Category: 2015-17 Death and Dying

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To engage the medicalization of death & dying ethically, the Catholic Sacramental tradition provides the context for its Natural Law approach. This recognizes both dignity and futility in the dying process and uses double effect reasoning to resolve medicalization-related dilemmas. The presentation discusses a variety of scenarios in end-of-life care including PVS patients, maternal-fetal conflicts, and terminal sedation in palliative care (as a response to assisted suicide).

In 2007 Professor Gerard Magill was appointed as the the Vernon F. Gallagher Chair for the Integration of Science, Theology, Philosophy, and Law at Duquesne University. He is a tenured Professor in Duquesne University’s Center for Healthcare Ethics where he mentors students in its Master’s and Doctoral programs.

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Dr. Shah is a triple board-certified in family medicine and specializes in geriatrics, hospice, and palliative medicine. His primary interest is in early detection of memory problems and supporting families and patients with different forms and at different stages of dementias.

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Moderator: Connie Eastman, AARP Iowa Community Outreach Associate State Director

Connie coordinates AARP’s statewide community serve, advocacy, and educational activities and programs.

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On September 9, 2015, 23 cancer survivors and caregivers travelled to Kathmandu, Nepal for a week-long medical mission trip as part of the Above + Beyond Cancer Foundation. While at Baktapur Cancer Hospital, they donated medical supplies, built a garden for patients, and shared stories of cancer journeys and surviorship with patients and doctors. During this lecture, Dr. Richard Deming and Jake DeHaai will talk about their experiences on the trip.

Dr. Richard Deming is medical director of Mercy Cancer Center in Des Moines. He is the founder and chairman of the Above + Beyond Cancer Foundation and the Dr. Richard Deming Foundation.

Jake DeHaai is from West Des Moines, Iowa and is a senior at Iowa State studying Political Science, International Relations, and Economics. He was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer at the age of 10.

To listen to the audio:

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The Jain tradition has observed a practice known as Sallekhana or Santhara, through which one willingly foregoes food and hydration toward the end of one’s life in order to pass peacefully into a new life. Chapple will give details about the process and the history of Sallekhana.  He will also explore the correlations of this fast unto death with the hospice and “right to die” movements in contemporary America.

Chapple is a specialist in the religions of India; he has published twenty books on aspects of Yoga, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, as well as religion and ecology.  He serves on the advisory boards of the Ahimsa Center, the Forum on Religion and Ecology, and the International School for Jain Studies.