Philosophy@Western

The Spark of Conscience Inflames Debate: Conflicts of Conscience in Medicine

CIHR Cafe Scientifique (see http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/34951.html)

Conscientious refusal by health care professionals to provide health care services, such as abortions, is a subject of intense debate in Canada and elsewhere. Recent discussion in Canada reveals that the Canadian Medical Association lacks a coherent policy on this issue. What should the CMA policy on conscientious refusal be? Should it protect to physicians who conscientiously object to standard health care services? If so, what kind or what degree of protection should it offer? Come to discuss these and related questions.   

Date and time: Nov. 16, 2010--7:00PM

Place: Covent Garden Market, 130 King St., London, Ontario (please enter at the south side of the Market)

Panelists: Prof. Jocelyn Downie, Canada Research Chair, Faculties of Law and Medicine, Dalhousie University; Dr. Robyn MacQuarrie, PhD Candidate (Bioethics), 5th Year Resident (Ob/Gyn), Dalhousie University; Rev. Michael Prieur, Professor of Moral and Sacramental Theology, St. Peter's Seminary.

Moderator: Prof. Carolyn McLeod, Department of Philosophy, The University of Western Ontario

Rawls Reading Group

Hello all!

A few of us MA students have decided to form a reading group for the purpose of tackling Rawls' famous A Theory of Justice. Our first meeting will be this Thursday, October 1 at 2:30 pm in the Grad Club. We will be discussing his first chapter (to p. 46).

All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

If you'd like more information, please feel free to email Mallorie Malone at [email protected].

PGSA 2009 - 2010

Hello to all!

On September 16, the PGSA met to discuss new appointments for committees and positions in the association for 2009 - 2010. I am pleased to announce the results:

• Co-Presidents: O'Neal Morew-Buchanan and Patrick Clipsham
• Secretary: Mallorie Malone
• Women's Concerns: Olivia Smithies and Stephane Savoie
• GPAC: Lee-Anna Sangster, Mallorie Malone (Alternate: Dario Cankovic)
• GTA: James Southworth and Rodney Parker
• Mailing List: Emerson Doyle
• Social Comittee: Lori Kantymir and Molly Kao
• SOGS: Mallorie Malone, Rebecca MacIntosh and Nicholas McGinnis (Alternates: Dario Cankovic and Katy Fulfer-Smith)
• Webmaster: O'Neal Morew-Buchanan
• Welcoming Committee: Molly Kao and Aviva Shiller
• Moving Committee: Lee-Anna Sangster and Ariella Binik
• Colloquium Organizers: Emerson Doyle, Lori Kantymir and Lucien Lamoureux

The minutes from that meeting have been emailed to all graduate students, but if you have any questions/comments/concerns, please feel free to contact me [Mallorie Malone] at [email protected].

Here's to a fun and philosophical year!