Bioethics on Air National Catholic Bioethics Center

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 jzalot@ncbcenter.org or drztravel@yahoo.com.

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

In part 2 of his interview, John Di Camillo explains the rationale and purpose for the NCBC Consultations Department’s new Fellows and Interns program. He explains how one can become a fellow or intern as well as his goals for the program moving forward.

Resources:
1. John Di Camillo brief bio – https://www.ncbcenter.org/meet-the-ethicists/johndicamillo
2. NCBC Personal Consultations Fellows and Interns Program: Information and application – https://www.ncbcenter.org/personal-consult-fellows-interns

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

In the first of a two-part interview, NCBC ethicist John Di Camillo joins Joe Zalot to discuss the NCBC’s ethics consultation service as well as his first year serving as Director of the Center’s Personal Consultations Department.

Resources:
1. John Di Camillo brief bio – https://www.ncbcenter.org/meet-the-ethicists/johndicamillo
2. About the Personal Consultations Department – www.ncbcenter.org/about-personal-consults
3. Personal Consultations Department Launch Message – https://www.ncbcenter.org/personal-consults-launch
4. Submit a consult request to the NCBC – www.ncbcenter.org/ask-a-question
5. “Act of Consecration to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus” – https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e3ada1a6a2e8d6a131d1dcd/t/62bb5fafdd296c1cadda57ab/1656446896083/Personal+Consults+Consecration.pdf
6. “Answering Bioethical Questions,” Ave Explores Faith and Science podcast with John Di Camillo (2021) – https://www.avemariapress.com/aveexplores-faith-science/podcast-dicamillo
7. “How to Get an Ethics Consult,” Doctor, Doctor podcast with Joe Zalot (2022) – https://doctordoctor.org/episode284/

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