From: "Ulrich Arnswald" <Ulrich.Arnswald-AT-urz.uni-heidelberg.de>
Date:          Sat, 10 Apr 1999 15:48:32 MET-1MEST
Subject:       Lecture Announcement and Invitation



ANNOUNCEMENT AND INVITATION


Lecture: "Can the medical profession refuse the patient technically
         possible support on the basis of ethical grounds?" by
         Hans-Martin Sass, Georgetown University, Washington D.C.
         
Venue:  German-American Institute (Deutsch-Amerikanisches Institut),  
        Sofienstrasse 12, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany

Date:   April 20, 1999

Time:   8 p.m.


Can the medical profession refuse the patient technically possible 
support on the basis of ethical grounds?

The possibilities of modern technology raises the question of whether 
we (ethically) can do everything that is (technically) possible. This 
question must be confronted by professional and individual ethics, as 
well as by society, culture, and politics. This question concerning 
the boundaries for the use of technology is especially raised when 
one can doubt whether medical intervention can be used for the 
patient's benefit or harm. However, who defines "benefit" and "harm" 
in a responsible society? And, what are the ethical criteria for 
"acting" or "not acting" that modern medicine should take as a guide?

The lecture is organised by The European Institute for International 
Affairs and is sponsored by the Heinrich Boell-Stiftung Baden-
Wuerttemberg.

Hans-Martin Sass, born in 1935, is Senior Research Scholar and 
Director of the European Prgramme in Professional Ethics, Kennedy 
Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University, Washington D.C. and 
Adjunct Professor, Division of Health and Humanities, Department 
of Community and Family Medicine, Georgetown University School of 
Medicine. Furthermore he is Professor of Philosophy, Ruhr-University 
Bochum (Germany) as well as Director of the Center for Medical Ethics 
of the Ruhr-University. He is author of over 40 books and over 200 
articles in history of philosophy, moral and political theory, 
medical and clinical ethics.


Inquiries

Expressions of interest, questions and request for further 
information may be directed to Ulrich Arnswald 
(Ulrich.Arnswald-AT-urz.uni-heidelberg.de).