María Álvarez Nájera result , a sixth-year medical student at the University of Navarra, has won the V competition of Clinical Ethical-Deontological Cases organized by the high school of Doctors of Navarra at partnership with the School of Medicine. The award, endowed with 600 euros, has recognized her work carried out in the case "Epilepsy and driving: how should the doctor act?".

The president of the high school, Rafael Teijeira, and the dean of the School, Marta Ferrer, presented the awards on October 11 on the occasion of the reception for students of the University of Navarra, which is held annually in order to publicize the services offered by the high school of Doctors and to which they can already access as precollegiate.

On this occasion, the second prize of 300 euros went to the case "Aprender a tratar cuando no se puede curar", prepared by the students José Carlos Román, Marina López De Dicastillo, Esther Luján and Paula Spang. A award of 150 euros was also awarded to work with the degree scroll "La adecuación del esfuerzo terapéutico, un frágil equilibrio" (The adequacy of therapeutic effort, a fragile balance) by Leyre Ochoa, Olivia Varo, Beatriz Vázquez and Ana Vega.

As established in the contest's instructions , the amount of the prizes will be donated to a project or solidarity organization related to activities in the field of health selected by the winners.

Six finalists among 118 participants

The Medical Ethics Commission of the high school of Doctors of Navarra was in charge of evaluating the cases and awarding the prizes. Forty-four cases and clinical situations of the usual medical internship were presented to this fifth call of the competition , commented from an ethical-deontological point of view. Some cases were submitted individually and others in teams, so a total of 118 sixth-year medical students participated.

Of all of them, the Ethics Committee selected six finalists, taking into account the criteria of didactic and educational interest for medical students, the scientific quality of work, the novelty of the contribution, the appropriateness of the medical-ethical argumentation, and the response to the questions raised in the cases.

Dr. Pilar León, administrative assistant of the Deontology Commission of high school of Physicians and board member of the Central Deontology Commission (CCD) of committee General de Colegios Oficiales de Médicos (CGCOM), remarked that the purpose of competition is to "emphasize that the medical work has a human dimension that is inseparable from its technical dimension. And that any medical action requires a careful analysis of facts and values". Thus, he emphasized that participation in the competition gives importance to deliberation and respectful dialogue with the multiple situations that the students have experienced throughout their programs of study and that will be part of their professional life.