Bioethics on Air

Joseph Meaney, NCBC Senior Fellow, joins Joe Zalot to discuss the challenges of obtaining accurate abortion statistics in the United States. Joseph speaks to how abortion statistics are currently obtained, who compiles them, and how chemical abortion (abortion pill) has clouded the overall picture. He also discusses how informed consent is often absent from a woman’s decision to abort. Resources 1...

Louis Brown, Executive Director of the Christ Medicus Foundation, joins Joe Zalot to discuss the unprecedented challenges that Catholic health care faced under the Biden administration, and what we can expect under the Trump 2. In part two of the interview, Louis discusses gender ideology and conscience protection for health care professionals, contrasting how these issues were dealt with very dif...

Louis Brown, Executive Director of the Christ Medicus Foundation, joins Joe Zalot to discuss the unprecedented challenges that Catholic health care faced under the Biden administration, and what we can expect under Trump 2. In part one of the interview, Louis discusses his work at the Christ Medicus Foundation and at the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office for Civil Rights during...

Andrew Kubick, author of Transplanting the Womb: A Catholic Bioethical Analysis, joins Joe Zalot to discuss the realities of uterine transplants. In part one of the interview, Andrew speaks to his work at the Religious Freedom Institute, tells why he wrote the book, and explains the process of uterine transplantation focusing on its medical and ethical implications. Resources 1. Andrew Kubick bio...

Andrew Kubick, author of Transplanting the Womb: A Catholic Bioethical Analysis, joins Joe Zalot to discuss the realities of uterine transplants. In part two of the interview, Andrew addresses the implications of uterine transplants for childbearing, organ donation, and so-called gender transitioning. Resources 1. Andrew Kubick bio – https://www.ncbcenter.org/meet-the-ethicists/andrewkubick 2. Rel...

Alex Schadenberg, Executive Director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC), joins Joe Zalot to discuss euthanasia in Canada. In part two of his interview, Alex discusses conscience protection (or lack thereof) for health care professionals and institutions in Canada. He then explains how eligibility for euthanasia and assisted suicide has expanded in Canada and, drawing upon real stories, w...

Alex Schadenberg, Executive Director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC), joins Joe Zalot to discuss euthanasia in Canada. In the first of two interviews, Alex addresses the process of how euthanasia was legalized in Canada, the arguments proponents use to justify it, and how the practice has become entrenched in Canadian culture. Resources: 1. Euthanasia Prevention Coalition – https://ep...

Pharmacists Angela Baalmann and Nicole Allcock join Joe Zalot to discuss the newly formed Catholic Pharmacy Association. They address why the association was formed, its mission and vision, and the support it offers for pharmacists who seek to practice in accord with their faith. Resources 1. Catholic Pharmacy Association – https://www.catholicpharmacy.org/ 2. Angela Baalman info - https://www.lin...

Dr. Tim Millea, an orthopedic surgeon (retired) and Chair of the Catholic Medical Association’s (CMA) Health Care Policy subcommittee, joins Joe Zalot to discuss important ethical challenges facing Catholic health care in the United States, and the work of the CMA in addressing them. In part two of the interview, Tim addresses chemical abortion, transgenderism, brain death, assisted suicide, and t...

Dr. Tim Millea, an orthopedic surgeon (retired) and Chair of the Catholic Medical Association’s (CMA) Health Care Policy subcommittee, joins Joe Zalot to discuss important ethical challenges facing Catholic health care in the United States, and the work of the CMA in addressing them. In part one of this interview, Tim discusses his work in health care policy and addresses issues concerning abortio...

Neurologist Christopher DeCock, MD, rejoins Joe Zalot to discuss the latest news on brain death. They discuss (a) the impact of the Uniform Law Commission placing on hold revision of the Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA), (b) the American Academy of Neurology’s (AAN) new and problematic guidelines for determining brain death, and (c) informed consent concerns arising with normothermic regi...

Neurologist Christopher DeCock, MD, rejoins Joe Zalot to update listeners on efforts to redefine death by revising the Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA). He also discusses important medical and ethical concerns with normothermic regional perfusion (start at 36:25). Resources 1. Dr. Christopher DeCock info – https://www.essentiahealth.org/find-doctor-provider/profile/christopher-decock/ 2....

Fr. Tad Pacholczyk joins Joe Zalot to update listeners on the state of—and ethical implications of—contemporary issues in biomedical research. Topics include stem cell research, 3-parent embryos, and synthetic embryos. Resources 1. Fr. Tad bio – https://www.ncbcenter.org/meet-the-ethicists/fathertad 2. Fr. Tad website – https://www.fathertad.com/ 3. Fr. Tad’s “Making Sense of Bioethics” columns –...

Karen O’Brien, MD, a member of the Lourdes Medical Bureau/International, joins Joe Zalot to discuss the process of determining the medical “inexplicability” of healings at Lourdes. Karen and Joe also announce a pilgrimage to Lourdes & Paris that they will lead in April 2024. Resources: 1. Karen O’Brien brief bio – https://www.massgeneral.org/doctors/16581/karen-o-brien 2. “Talking of Palliative Ca...

In part 2 of his interview, John Di Camillo explains the rationale and purpose for the NCBC Consultations Department’s new Fellows and Interns program. He explains how one can become a fellow or intern as well as his goals for the program moving forward. Resources: 1. John Di Camillo brief bio – https://www.ncbcenter.org/meet-the-ethicists/johndicamillo 2. NCBC Personal Consultations Fellows and I...

In the first of a two-part interview, NCBC ethicist John Di Camillo joins Joe Zalot to discuss the NCBC’s ethics consultation service as well as his first year serving as Director of the Center’s Personal Consultations Department. Resources: 1. John Di Camillo brief bio – https://www.ncbcenter.org/meet-the-ethicists/johndicamillo 2. About the Personal Consultations Department – www.ncbcenter.org/a...

In the second half of her interview, Dr. Monique Ruberu discusses her work with the Abortion-Pill Reversal Network and 40 Days for Life. Resources: 1. Monique Ruberu bio – https://drruberu4life.com/ 2. Abortion Pill Reversal – https://www.abortionpillreversal.com/ or 1-877-558-0333 3. 40 Days for Life – https://www.40daysforlife.com/en/ 4. ThriVe Woman’s Telehealth – https://thrivestlouis.org/ If...

Dr. Monique Ruberu, OB/GYN joins Joe Zalot to discuss the claim that abortion is health care, pro-life interventions for pregnancy complications, and the true impact of abortion on her patients. Resource: Monique Ruberu bio – https://drruberu4life.com/ If you enjoy our podcasts, please consider making a donation to the NCBC at https://www.ncbcenter.org/donate

Attorney and law professor Elizabeth Kirk joins Joe Zalot to discuss recent (April 2023) federal court cases dealing with the chemical abortion drug mifepristone. Resources 1. Elizabeth Kirk brief bio – m https://www.law.edu/about-us/faculty-and-staff/directory/expert-faculty/kirk-elizabeth/index.html 2. Alliance Defending Freedom case page – https://adflegal.org/article/clinton-era-fda-action-kee...

Attorney Jonathan Berry returns to Bioethics on Air to discuss Strader v. CVS, the case of a health care professional fired for refusing to prescribe contraceptive and abortifacient drugs. Resources 1. Jonathan Berry bio – https://boydengrayassociates.com/our-team/jonathan-berry/ 2. First Liberty Case Page, Robyn Strader – https://firstliberty.org/cases/robyn-strader/ 3. Complaint: Strader v. CVS...

NCBC ethicists Dr. Ted Furton and Dr. John Brehany join Joe Zalot to discuss the USCCB Doctrine Committee’s “Doctrinal Note on the Moral Limits to Technological Manipulation of the Human Body” and the impact it can have on Catholic health care. Resources 1. USCCB Committee on Doctrine, “Doctrinal Note on the Moral Limits to Technological Manipulation of the Human Body” – https://www.usccb.org/reso...

Neurologist Christopher DeCock, MD, joins Joe Zalot to discuss how proposed changes to the Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA) could change the legal definition of brain death. Resources 1. Dr. Christopher DeCock info – https://www.essentiahealth.org/find-doctor-provider/profile/christopher-decock/ 2. Uniform Determination of Death Act – https://higherlogicdownload.s3-external-1.amazonaws.co...

Dr. John Haas, NCBC President Emeritus, and Dr. Joseph Meaney, current NCBC President, join Joe Zalot to commemorate the Center’s accomplishments over its first fifty years and chart its course for the future. Resources 1. Dr. John Haas brief bio – https://www.ncbcenter.org/meet-the-ethicists/johnhaas 2. Dr. Joseph Meaney brief bio – https://www.ncbcenter.org/meet-the-ethicists/joseph-meaney-phd 3...

Dr. John Brehany, NCBC Director of Institutional Relations, joins Joe Zalot to discuss possible consequences of the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) revised messaging that Plan B is not an abortifacient. Resources 1. Dr. John Brehany brief bio – https://www.ncbcenter.org/meet-the-ethicists/johnbrehany 2. FDA, Plan B One Step Information – https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-inf...

Dr. John Brehany, NCBC Director of Institutional Relations, joins Joe Zalot to discuss the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) revised messaging that Plan B is not an abortifacient. Resources 1. Dr. John Brehany brief bio – https://www.ncbcenter.org/meet-the-ethicists/johnbrehany 2. FDA, Plan B One Step Information – https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-pro...