Bioethics On Air

Pro-life OB/GYN Chris Stroud joins Bioethics on Air to critique the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ March 2022 ‘guidance’ on how to speak about abortion. This interview focuses on ACOG’s claim that we can no longer use the terms baby, unborn child, or fetal heartbeat. Resources: 1. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) – Guide to Language and Abortion at https://www.acog.org/contact/media-center/abortion-language-guide 2. Fertility and Midwifery Care Center – https://fertilityandmidwifery.com. For telehealth, email drstroud@fertilityandmidwifery.com 3. "Doctor, Doctor" podcast, episode 256 – “Child Birth: Safe, Healthy, and Empowered Options.” Go to https://doctordoctor.org/ and click on “Discover Past Episodes”

Steven White, MD and NCBC President Joseph Meaney join Joe Zalot introduce the newly formed Catholic Health Care Leadership Alliance (CHCLA). Steve and Joseph explain why the alliance was formed, discuss its founding members, and set an ambitious agenda to transform Catholic health care. CHCLA website – CatholicHealthAlliance.org

Family Medicine physician Lisa Gilbert discusses the ethical challenges surrounding referrals for illicit medical interventions, the distinction between referral and transfer of care, and her work advocating for the conscience rights of medical professionals. Resources: 1. Ukrainian Catholic Crisis Media Center – https://uccmc.org 2. Advocacy for Life course - https://www.studentsforlifehq.com/advocacyforlife 3. Cynthia Jones-Nosacek, MD, “Referral vs Transfer of Care: Ethical Options When Values Differ,” Linacre Quarterly, 2021 If you enjoy our podcasts, please consider making a donation to the NCBC - https://www.ncbcenter.org/donate.

In part two of his interview, Dr. John Di Camillo addresses how the Catholic understanding of the common good can help inform responses to ongoing ethical concerns regarding COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, as well as mandates.

Dr. John Di Camillo discusses his presentation on COVID-19 vaccines and mandates from the 2022 NCBC Bishops Workshop. In part one of this interview, John focuses on the latest available information concerning COVID vaccines and how this information should inform judgments of conscience.

Ashley Womack, MD discusses how, through her Catholic faith, she navigated the ethical challenges of both medical school and OB/GYN residency, including her refusal to complete a “family planning” rotation at Planned Parenthood.

Mary McClusky, Assistant Director for Project Rachel Ministry Development with the USCCB Committee on Pro Life Activities, joins Joe Zalot to discuss this specifically Catholic model of abortion healing ministry. Mary focuses on the challenges women face following an abortion, the services that Project Rachel Ministry offers, and how the sacraments (especially reconciliation) play a key role in the abortion healing process. Project Rachel Ministries website: https://hopeafterabortion.com/ The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, MD https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-body-keeps-the-score-bessel-van-der-kolk-md/1117229987 Dr. Vince Rue – Alliance for Post Abortion Research and Training: https://www.standapart.org/

Noah Brandt, Director of Government Affairs at Live Action, discusses the Dobbs case, the Texas Heartbeat Bill, and Ohio’s 2363 Bill. He also explains the importance of properly interpreting the Fourteenth Amendment as well as Live Action’s efforts to counter corporate censorship. Access all of Live Action’s resources at liveaction.org.

In part two of our interview, attorney Jonathan Berry offers a legal perspective of religious and conscience objection, and he discusses what is reasonable (and not reasonable) in terms of requesting such an exemption. He also suggests what individuals can do when facing termination for refusing a COVID-19 vaccine.

Attorney Jonathan Berry explains the legal and constitutional challenges to the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, and he clarifies the status of these challenges in the federal courts to date. UPDATE: Just hours after this interview was recorded, a three-judge panel of the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated the Biden vaccine mandate. Boyden Gray filed an appeal with the US Supreme Court within 45 minutes of that ruling.

Dr. Maureen Condic, Associate Professor of Neurobiology at the University of Utah School of Medicine, discusses (1) how science demonstrates that human life begins at conception, and (2) how recent scientific advances indicate that preborn children may exhibit consciousness, and experience pain, earlier than previously thought. Podcast resources: Maureen L. Condic, Untangling Twinning: What Science Tells Us About the Nature of Human Embryos https://undpress.nd.edu/9780268107055/untangling-twinning/ Brief of Maureen L. Condic and the Charlotte Lozier Institute as Amici Curiae Supporting Petitioners https://s27589.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/CLI-Dobbs-Amicus-Brief.pdf Maureen Condic, The Suffering of the Unborn https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2021/11/29/the-suffering-of-the-unborn/ Maureen Condic, A Scientific View Of When Life Begins https://s27589.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/On-Point-Scientific-View-of-When-Life-Begins-Condic-2014.pdf How It Started/How It's Going demonstrating the

Marie Hilliard, NCBC Senior Fellow, joins Joe Zalot to discuss Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Supreme Court case that could have a profound impact on abortion law in the United States. Marie explains the case in light of three amicus briefs that she helped to prepare on behalf of pro-life organizations, including the NCBC. Amicus briefs: Brief of NCBC, Pro-life OB/GYNs Gianna Cazan-London and Melissa Halvorson, and Right to Life Michigan https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e3ada1a6a2e8d6a131d1dcd/t/61112fa9723fd06b05815db0/1628516265883/19-1392+tsac+National+Catholic+Bioethics+Center.pdf Brief of the Catholic Medical Association, National Association of Catholic Nurses – USA, Idaho Chooses Life, and Texas Alliance for Life https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e3ada1a6a2e8d6a131d1dcd/t/618281f127a4911f19f41ee3/1635942897844/SCOTUS+MISSISSIPPI+Amicus+2021%281%29.pdf Brief of 240 Women Scholars and Professionals, and Pro-life Feminist Organizations https://static1.squarespace.com/st

In part three of our interview, Jason Eberl and John Brehany discuss the role of public health viz-à-viz Catholic teaching and explore notions of the common good with regard to COVID-19 vaccine mandates. They conclude by speaking to how Catholics are called to prophetic witness on the vaccine issue in the public square. Eberl essays: Vaccine Mandates are Coming. Catholics Have No Moral Reason to Oppose Them https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2021/08/10/covid-vaccine-mandate-exemptions-voluntary-ignorance-241196 Catholics Have No Grounds to Claim Exemption from COVID Vaccine Mandates, co-authored by Tobias Winright https://www.ncronline.org/news/coronavirus/catholics-have-no-grounds-claim-exemption-covid-vaccine-mandates

In part two of our interview, Jason Eberl and John Brehany evaluate Jason’s claim that Catholics who object to vaccine mandates exhibit either scrupulosity or voluntary ignorance. They then address ways that people can properly form their conscience on the mandate issue. Eberl essays: 1. Vaccine Mandates are Coming. Catholics Have No Moral Reason to Oppose Them, America, August 10, 2020 2. Catholics Have No Grounds to Claim Exemption from COVID Vaccine Mandates, co-authored by Tobias Winright, National Catholic Reporter, August 17, 2020

Dr. Jason Eberl, professor of health care ethics and philosophy and Director of the Albert Gnaegi Center for Health Care Ethics at St. Louis University, and NCBC Executive Vice President John Brehany join Joe Zalot to discuss differing Catholic perspectives on COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Eberl essays: 1. Vaccine Mandates are Coming. Catholics Have No Moral Reason to Oppose Them, America, August 10, 2020 2. Catholics Have No Grounds to Claim Exemption from COVID Vaccine Mandates, co-authored by Tobias Winright, National Catholic Reporter, August 17, 2020

Dr. Tara Sander Lee, Senior Fellow and Director of Life Science at the Charlotte Lozier Institute, and Tessa Longbons, Research Associate at CLI, discuss what chemical abortion is, how it is being promoted through telemedicine, and the numerous medical and ethical challenges it presents. Click here for the Charlotte Lozier Institute website. Charlotte Lozier Institute resources on chemical abortion: 1) “Deaths and Severe Adverse Effects After the use of Mifepristone as an Abortifacient – from September 2000 to February 2019” https://www.sba-list.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Deaths-and-Severe-Adverse-Events-after-the-use-of-Mifepristone-as-an-Abortifacient-from-September-2000-to-February-2019-copy5.pdf 2) “An Abundance of Neglect: FDA’s Suspension of Medical Management of Abortion Pills” https://www.sba-list.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/An-Abundance-of-Neglect_clean.pdf 3) “The Impact of Chemical Abortion by Mail” https://lozierinstitute.org/the-impact-of-chemical-abortion-by-mail/ Project Rachel websi

Nicole Shirilla, a palliative care physician, joins Bioethics on Air to discuss how assisted suicide has affected the medical profession as a whole, and her personally.

Dr. Joseph Meaney, NCBC President, joins Joe Zalot to clarify the Center’s position on COVID-19 vaccine mandates, distinguish between religious and conscience exemptions, and address the social divisions that mandates have caused. Note: This podcast was recorded on September 8th, one day before Joe Biden announced the federal vaccine mandate NCBC COVID-19 vaccine resources: 1. Points to Consider on COVID-19 Vaccines and Abortion Derived Cell Lines https://www.ncbcenter.org/ncbc-news/vaccinestatementupdated 2. NCBC Statement on COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates https://www.ncbcenter.org/ncbc-news/vaccinemandatestatement 3. Vaccine Exemption Template Letter https://www.ncbcenter.org/ncbc-news/vaccineletter 4. Vaccine Exemption Resource for Individuals https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e3ada1a6a2e8d6a131d1dcd/t/612e4c62b2bd077e0e85438d/1630424162425/NCBCVER.pdf

Brother Columba Thomas, OP joins Joe Zalot to discuss his new book, The Art of Dying: A New Annotated Translation, published by the NCBC. Br. Columba explains what the Ars moriendi is, the lessons it contains, and why this medieval writing holds great relevance for end-of-life care today. The Art of Dying: A New Annotated Translation, is available at the NCBC store: https://www.ncbcenter.org/store/3cq8wz6tcf0uz5fib31tq0yv18kb3s

Dr. David Prentice, Vice President and Research Director at the Charlotte Lozier Institute, joins Joe Zalot to offer a pro-life, scientific perspective on challenging, and controversial, questions concerning COVID-19 vaccines. https://lozierinstitute.org/ https://www.ncbcenter.org/