November 12, 2008

Guest: Jennifer Miller, Executive Director of Bioethics International
Featured Saint of the Day: St. Josaphat

Today Deacon Rick and Jenny spoke again with Jennifer Miller, the Executive Director of Bioethics International. Bioethics International is a non-profit organization geared toward empowering responsible health care through helping them delve into the Ethics of Health Care.

Jennifer shared some exciting news about Bioethics International today. Bioethics International has been asked to design a training program for a major pharmaceutical company that employs over 80,000 people. They will stick to the framework they already have in place and gear it toward the questions in the pharmaceutical realm. Bioethics International uses six points to guide trainees toward making decisions that are person-centered and for the common good of humanity.

Jennifer also spoke about the necessity to build their training on a consensus as well as common language. Once they are all on the same page, then they can better walk together toward discovering what is most beneficial for the individual and humanity.

She gave us an example of a Diabetic. Seven percent of the population is diabetic and of that seven percent, seventeen percent of them require an amputation, usually foot-related. In her example a woman was prescribed an amputation by a doctor. The woman, became hysterical and refused the amputation. The doctor backed down by reason of respecting her wishes. If the doctor had dug a little deeper into why she had become hysterical, he would have discovered a lot of fears within this woman. She was afraid of being a burden to her family, of being alone, that she wouldn't be able to keep her job as well as other issues. With Bioethic training, the doctor would have been able to delve into those fears and help the woman come to grips with the amputation.

For more information you can go to the Bioethics International Website:
www.bioethicsinternational.org