Press Release
#WebinarAPRA 2nd session
‘Bioethics, Death and Immortality in contemporary societies’
June 27, 2022 5.00-6.00 pm
Zoom simultaneous translations Italian-English
Rome, 17 June 2022 - The second
#WebinarAPRA “Bioethics, Death and Immortality in contemporary societies” will take place on
June 27th from 5.00 pm to 6.00 pm (Rome time) at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum.
The #WebinarAPRA series explores some of today's most interesting topics. This second sesssion is dedicated to the dignity of human persons in situations of extreme fragility.
The frailty of the sick or dying patient inspires in many family members and health care professionals compassionate charity. Yet, according to some visions of bioethics, human beings can lose their personal dignity in situations that inhibit their capacities for self-awareness, rational deliberation, or self-determination. American bioethicist Charles Camosy has explored some trends in the treatment of vulnerable patients in his latest book,
Losing Our Dignity: How Secularized Medicine is Undermining Fundamental Human Equality. In his work, the author addresses the view of influential bioethicists that “certain human beings who are deemed non-persons may be classified as mere objects and discarded or even killed without significant moral or legal concern.” Camosy will discuss how different visions of bioethics affect the treatment patients receive in the American medical system. He will also offer advice to those who wish to promote the fundamental dignity of every patient in environments that are not favorable to the notion. Next, the Italian bioethicist Stefano Semplici will share his insight into the role emergent technology plays in shaping hopes for a radical liberation from the vulnerabilities of illness, suffering, and death. Semplici will focus on the underlying anthropological visions that inform decisions about how to extend human life. Finally, Fr. Gonzalo Miranda will analyze how movements have successfully promoted euthanasia and assisted suicide as acceptable ways for patients to control the moment of their death. Miranda will discuss how authentic mercy can reverse trends to disregard human dignity in the name of compassion.
The webinar will assess how
contemporary bioethics interprets the reality of death and aspires to overcome
human limitations through
technological immortality.
Schedule as follows:
- Prof. Charles Camosy, “The care of vulnerable patients in the American health care system”
Charlie Camosy is Professor of Medical Humanities at the Creighton University School of Medicine. In addition, he holds the Monsignor Curran Fellowship in Moral Theology at St. Joseph Seminary in New York. Before that, Charlie spent 14 years in Fordham University’s theology department, where he taught since finishing his PhD in theology at Notre Dame in 2008. Among other places, his published articles have appeared in the
American Journal of Bioethics,
Journal of Medicine and Philosophy,
Journal of the Catholic Health Association,
New York Times,
Washington Post,
New York Daily News and
America magazine. He has monthly columns with
Religion News Service and
Angelus and does weekly interviews for
The Pillar. He is the author of six books, with two more on the way.
Peter Singer and Christian Ethics (Cambridge) was named a 2012 “best book” with ABC Religion and Ethics;
Beyond the Abortion Wars (Eerdmans), was a 2015 award-winner with the Catholic Media Association;
Resisting Throwaway Culture (New City) was named 2020 “Resource of the Year” by the Catholic Publishers Association. His most recent book, published in July 2021 (New City), is
Losing Our Dignity: How Secularized Medicine is Undermining Fundamental Human Equality. He is also the founding editor of a new book series with New City Press called
The Magenta Project. In addition to advising the Faith Outreach office of the Humane Society of the United States and the pro-life commission of the Archdiocese of New York, Camosy received the 2018 St. Jerome Award for scholarly excellence from the Catholic Library Association. He has four children, three of whom he and his wife Paulyn adopted from a Filipino orphanage in June of 2016.
- Prof. Stefano Semplici, “The quest for immortality: emerging technologies and anthropological issues”
Full Professor of Social Ethics at the "Tor Vergata" University of Rome, where also teaches Moral Philosophy and where he joined in 1986 after graduating and specializing in the Faculty of Literature and Philosophy and that of Education from the "La Sapienza" University, under the guidance of Marco Maria Olivetti and Valerio Verra respectively. Also, at "Tor Vergata", he is a member of the teaching staff of the PhD in Philosophy (jointly managed with the Roma Tre University) and of the "Center for the study and documentation of religions and political institutions in post-secular society". He is also President (since 2014) of the Bioethics Committee of the Italian Society of Pediatrics and Associate Editor of the journal «Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy» (since 2010). In addition to this, he is a member of the Governing Council of the "Enrico Castelli" Institute of Philosophical Studies (since 2008), of the Scientific Committee of the Center for General and Applied Ethics of the Borromeo College of Pavia (since 2007), of the Interuniversity Center for Studies on ethics of the Ca 'Foscari University of Venice (from the academic year 2009-2010) and of the editorial boards or scientific committees of the following journals and series: "Revista Brasileira de Bioetica", "Humanitas", "Hermeneutica", "Biolaw Journal-Rivista di Biodiritto", "Series of Moral Philosophy" (Life and Thought)," Notebooks of the LUMSA-Section Center for Bio-Juridical Studies"(Studium). He is also a member of the "Internationale Hegel-Vereinigung" (since 1990) and of the Center for Philosophical Studies of Gallarate (since 2001). I was president of the UNESCO International Bioethics Committee (which he joined in 2008) from 2011 to 2015, Editor (from 2007) and subsequently Coeditor (from 2015 to January 2017) of the magazine "Archivio di Filosofia / Archives of Philosophy". He was in charge of the educational and cultural programs (from 1995) and subsequently scientific director (from 2005 to 2016) of the University College of the Knights of Labor "Lamaro Pozzani". He was a member of the Scientific Committee of the "Nova Spes" Foundation (and subsequently of the magazine "Paradoxa") from 2006 to 2016. I was a member of the Steering Committee of the Center for Religious Sciences of the Bruno Kessler Foundation of Trento from 2012 to 2014. I belonged to the Board of Directors of the Italian Society of Moral Philosophy from 2013 to 2014. I was on the Executive Committee of the Philosophical Council from 2013 to 2016. Among the most recent publications: Il soggetto dell’ironia, Padova, Cedam, 2002; Bioetica. Le domande, i conflitti, le leggi, Brescia, Morcelliana, 2007; Undici tesi di bioetica, Brescia, Morcelliana, 2009; Un invito alla bioetica, Brescia, la Scuola, 2011; Costituzione inclusiva. Una sfida per la democrazia, Rubbettino, Soveria Mannelli, 2015.
- Fr. Gonzalo Miranda, L.C., “Movements in favour of euthanasia and assisted suicide”
Master’s Degree in Philosophy at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome; Doctorate in Moral Theology, at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum, with a thesis on the topic: “Euthanasia: two opposed anthropologies". He is currently Professor in the Faculty of Bioethics of the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum. Past Dean of the Faculty of Bioethics and Past Director of the Institute of Bioethics and Human Rights. Director of the journal «Studia Bioethica». Member of the Directive Council of FIBIP (International Federation of Centers and Institutes of Bioethics on the Personalist School). He has published 9 books and more than 100 articles on bioethical and moral issues. He has also given more than 480 lectures in more than 180 cities in 26 countries.
- Questions and Conclusions.
Simultaneous translation Italian/English
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89172865562
INFO: info.bioetica@upra.org Tel.: +39 06 91689848
PRESS CONTACTS:
Maria Selva Silvestri- Responsabile Comunicazione Istituzionale
comunicazione@upra.org
