Profile

Contact Details

Phone: 64 3 471 6124
Email: simon.walker@otago.ac.nz

University Links

Position: Senior Lecturer
Department: Bioethics Centre
Qualifications: BA MA PhD PGDipArts(Otago)
Research summary: Moral philosophy, the nature of value, meaning, suffering, end of life care.
Teaching: Ethics to students of medicine, physiotherapy, pharmacy, and dentistry and oral health. BITC 301, BITC 401.

Research

Simon is familiar with a wide range of philosophical authors, and has a particular interest in the works of Kant, Wittgenstein, and Spinoza. While working as a palliative care researcher he became interested in the links between moral philosophy and our understanding of health, and began reading healthcare literature exploring this connection. He discovered a broad acceptance of the idea that a person's values will shape their experience of and response to suffering, and yet that this relationship is scarcely mentioned in contemporary ethical discourse.

He is currently developing a conception of ethics that shows the fundamental link between values and suffering, and which indicates how and to what extent life may retain value in the midst of suffering. This research draws on many different sources, including clinical experience, ancient and modern philosophy, and literature

Publications

Walker, S., Reid, P., Anderson, L., Bull, S., Jonas, M., Manning, J., … Pitama, S., Rennie, S., Snelling, J., Wilkinson, T., & Bagg, W. (2023). Informed consent for medical student involvement in patient care: An updated consensus statement. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 136(1579), 86-95. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/ Journal - Research Article

Newton-Howes, G., Walker, S., & Pickering, N. J. (2023). Epistemic problems with mental health legislation in the doctor–patient relationship. Journal of Medical Ethics. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1136/jme-2022-108610 Journal - Research Article

Rennie, S. C., Anderson, L., Merry, A. F., Pitama, S., Reid, P., Snelling, J., Walker, S., Wilkinson, T., & Bagg, W. (2022). Medical students and informed consent: Response to "Consent for teaching". New Zealand Medical Journal, 135(1566), 100-102. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/ Journal - Research Other

Walker, S. (2022, September). "Everyone does it!": Individual conscience, group-think and the many facets of teaching professionalism medical students. Whistleblowers: Honoured, vilified or forgotten? University of the Third Age, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Research Presentation]. Other Research Output

Walker, S. (2022, August). Self-respect and professional exile: The moral landscape of whistleblowing. Whistleblowers: Honoured, vilified or forgotten? University of the Third Age, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Research Presentation]. Other Research Output

2023

Journal - Research Article

2022

Journal - Research Article

Pickering, N. J., Newton-Howes, G., & Walker, S. (2022). Risk-related standards of competence are a nonsense. Journal of Medical Ethics, 48, 893-898. doi: 10.1136/medethics-2021-108107

Journal - Research Other

Walker, S., Williams, O., Newton-Howes, G., & Pickering, N. (2022). Reformulating decision-making capacity. American Journal of Bioethics, 22(11), 92-94. doi: 10.1080/15265161.2022.2123995

Pickering, N. J., Newton-Howes, G., & Walker, S. (2022). Risk-relativity is still a nonsense. Journal of Medical Ethics, 48(12), 1056-1057. doi: 10.1136/medethics-2022-108379

Anderson, L., Walker, S., Zaharic, T., Kenrick, K., & Subramaniam, R. M. (2022). The responsibilities of medical students in providing advice on the COVID-19 vaccination programme. New Zealand Medical Journal, 135(1552), 136-138. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Walker, S. (2022). Autonomy, mental disorder and the self: A Spinozistic view. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 56(Suppl. 1), (pp. 158). doi: 10.1177/00048674221088686

Other Research Output

2021

Chapter in Book - Research

Walker, S., & McMillan, J. (2021). Ethical concepts in clinical decision-making and ethics teaching. In M. Mant & C. Mounsey (Eds.), The history and bioethics of medical education: "You've got to be carefully taught". (pp. 130-146). New York, NY: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003107156-11

Journal - Research Article

Nie, L., Smith-Han, K., Iosua, E., & Walker, S. (2021). New Zealand medical students’ views of euthanasia/assisted dying across different year levels. BMC Medical Education, 21, 125. doi: 10.1186/s12909-021-02558-2

Donnelly, S., & Walker, S. (2021). Enabling first and second year doctors to negotiate ethical challenges in end-of-life care: A qualitative study. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care. doi: 10.1136/bmjspcare-2020-002672

Rutter, C., & Walker, S. (2021). Infant mortality inequities for Māori in New Zealand: A tale of three policies. International Journal for Equity in Health, 20, 10. doi: 10.1186/s12939-020-01340-y

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Walker, S. (2021, November). Autonomy, mental disorder and decision-making capacity: A Spinozistic view. Verbal presentation at the Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) Section of Philosophy & the Humanities (SoPH) Virtual Meeting, [Online].

Winters, J., Snelling, J., & Walker, S. (2021, July-August). The End of Life Choice Act: Anticipating the clinical and legal issues [Euthanasia/assisted dying workshop]. Workshop presentation at the Queenstown Meeting in Internal Medicine, Queenstown, New Zealand.

Walker, S., & Snelling, J. (2021, June). The End-of-Life Choice Act: Navigation, the law and ethics. Verbal presentation at the Update in Medical Specialties for General Practitioners: Gore Education Meeting GP Conference, Gore, New Zealand.

Other Research Output

Pickering, N., Walker, S., & Newton-Howes, G. (2021, September). Asymmetry, competence and risk: The scale of the problem. Bioethics Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Department Seminar].

2020

Journal - Research Article

Thompson, O., Anderson, J., Chen, M., Haack, G., Mane, R., Stewart, T., … Walthert, J., Jutel, S., Mapusua, T., Schwenke, D., Sopoaga, F., Walker, S., & Richards, R. (2020). Use of bodily tissues in research: Pacific perspectives from Dunedin, New Zealand. Pacific Health Dialog, 21(5), 245-252. doi: 10.26635/phd.2020.624

Walker, S., Egan, R., Young, J., Jaye, C., & Jackson, C. (2020). A citizens' jury on euthanasia/assisted dying: Does informed deliberation change people's views? Health Expectations, 23, 388-395. doi: 10.1111/hex.13008

Other Research Output

Walker, S. & Whittington, F. (2020, August). Should doctors be empathic? Bioethics Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Department Seminar].

Walker, S., Nie, L., Smith-Han, K. & Iosua, E. (2020, August). Medical education seems to make students less likely to support euthanasia/assisted dying: What does this mean and how might it matter? Bioethics Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Department Seminar].

2019

Journal - Research Article

Young, J., Egan, R., Walker, S., Graham-DeMello, A., & Jackson, C. (2019). The euthanasia debate: Synthesising the evidence on New Zealander's attitudes. Kōtuitui, 14(1), 1-21. doi: 10.1080/1177083X.2018.1532915

Journal - Research Other

Li, J.-r., Walker, S., Nie, J.-b., & Zhang, X. (2019). Experiments that led to the first gene-edited babies: The ethical failings and the urgent need for better governance. Journal of Zhejiang University: Science B, 20(1), 32-38. doi: 10.1631/jzus.B1800624

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Walker, S. (2019). What can deliberation do in and for Bioethics?: Deliberation, disagreement, and common morality [Symposia]. Proceedings of the Australasian Association of Bioethics and Health Law (AABHL) and New Zealand Bioethics (NZB) Joint Conference. (pp. 68). Retrieved from http://aabhlnzb2019.w.events4you.currinda.com/

Degeing, C., Walker, S., & Carter, S. (2019). So what can deliberation do in and for bioethics? A commentary [Symposia]. Proceedings of the Australasian Association of Bioethics and Health Law (AABHL) and New Zealand Bioethics (NZB) Joint Conference. (pp. 32). Retrieved from http://aabhlnzb2019.w.events4you.currinda.com/

2018

Journal - Research Other

McMillan, J., Malpas, P., Walker, S., & Jonas, M. (2018). Ethics education in New Zealand medical schools. Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics, 27(3), 470-473. doi: 10.1017/S096318011700086X

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Schwenke, D., Sopo'aga, F., Jutel, S., Mapusua, T., Walker, S., & Richards, R. (2018, September). Cardiovascular disease in Pacifica: Breaking down the disparities between ethnicities. Verbal presentation at the Samoa Conference 4: Our Heritage, Our Future, Apia, Samoa.

Other Research Output

Walker, S. (2018, September). A citizen's jury on euthanasia/assisted dying. Bioethics Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Department Seminar].

Egan, R., Walker, S., Paul, C. & Young, J. (2018, July). A citizens' deliberation on euthanasia/assisted dying. Public Health Seminar Series, Department of Preventive & Social Medicine, University of Otago, in association with The Public Health Association Otago/Southland, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Department Seminar].

2017

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

MacLachlan, A., McMillan, J., Walker, S., & Wheeler, B. (2017). Adolescent autonomy revisited. Proceedings of the University of Otago Student Research Symposium: Te Wānaka Rakahau: Ākoka. (pp. 52). Retrieved from http://www.otago.ac.nz/graduate-research/scholarships/otago643219.html

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Walker, S., & Barron, A. (2017, January). Identity and dementia: Clinician perspectives on key theoretical and practical problems. Verbal presentation at the New Zealand Bioethics Conference: Bioethics and Health Law in the Information Age, Dunedin, New Zealand.

2016

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Tumilty, E., Walker, S., & McMillan, J. (2016, June). Battling upstream: An institutional ethnography of researchers working with disadvantaged populations in Aotearoa New Zealand. Verbal presentation at the International Network on Feminist Approaches to Bioethics (FAB) World Congress, Edinburgh, Scotland.

2015

Chapter in Book - Research

Walker, S., & McMillan, J. (2015). Memory, identity and dementia. In T. Schramme & S. Edwards (Eds.), Handbook of the philosophy of medicine. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-94-017-8706-2_64-1

Nie, J.-B., & Walker, S. (2015). Truth telling. In H. ten Have (Ed.), Encyclopedia of global bioethics. Springer International. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-05544-2_427-1

Journal - Research Article

Nie, J.-B., Walker, S. T., Qiao, S., Li, X., & Tucker, J. D. (2015). Truth-telling to the patient, family, and the sexual partner: A rights approach to the role of healthcare providers in adult HIV disclosure in China. AIDS Care, 27(Suppl. 1), 83-89. doi: 10.1080/09540121.2015.1071772

McHugh, H. M., & Walker, S. T. (2015). "Personal Knowledge" in medicine and the epistemic shortcomings of Scientism. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 12, 577-585. doi: 10.1007/s11673-015-9661-5

Lambie, D., Egan, R., Walker, S., & MacLeod, R. (2015). How spirituality is understood and taught in New Zealand medical schools. Palliative & Supportive Care, 13, 53-58. doi: 10.1017/S147895151300062X

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Walker, S. (2015, June). Dementia, identity, and advance decisions. Verbal presentation at the Australasian Association of Bioethics & Health Law (AABHL) Conference: Working with Diversity, Wellington, New Zealand.

2014

Journal - Research Article

McMillan, J., Walker, S., & Hope, T. (2014). Valuing hope. Monash Bioethics Review, 32(1-2), 33-42. doi: 10.1007/s40592-014-0006-7

McLennan, S., Walker, S., & Rich, L. E. (2014). Should health care providers be forced to apologise after things go wrong? Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 11, 431-435. doi: 10.1007/s11673-014-9571-y

Walker, S. T. (2014). Spinoza, Styron, and the ethics of healing. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 11(2), 153-160. doi: 10.1007/s11673-014-9526-3

Journal - Research Other

Tumilty, E., Walker, S., & Tumilty, S. (2014). Tainting by numbers: How the disadvantaged become invisible within evidence-based medicine. Physical Therapy Reviews, 19(5), 367-377. doi: 10.1179/1743288X14Y.0000000152

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Walker, S. (2014). Ethical concepts: Providing medical students with a toolkit for clinical ethics. Proceedings of the Australasian Association of Bioethics and Health Law (AABHL) Conference. Retrieved from http://www.conferencedesign.com.au/aabhl2014/

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Tumilty, E., Walker, S., & McMillan, J. (2014, September). When the numbers don't add up: Health inequality and research practice in Aotearoa New Zealand. Poster session presented at the Division of Health Sciences Research Forum: Learning Different Research Languages, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Egan, R., & Walker, S. (2014, September). Spirituality and euthanasia. Verbal presentation at the New Zealand Association of Gerontology Conference: The Age of Ageing, Dunedin, New Zealand.

2013

Journal - Research Article

Gillett, G., & Walker, S. (2013). Immunisation and minimally informed consent. Journal of Law & Medicine, 20(4), 723-727.

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Lambie, D., Egan, R., Walker, S., & MacLeod, R. (2013). Teaching about spirituality in New Zealand medical schools. Proceedings of the International Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE) Conference. (pp. 279). Retrieved from http://www.amee.org/conferences

Walker, S. (2013). Terminal sedation and existential pain. Proceedings of the Australasian Association of Bioethics and Health Law (AABHL) Conference. Retrieved from http://www.conferencedesign.com.au/aabhl2013/

2012

Journal - Research Article

Gillett, G., & Walker, S. (2012). The evolution of informed consent. Journal of Law & Medicine, 19(4), 673-677.

Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

Anderson, L., & Walker, S. (2012). The New Zealand Bioethics Conference: No Country for Old Men (or Women): Increasing Pressures on the Health Care System. HRC Ethics Notes, (March), 3.

Awarded Doctoral Degree

Walker, S. T. (2012). Rough ground: Ethics, ontology and suffering (PhD). University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/2251

2009

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Walker, S. (2009, July). Health, being, and the ethics of Spinoza. Verbal presentation at the Australasian Bioethics and Health Law Conference: Future Offers, Future Threats, Queenstown, New Zealand.

2008

Journal - Research Article

Janssen, A. L., MacLeod, R. D., & Walker, S. T. (2008). Recognition, reflection, and role models: Critical elements in education about care in medicine. Palliative & Supportive Care, 6(4), 389-395.

2005

Journal - Research Article

Walker, S., & MacLeod, R. (2005). Palliative care knowledge of some South Island GPs. New Zealand Family Physician, 32(2), 88-93.