Bioethics on Air

Andrew Kubick, author of Transplanting the Womb: A Catholic Bioethical Analysis, joins Joe Zalot to discuss the realities of uterine transplants. In part one of the interview, Andrew speaks to his work at the Religious Freedom Institute, tells why he wrote the book, and explains the process of uterine transplantation focusing on its medical and ethical implications.

Resources

1. Andrew Kubick bio – https://www.ncbcenter.org/meet-the-ethicists/andrewkubick

Religious Freedom Institute – https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/

2. Transplanting the Womb: A Catholic Bioethical Analysis – https://www.ncbcenter.org/store/transplanting-the-womb-a-catholic-bioethical-analysis

3. “Are Womb Transplants Immoral?” Fr. Tad Pacholczyk – https://www.ncbcenter.org/making-sense-of-bioethics-cms/114-are-womb-transplants-immoral

4. “The Ethics of Uterine Transplantation,” Sr. Renee Mirkes – https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1179/002436308803889602

5. NCBC Certification Program – https://www.ncbcenter.org/certification-program

If you enjoy our podcasts, please consider making a donation to the NCBC at https://www.ncbcenter.org/donate

Alex Schadenberg, Executive Director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC), joins Joe Zalot to discuss euthanasia in Canada. In part two of his interview, Alex discusses conscience protection (or lack thereof) for health care professionals and institutions in Canada. He then explains how eligibility for euthanasia and assisted suicide has expanded in Canada and, drawing upon real stories, warns what happens when a society legalizes direct killing.

Resources

1. Euthanasia Prevention Coalition – https://epcc.ca/

2. Euthanasia Prevention Coalition USA – https://epc-usa.org/

3. Fourth Annual Report on Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada, 2022 - https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/health-system-services/annual-report-medical-assistance-dying-2022.html

If you enjoy our podcasts, please consider making a donation to the NCBC at https://www.ncbcenter.org/donate

Alex Schadenberg, Executive Director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC), joins Joe Zalot to discuss euthanasia in Canada. In the first of two interviews, Alex addresses the process of how euthanasia was legalized in Canada, the arguments proponents use to justify it, and how the practice has become entrenched in Canadian culture.

Resources:

1. Euthanasia Prevention Coalition – https://epcc.ca/

2. Euthanasia Prevention Coalition USA – https://epc-usa.org/

3. Alex Schadenberg blog – https://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/

4. Fourth Annual Report on Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada, 2022 - https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/health-system-services/annual-report-medical-assistance-dying-2022.html

If you enjoy our podcasts, please consider making a donation to the NCBC at https://www.ncbcenter.org/donate

Pharmacists Angela Baalmann and Nicole Allcock join Joe Zalot to discuss the newly formed Catholic Pharmacy Association. They address why the association was formed, its mission and vision, and the support it offers for pharmacists who seek to practice in accord with their faith.

Resources

1. Catholic Pharmacy Association – https://www.catholicpharmacy.org/

2. Angela Baalman info - https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelabaalmann/

3. Nicole Allcock info – https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-allcock-pharm-d-m-s-bioethics-fashp-7616215/

4. Bioethics on Air episode 101: “Faith in the Pharmacy” (October 2022) – https://www.ncbcenter.org/bioethics-on-air-podcast-cms/bioethics-on-air-episode-101-faith-in-the-pharmacy

Dr. Tim Millea, an orthopedic surgeon (retired) and Chair of the Catholic Medical Association’s (CMA) Health Care Policy subcommittee, joins Joe Zalot to discuss important ethical challenges facing Catholic health care in the United States, and the work of the CMA in addressing them. In part two of the interview, Tim addresses chemical abortion, transgenderism, brain death, assisted suicide, and the need for conscience and religious liberty protections for health care professionals.

Resources

1. Catholic Medical Association – https://www.cathmed.org/

2. Bioethics on Air, episode 112: “Chemical Abortion and the Courts” (May 12, 2023) – https://www.ncbcenter.org/bioethics-on-air-podcast-cms/bioethics-on-air-episode-112-chemical-abortion-and-the-courts

3. “The WPATH Files” – https://environmentalprogress.org/big-news/wpath-files

4. The Cass Report: “Independent Review of Gender Identity Services for Children and Young People” – https://cass.independent-review.uk/home/publications/final-report/

5. NCBC, “Integrity in the Determination of Brain Death: Recent Challenges and Next Steps” – https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e3ada1a6a2e8d6a131d1dcd/t/661802bbc44c0135b4f86639/1712849595809/Integity+in+the+Determination+of+Brain+Death.pdf

6. “Rethinking Brain Death: Why Dead Enough is Not Good Enough” – https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000207407

If you enjoy our podcasts, please consider making a donation to the NCBC at https://www.ncbcenter.org/donate

Dr. Tim Millea, an orthopedic surgeon (retired) and Chair of the Catholic Medical Association’s (CMA) Health Care Policy subcommittee, joins Joe Zalot to discuss important ethical challenges facing Catholic health care in the United States, and the work of the CMA in addressing them. In part one of this interview, Tim discusses his work in health care policy and addresses issues concerning abortion, the Democrat party’s “all in” on it, and in-vitro fertilization or IVF.

Resources

1. Catholic Medical Association – https://www.cathmed.org/

2. Human Life Action – National Committee for a Human Life Amendment: State Updates at https://www.humanlifeaction.org/state-updates/

3. American United for Life – State Spotlight at https://aul.org/law-and-policy/state-spotlight/

If you enjoy our podcasts, please consider making a donation to the NCBC at https://www.ncbcenter.org/donate

Neurologist Christopher DeCock, MD, rejoins Joe Zalot to discuss the latest news on brain death. They discuss (a) the impact of the Uniform Law Commission placing on hold revision of the Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA), (b) the American Academy of Neurology’s (AAN) new and problematic guidelines for determining brain death, and (c) informed consent concerns arising with normothermic regional perfusion (NRP).

Resources

1. Dr. Christopher DeCock info - https://www.essentiahealth.org/find-doctor-provider/profile/christopher-decock/

2. Bioethics on Air #109 - https://www.ncbcenter.org/bioethics-on-air-podcast-cms/bioethics-on-air-episode-109-redefining-death-by-revising-the-udda

3. Bioethics on Air #119 - https://www.ncbcenter.org/bioethics-on-air-podcast-cms/bioethics-on-air-episode-119-update-on-udda-revisions-and-concerns-with-normothermic-regional-perfusion

4. Uniform Determination of Death Act – https://lchc.ucsd.edu/cogn_150/Readings/death_act.pdf

5. AAN 2023 DNC Practice Guidelines - https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000207740

Neurologist Christopher DeCock, MD, rejoins Joe Zalot to update listeners on efforts to redefine death by revising the Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA). He also discusses important medical and ethical concerns with normothermic regional perfusion (start at 36:25).

Resources

1. Dr. Christopher DeCock info – https://www.essentiahealth.org/find-doctor-provider/profile/christopher-decock/

2. Bioethics on Air #109, Redefining Death by Revising the UDDA – https://www.ncbcenter.org/bioethics-on-air-podcast-cms/bioethics-on-air-episode-109-redefining-death-by-revising-the-udda

3. Uniform Determination of Death Act – https://higherlogicdownload.s3-external-1.amazonaws.com/UNIFORMLAWS/4d19d096-be64-3c0f-ae71-a514b64c06a6_file.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAVRDO7IEREB57R7MT&Expires=1676665298&Signature=TyhShhP9KKdB%2Fhrlzz0xrFYVgdY%3D

4. Submission of the NCBC and USCCB to the Uniform Determination of Death Committee of the Uniform Law Commission – https://www.usccb.org/resources/Joint_submission_NCBC_and_USCCB_on_UDDA_2023.pdf

5. American College of Physicians statement on revising the UDDA – https://www.acponline.org/sites/default/files/documents/clinical_information/ethics-professionalism/acp_letter_to_ulc_cmte_on_udda_06-07-23.pdf

6. “Normothermic Regional Perfusion – The Next Frontier in Organ Transplants” – https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2805776

If you enjoy our podcasts, please consider making a donation to the NCBC at https://www.ncbcenter.org/donate

Fr. Tad Pacholczyk joins Joe Zalot to update listeners on the state of—and ethical implications of—contemporary issues in biomedical research. Topics include stem cell research, 3-parent embryos, and synthetic embryos.

Resources

1. Fr. Tad bio – https://www.ncbcenter.org/meet-the-ethicists/fathertad

2. Fr. Tad website – https://www.fathertad.com/

3. Fr. Tad’s “Making Sense of Bioethics” columns – https://www.ncbcenter.org/making-sense-of-bioethics-column#index

4. “Ethicists Voice Concern Over Reprogramming Human Embryonic Cells for Research” (“synthetic” embryos) – https://www.oursundayvisitor.com/ethicists-voice-concern-over-reprogramming-human-embryonic-cells-for-research/

If you enjoy our podcasts, please consider making a donation to the NCBC at https://www.ncbcenter.org/donate

Karen O’Brien, MD, a member of the Lourdes Medical Bureau/International, joins Joe Zalot to discuss the process of determining the medical “inexplicability” of healings at Lourdes. Karen and Joe also announce a pilgrimage to Lourdes & Paris that they will lead in April 2024.

Resources:

1. Karen O’Brien brief bio – https://www.massgeneral.org/doctors/16581/karen-o-brien

2. “Talking of Palliative Care” (with MC Sullivan) – https://www.catholictv.org/talking-of-palliative-care-episodes.html

3. 60 Minutes story on the miraculous healing of Sister Bernadette Moriau – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaG7mesmdH4

4. Information about the Lourdes & Paris pilgrimage 2024 - https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e3ada1a6a2e8d6a131d1dcd/t/64a7066d5118b25e203d2f1c/1688667760837/Information+initial-Lourdes+%26+Paris+2024.pdf

5. For information about the pilgrimage, please email Joe Zalot at [email protected] or [email protected].

If you enjoy our podcasts, please consider making a donation to the NCBC at https://www.ncbcenter.org/donate