the stigmatizing effect of psychiatric disorders
  • Examination of philosophical counseling as a possible means of preventing psychiatric disorders
  • Initiating and organizing a series in a medical journal to map and analyze typical domestic medical ethical dilemmas (Lege Artis Medicinae, LAM)
  • Examining the ethical principles of artificial sterilization
  • Analyzing specific ethical issues raised by the helping relationship
  • Examining the ethical dilemmas of health insurance
  • Ethical analysis of the choice between alternative options for screening for colon and rectal cancer
  • Examination of ethical issues in clinical psychology
  • Analysis of ethical issues in the treatment of Body Identity Integrity Disorder (formerly known as apotemnophilia)
  • Examination of the possibilities and transformation of bioethical expertise in the context of modern, pluralistic society
  • Ethical analyis of the problems of the current use of impact factor and citation index as tools for evaluating scientific performance
  • Patient safety: analysis of ethical issues in the treatment of errors and mistakes in healthcare
  • Analysis of major ethical issues in internal medicine
  • Analysis of ethical issues in science and technology
  • Critical analysis of environmental ethics issues
  • Examination of informed consent issues in surgery
  • Argument that “honorary authorship” (gift authorship) is a form of symbolic violence in the Bourdieuian sense. I received the Semmelweis University Publication Award in 2020 for this article.
  • Examination of the ethical implications of pseudoscience
  • Ethical analysis of the psychiatric use of electroconvulsive therapy
  • Analysis of ethical issues related to Big Data
  • Analysis of ethical issues related to Artificial Intelligence
  • Analysis of allocation issues arising in connection with COVID care
  • Analysis of ethical problems related to the introduction of DCD donation in Hungary

 

Budapest, 6 December, 2025.

József Kovács

Professor Emeritus