Bioethical Issues Probed At Indiana University Events

INDIANAPOLIS - As scientists apply what they learn from the mapping of the human genome, they, along with all of society, must grapple with a vast and largely undiscovered world of bioethical issues, ranging from embryonic research and stem cell therapies, to human cloning and end-of-life care.

"The impact of genetics on daily life will be profound to be sure, and advances in science and technology always raise important ethical, social, legal and political issues," notes Eric M. Meslin, Ph.D., director of the Indiana University Center for Bioethics and professor of medicine at the IU School of Medicine.

This and many other related topics will be the focus of Bioethics Today: Discourse and Dialogue, a series of presentations in October on the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and IU-Bloomington campuses.

On Oct. 5, Henry T. Greely, J.D., co-director of the Stanford University Program in Genomics, Ethics and Society, will speak about the issues surrounding the human cloning debate at the VanNuys Medical Science Building at the IU School of Medicine.

On Oct. 9, Dr. Meslin will be the featured speaker at the first session of the IU School of Medicine's Mini Medical School, a twice-yearly series of public lectures by IU clinicians and researchers. He will discuss the evolving role of patients in human research, the ethical responsibilities of clinicians and researchers and the public and private funding of human stem cell research.

The IU Center for Bioethics plays a critical role in the Indiana Genomics Initiative, a comprehensive IU biomedical endeavor established in December 2000 with a $105 million grant from the Lilly Endowment.

On Oct. 16, the co-director of Yale University's Interdisciplinary Bioethics Project will discuss recent controversies and the emergence of new international standards in research ethics. Robert J. Levine, M.D., professor of medicine at Yale University School of Medicine, is the keynote speaker at Mini Medical School, a joint lecture with the IU School of Law at IUPUI. The law school is co-hosting Dr. Levine as the McDonald-Merrill-Ketcham Memorial Lecturer with the IU School of Medicine.

Earlier that day, Dr. Levine will be the keynote presenter at a medical ethics and humanities seminar, sponsored by IUPUI's School of Liberal Arts. He will discuss the current crisis in the credibility of protecting human research subjects.

Other events planned for the Bioethics Today program:

Oct. 8 Dr. Meslin will address the faculty and students of the IU schools of medicine, dentistry, law, nursing and liberal arts, followed by a reception for Dr. Meslin at the VanNuys Medical Science Building at the IU School of Medicine.

Oct. 11 The Rev. James Stender, a Vancouver, Wash., pastor, will address students, faculty and others attending the student-organized "Ethics at Lunch," a program he founded at the IU School of Medicine nearly 20 years ago.

Dr. Meslin will address faculty and students, followed by a reception hosted by IU's Poynter Center for the Study of Ethics and American Institutions at the IU School of Law in Bloomington.

Oct. 17 Dr. Levine, Department of Medicine Grand Rounds, Myers Auditorium, Wishard Hospital on the IUPUI campus.
For more information about these and other related events, contact the IU School of Medicine's Office of Public and Media Relations at (317) 274-7722.

###

Media Contact: Joe Stuteville
Tel: (317)274-7722
Email: jstutevi@iupui.edu

INDIANA UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

MEDIA
RELATIONS

A STATEWIDE
RESOURCE

Phone
317 274 7722

Fax
317 278 8722