Verna Jans

Background

About Verna Jans

I am a biomedical ethicist with a practicial mindset. I’ve always been interested in scientifically innovative, ethically challenging and human-focused topics, and I still am. Biomedical ethics is the ideal playing field for this. During my bachelor Philosophy at the Radboud University, I became acquainted with historical and fundamental philosphy. After graduation, I decided I did not want to be just an ‘armchair philosopher’, but that I wanted to apply my knowledge to tackle issues in daily practice. I got my head out of the clouds, placed both feet back on the ground and started the Master Philosophy of Science, Technology and Society at the University of Twente. Here, I learned to apply my philosophical reflection on current (and future) technological developments. I specialized in ethics and technology. Currently, as a PhD researcher at the University of Maastricht, I’m investigating how new medically assisted reproductive techniques can be introduced into clinical practice in an ethically responsible way. Here, I analyze and critically assess ethical issues related to the practice of reproductive medicine, and give practical, actionable recommendations. Additionally, I am a tutor of workshops concerning health ethics and health law to medical students.