CCOUC Hosts Research Seminar on Ethical Challenges in Managing the Dead

On 18 March 2026, the Collaborating Centre for Oxford University and CUHK for Disaster and Medical Humanitarian Response (CCOUC), in collaboration with the Centre for Global Health (CGH), hosted a research seminar titled "Managing the Dead: Ethical Tensions in Global Health Practice" as part of its 15th anniversary celebrations at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). The seminar featured Dr Halina Suwalowska, Senior Research Fellow at the Ethox Centre, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, and was moderated by Dr Chunlan Guo, Assistant Director of CCOUC.

Drawing on her research in global health ethics, Dr Suwalowska explored the complex ethical, cultural and practical challenges surrounding the management of the deceased during public health emergencies and humanitarian crises. The seminar addressed the tensions between infection prevention and control, respect for human dignity, and cultural and religious practices, highlighting the ethical considerations that arise when responding to infectious disease outbreaks and natural disasters.

Another important focus was the use of human remains in global health research, including ethical questions concerning informed consent, inequality and the responsibilities of researchers and humanitarian practitioners. These discussions highlighted how the treatment of the deceased reflects broader ethical and structural challenges in global health practice.

The seminar provided an opportunity for academic exchange on ethical decision-making in humanitarian settings, reinforcing the importance of integrating dignity, cultural sensitivity and ethical considerations into disaster response and global health research.