The programme is essentially different from the medical programmes at other universities and the resulting graduates will not be physicians. The UT, therefore, is not allowed to suggest in its information that it will be training doctors. A guidance committee set up by the government (customary for studies training a completely new professional) will amongst others see to it that this rule is observed.
The final consent for clinical technology reached the UT at the start of last week. In their letter the ministers for Education and Health Care stated that the registration of students and their subsequent certification should be under the name of clinical technology. The UT is allowed, if so desired, to use the name technical medicine but should always make clear that this is not a training programme for physicians.
This emphatic comment made by the members of the government, is based on a set of three recommendations, from the ACO (Education Programme Advisory Committee), from a group of experts brought together with the specific aim to investigate the content of the intended profession, and from a committee set up to investigate how and where to spend money made available for the introduction of the bachelor-master structure.
Their joint advice says that a speedy start of a programme training clinical technologists is desirable, as well as transparent information to future students, and attainment targets that fit the professional requirements of the new profession, 'not being the profession of physician'.
'Although at this moment not all details of the programme and the profession have crystallised' Nijs and Ross do not want to wait any longer. 'Further development while in progress is preferable over waiting until the picture is completely clear. We make this choice because of the urgency of the problem and the broad support for the idea that a profession in the field where medicine and technology meet is a real and worthwhile addition to the professional structure in health care.'
The guidance committee has, as mentioned above, the specific task to see to the presentation of the programme and the profession. It will also investigate (or have investigated) in which way the advancing technology resounds in education and clinical technology will get a place in the (new) professional structure in health care. Within that framework the social need for technologically trained personnel in health care will also be investigated.
The UT will free the 'Paviljoen', now housing part of the Facility Department, for clinical technology. Rector van Vught, who put a great deal of energy into bringing in the programme, thinks that it will start with at least 50 and at most 75 first-year students.
