David Magnus

David Magnus is the Thomas A. Raffin Professor of Medicine and Biomedical Ethics, and Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford University, where he directs the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics. He received his Ph.D. in philosophy from Stanford University, and currently co-chairs Stanford Hospital and Clinic’s Ethics Committee which provides consultation to doctors, patients and families on issues concerning surrogate decision making at the end of life and organ donation. He is a member of Stanford’s End of Life Work Group, Palliative Care Board and the newly formed Innovative Care Committee. In addition, David has spearheaded ethics training programs offered to medical students and clinicians. He serves as the Editor-In-Chief of The American Journal of Bioethics and is widely published on a range of topics including brain death, health care reform, research ethics, end-of-life care, and genetic technology. His published journals include The New England Journal of Medicine, Science, Hastings Center Report, Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics, and The Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics.

 

Along with his scholarly work, he has written a number of editorial pieces in prominent newspapers and has been quoted in TIME magazine, Newsweek, the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. He has also appeared on many television shows, including Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, FOX News Sunday, and ABC World News. David served as President of the American Bioethics Program Directors, representing the leadership of 60 academic bioethics programs across North America. During this time, the ABPD sent a clear message about myths that challenge the ethics of reform proposals at this critical juncture in the national debate about healthcare reform in the United States.