Bioethics on Air

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.

In the second half of her interview, Dr. Monique Ruberu discusses her work with the Abortion-Pill Reversal Network and 40 Days for Life. Resources: 1. Monique Ruberu bio – https://drruberu4life.com/ 2. Abortion Pill Reversal – https://www.abortionpillreversal.com/ or 1-877-558-0333 3. 40 Days for Life – https://www.40daysforlife.com/en/ 4. ThriVe Woman’s Telehealth – https://thrivestlouis.org/ If you enjoy our podcasts, please consider making a donation to the NCBC at https://www.ncbcenter.org/donate

Dr. Monique Ruberu, OB/GYN joins Joe Zalot to discuss the claim that abortion is health care, pro-life interventions for pregnancy complications, and the true impact of abortion on her patients. Resource: Monique Ruberu bio – https://drruberu4life.com/ If you enjoy our podcasts, please consider making a donation to the NCBC at https://www.ncbcenter.org/donate

Attorney and law professor Elizabeth Kirk joins Joe Zalot to discuss recent (April 2023) federal court cases dealing with the chemical abortion drug mifepristone. Resources 1. Elizabeth Kirk brief bio – m https://www.law.edu/about-us/faculty-and-staff/directory/expert-faculty/kirk-elizabeth/index.html 2. Alliance Defending Freedom case page – https://adflegal.org/article/clinton-era-fda-action-keeps-women-danger 3. Amicus brief of the NCBC, Catholic Bar Association, Catholic Health Care Leadership Alliance, etc. in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, et. al., v. FDA – https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/22/22A901/263856/20230418135102389_22A901%20and%2022A902_Amicus%20Brief.pdf 4. Elizabeth Kirk, “Buyer Beware: Women’s Safety is a Key Oversight in the Abortion Debate” – https://www.oursundayvisitor.com/buyer-beware-womens-safety-is-a-key-oversight-in-the-abortion-pill-debate/ 5. Bioethics on Air, episode 75: “Straight Talk on Chemical Abortion” – https://www.ncbcenter.org/bioethics-on-air-podcast-cms/episode-75-straight-talk-on-chemical-abortion If you enjoy our podcasts, please consider making a donation to the NCBC at https://www.ncbcenter.org/donate

Attorney Jonathan Berry returns to Bioethics on Air to discuss Strader v. CVS, the case of a health care professional fired for refusing to prescribe contraceptive and abortifacient drugs. Resources 1. Jonathan Berry bio – https://boydengrayassociates.com/our-team/jonathan-berry/ 2. First Liberty Case Page, Robyn Strader – https://firstliberty.org/cases/robyn-strader/ 3. Complaint: Strader v. CVS – https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/legaldocs/myvmoggqzvr/011123%20--%20ND%20Tex%20--%20Strader%20v%20CVS%20Health%20Corp%20et%20al%20complaint.pdf 4. Ethics Public Policy Center, HHS Accountability Project – https://eppc.org/program/hhs-accountability-project/ 5. Bioethics on Air episode 81: “Legal Perspectives on the Federal Vaccine Mandate” – https://www.ncbcenter.org/bioethics-on-air-podcast-cms/episode-81-legal-perspectives-on-the-federal-vaccine-mandate If you enjoy our podcasts, please consider making a donation to the NCBC at https://www.ncbcenter.org/donate

NCBC ethicists Dr. Ted Furton and Dr. John Brehany join Joe Zalot to discuss the USCCB Doctrine Committee’s “Doctrinal Note on the Moral Limits to Technological Manipulation of the Human Body” and the impact it can have on Catholic health care. Resources 1. USCCB Committee on Doctrine, “Doctrinal Note on the Moral Limits to Technological Manipulation of the Human Body” – https://www.usccb.org/resources/Doctrinal%20Note%202023-03-20.pdf 2. NCBC, “Brief Statement on Transgenderism” (2017) – https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e3ada1a6a2e8d6a131d1dcd/t/5eb96ca6784e2246467b42b1/1589210278798/Q16.4_05_TransgenderStatement_REV.pdf 3. NCBC, Transgender Issues in Catholic Health Care (2021) – https://www.ncbcenter.org/store/transgenderissues. See especially chapter 4: “Catholic Health Care and Gender Identity: A Resource for Policy Guidance;” and chapter 5: “Template Policy for Catholic Health Care and Gender Identity.”

Neurologist Christopher DeCock, MD, joins Joe Zalot to discuss how proposed changes to the Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA) could change the legal definition of brain death. Resources 1. Dr. Christopher DeCock info – https://www.essentiahealth.org/find-doctor-provider/profile/christopher-decock/ 2. 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 3. Uniform Law Commission - https://www.uniformlaws.org/home

Dr. John Haas, NCBC President Emeritus, and Dr. Joseph Meaney, current NCBC President, join Joe Zalot to commemorate the Center’s accomplishments over its first fifty years and chart its course for the future. Resources 1. Dr. John Haas brief bio – https://www.ncbcenter.org/meet-the-ethicists/johnhaas 2. Dr. Joseph Meaney brief bio – https://www.ncbcenter.org/meet-the-ethicists/joseph-meaney-phd 3. Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI, On Conscience, The National Catholic Bioethics Center, 2007 – https://www.ncbcenter.org/store/on-conscience

Dr. John Brehany, NCBC Director of Institutional Relations, joins Joe Zalot to discuss possible consequences of the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) revised messaging that Plan B is not an abortifacient. Resources 1. Dr. John Brehany brief bio – https://www.ncbcenter.org/meet-the-ethicists/johnbrehany 2. FDA, Plan B One Step Information – https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/plan-b-one-step-15-mg-levonorgestrel-information 3. Bioethics on Air, episode 75: “Straight Talk on Chemical Abortion” – https://www.ncbcenter.org/bioethics-on-air-podcast-cms/episode-75-straight-talk-on-chemical-abortion

Dr. John Brehany, NCBC Director of Institutional Relations, joins Joe Zalot to discuss the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) revised messaging that Plan B is not an abortifacient. Resources 1. Dr. John Brehany brief bio – https://www.ncbcenter.org/meet-the-ethicists/johnbrehany 2. FDA, Plan B One Step Information – https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/plan-b-one-step-15-mg-levonorgestrel-information 3. FDA, Decisional Memorandum on Plan B – https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2022/021998Orig1s005SumR.pdf 4. FDA Drug Facts Label for Plan B – https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2022/021998Orig1s005lbl.pdf If you enjoy our podcasts, please consider making a donation to the NCBC at https://www.ncbcenter.org/donate

Robert Smedley, President of the Matthias Group, joins Joe Zalot to discuss how Catholic employers can maintain Catholic identity and mission in their employee health benefits plans, focusing specifically on pharmaceuticals. Resources 1. The Matthias Group, LLC – https://matthiasgrp.com/. Contact info: smedley@matthiasgrp.com or 844-628-8477 2. “Mission Aligned Job Postings,” Catholic Benefits Association – https://catholicbenefitsassociation.org/mission-aligned-job-postings/ If you enjoy our podcasts, please consider making a donation to the NCBC at https://www.ncbcenter.org/donate

Dr. Marie Meaney joins Joe Zalot to discuss how her Catholic faith sustained her in her struggle with infertility, and inspired her to write the book "When Expecting Doesn’t Happen: Turning Infertility into a Journey of Hope." Resources 1. When Expecting Doesn’t Happen: Turning Infertility into a Journey of Hope – https://stpaulcenter.com/product/when-expecting-doesnt-happen-turning-infertility-into-a-journey-of-hope/ 2. Saint Paul VI Institute – https://popepaulvi.com/ 3. Hannah’s Tears – https://hannahstears.org/ 4. Springs in the Desert – https://springsinthedesert.org/ If you enjoy our podcasts, please consider making a donation to the NCBC at https://www.ncbcenter.org/donate

Bishop John Barres, ordinary of the Diocese of Rockville Centre (Long Island)—along with canon lawyer Fr. Brandon O’Brien—discuss the bishop’s governance with regard to Catholic health care, as well as his role in fostering its Catholic identity and ethical integrity. Resources: 1. Bishop Barres’ webpage – https://www.bishopbarres.com/ 2. “The Pastoral Role of the Diocesan Bishop in Catholic Health Care Ministry” –https://www.usccb.org/resources/The%20Pastoral%20Role%20of%20the%20Diocesan%20Bishop%20in%20Catholic%20Health%20Care%20Ministry%202_0.pdf If you enjoy our podcasts, please consider making a donation to the NCBC at https://www.ncbcenter.org/donate

Jenny Ingles, Director of Fertility and Life Ministries for the Diocese of Lansing, Michigan, discusses her state’s Proposal 3. If enacted by voters, Proposal 3 would enshrine the so-called right to abortion in the Michigan state constitution. Resources 1. Diocese of Lansing, MI: “Fight Like Heaven: Vote NO on Proposal 3” – https://www.dioceseoflansing.org/office-bishop/fight-heaven-54-day-rosary-novena 2. “Analysis: The Dangers Within Proposal 3” – https://www.dioceseoflansing.org/office-bishop/analysis-dangers-within-proposal-3 3. Jenny Ingles, “How Michigan’s Proposal 3 Allows Child Sterilization Without Parental Consent” – https://www.ncregister.com/commentaries/how-michigan-s-proposal-3-allows-child-sterilization-without-parental-consent 4. Support Michigan Women and Children – https://supportmiwomenandchildren.org/donate/ 5. Bioethics on Air episodes 51 and 52, “Living and Loving NFP” (parts 1 & 2) Part 1 – https://www.ncbcenter.org/bioethics-on-air-podcast-cms/episode-51-living-and-loving-nfp-part-1 Part 2 – m https://www.ncbcenter.org/bioethics-on-air-podcast-cms/episode-52-living-and-loving-nfp-part-2 If you enjoy our podcasts, please consider making a donation to the NCBC at https://www.ncbcenter.org/donate

Pharmacy resident Angela Baalmann discusses ethical challenges facing faithful Catholic pharmacists drawing from her article “Pharmacist Refusal to Provide Contraceptive Services” published in the Spring 2022 edition of The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly. Resources 1. “Pharmacist Refusal to Provide Contraceptive Services” – https://www.pdcnet.org/collection/authorizedshow?id=ncbq_2022_0022_0001_0083_0097&pdfname=ncbq_2022_0022_0001_0083_0097.pdf&file_type=pdf 2. Catholic Pharmacists – https://www.catholicpharmacists.com/ 3. Catholic Medical Association – https://www.cathmed.org/ If you enjoy our podcasts, please consider making a donation to the NCBC at https://www.ncbcenter.org/donate