Please join us for the last event of our 2015–2016 series on death and dying—a lecture on medical ethics in the Catholic Tradition by Gerard Magill, Vernon F. Gallagher Chair and Professor of Healthcare Ethics at Duquesne University. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held on May 5 at 7 p.m. in the Cowles Library Reading Room (second floor of Cowles Library). NOTE THAT THIS IS A DIFFERENT LOCATION THAN USUAL!

The Catholic tradition ethically engages the medicalization of death and dying by utilizing a natural law approach within the context of a sacramental theology. Such an approach recognizes both dignity and futility in the dying process and uses double-effect reasoning to resolve medicalization-related dilemmas. This 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).

Gerard Magill is the Vernon F. Gallagher Chair for the Integration of Science, Theology, Philosophy, and Law at Duquesne University. He has published seven books, authored over 60 professional articles, and delivered more than 200 presentations on health care ethics and the Roman Catholic tradition.

—Tim Knepper, Professor of Philosophy, Department Chair