Overview Seminar Details Registration   Every day, health care professionals, legal professionals, and clergy are faced with situations that pose serious ethical challenges. This seminar series is presented to assist these professionals and other interested individuals in grappling with some of the major ethical challenges of our time. This seminar series demonstrates that it is possible for one to be true to science and to faith. The truths of science and the truths of faith have the same source: God. He is the source of all truth, the truths discovered by scientists through the scientific method and the truths followed by disciples through the theological virtue of faith. Therefore, authentic science and authentic faith will always complement - not contradict - one another. They are friends, not foes. Each session will include expert presentations as well as lively discussion from participants. Presenters are experts in medical ethics from the National Catholic Bioethics Center (NCBC) in Philadelphia. The Center is unique among bioethics organizations in that its message derives from the official teaching of the Catholic Church, drawing from a moral tradition that acknowledges the unity of faith and reason and builds on the solid foundation of natural law. Session Topics and Dates January 20-21 The Ethical and Religious Directives & Overview of Principles Guest speaker: Father Tad Pacholczyk This session will explain what is meant by the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, describe its role in the delivery of health care by Catholic service providers in the U.S., and measure its importance in the face of expanding technology. February 24-25 * Stem Cell Research and Cloning, Embryo Experimentation, Prenatal Testing, Embryo Adoption Guest speaker: Father Tad Pacholczyk The February session opens with a scientific explanation of stem cells and the research in this area. The discussion will address the scientific accuracy of media regarding stem cells and cloning, and the ethical issues involved. March 16-17 Infertility and Means of Overcoming It Guest speaker: Father Tad Pacholczyk Learn the current methods of creating human embryos through assistive reproductive technologies and research, and the Catholic ethical teaching pertaining to the creation of human life through specified technologies. April 20-21 Homosexuality, Intersexuality, Gender Identity Guest speaker: Father Tad Pacholczyk Describing gender identity disorder will lay the foundation for this session. With that groundwork, the presentation will compare intersexuality and related conditions; and evaluate homosexuality, lesbianism, transgenderism, and same sex attraction. May 11-12 Chastity in Marriage, Natural Family Planning and Contraception Guest speaker: Dr. John Haas Discussion begins by determining the role of Catholic Health Care in health care delivery and explaining the Church's teaching on marital chastity from a historical perspective. It will continue into Consortio Evangelius Vitae, with a focus on the pastoral and educational role of the Church in the family life of its members; and evaluation of the various methods of contraception, sterilization, and natural family planning in relationship to the Directives. September 14-15 * Proportionate/Disproportionate Interventions in End of Life Situations, Addressing Pain and Suffering, Sacraments, Cardio-Pulmonary and Neurological Criteria for Determining Death, Organ Donation Guest speaker: Father Tad Pacholczyk The historical perspective of the concept of brain death, relevant controversies, and the moral principles operable in supporting total brain death as a basis for organ donation launch this session. The components of compassionate end of life care consistent with the Directives will be identified, and strategies to address dilemmas encountered in the delivery of palliative care will be compared and contrasted. Discussion will proceed to the historical, legal, and ethical framework for the Organ Transplant Procurement Network, scenarios for organ donation and ethical implications, and comparing brain death and non heart-beating donation. October 19-20 * Moral Issues Associated with Artificial Nutrition and Hydration; Suicide, Assisted Suicide, and Euthanasia; Advance Directives; Health Care Proxy; Do Not Resuscitate Orders; Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment/Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment Forms Guest speaker: Father Tad Pacholczyk This session will compare and contrast the parameters and benefits of advanced directives and health care proxies, explain the operable principles in the end of life care decision making, and describe how those principles are incorporated into Catholic health care agency policies. November 16-17 Abortion, Difficult Pregnancies, Early Induction, Ectopic Pregnancy, Fetal Remains, Sexual Assault Protocols Guest speaker: Dr. Marie Hilliard Select pre- and neonatal complications that present moral dilemmas will be identified along with a description of treatment methodologies. A discussion of foundational Catholic moral teaching to guide decision making in the face of such situations, and a compare-and-contrast of treatment with standards for protecting human life and dignity will ensue. Approaches to treating victims of sexual assault along in conjunction with the Directives, and evaluation of strategies to providing compassionate care will be discussed. December 14-15 Issues of Cooperation with Evil Guest speaker: Father Tad Pacholczyk The seminar series ends with an explanation of the categories of cooperation as they apply to the delivery of health care, compare and contrast principles contained in theDirectivesin relation to the various forms of cooperation, and explain the principles of cooperation in select ethical dilemmas. * indicates courses approved for five (5) hours of continuing education credit to pharmacists for attendance About the guest speakers JOHN M. HAAS, Ph.D., S.T.L., K.M., is president of the National Catholic Bioethics Center. He has written articles on topics ranging from the role of the laity in the Church, to sexual morality, social justice issues and bioethics. He is the editor of and a contributor to Crisis of Conscience and Christian Marriage: A Historical Study, has written Marriage and the Priesthood and Contraception: A Personal Odyssey, and is a contributing editor to Crisis, the St. Austin Review and Touchstone magazines. MARIE HILLIARD, J.C.L., Ph.D., R.N., is the director of bioethics and public policy at the NCBC. Dr. Hilliard holds graduate degrees in maternal-child health nursing, religious studies, and professional higher education administration, and has an extensive professional background in medical ethics and public policy and advocacy. In addition, she is a canon lawyer and serves as a resource for the United States Bishops on the implementation of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services as well as Church-State relations. FATHER TADEUSZ PACHOLCZYK, Ph.D., is director of education at the NCBC and directs the Center's National Catholic Certification Program in Health Care Ethics. He is the author of a column called Making Sense out of Bioethics that appears in various diocesan newspapers across the country. Father Tad earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Yale University and did advanced studies in theology and bioethics in Rome. He has presented on the science and ethics of stem cells and cloning numerous times across the country and abroad.