As early as 1996, researchers at The International Centre for Health, Law and Ethics, under the direction of Prof. Amnon Carmi of the Faculty of Law, explored the deterioration phenomenon in the relationship between doctors and patients. Their findings pointed to a lack of proper study of ethics in medical schools as being central to this trend. "Following this discovery, the Director-General of UNESCO and the Rector of the University at the time, Prof. Aaron Ben-Ze’ev, established the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics at the University” explains Prof. Carmi, founding member and current Head of International Chair in Bioethics (Formerly UNESCO Chair in Bioethics, Haifa). The agreement with UNESCO has expired, and the Chair has become an independent international organization. The Chair is recognized by leading international organizations. An agreement of cooperation was signed between the Chair and the world medical organization (WMA) as well as with other international bodies.