Confronting the Ethics of Pandemic Influenza: The 2008 Summit of the States
The Indiana State Department of Health, the Indiana University Center for Bioethics and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) will convene a national summit on the ethical and policy issues of preparing for an influenza pandemic. "Confronting the Ethics of Pandemic Influenza Planning: The 2008 Summit of the States" (July 14 – 15) will include key government, public health, policy, law, and ethics leaders. Commenting on the purpose and value of the event, Eric Meslin, Director of the Center for Bioethics, observed:
"We know that there are several key issues that all states must address in one way or another – from how to distribute potentially scarce medical supplies to priority decisions about availability of equipment, intensive care beds and methods to slow the spread of disease – that should be identified and addressed before an adverse event would limit the time available to make ethical decisions .... This summit is designed to help state officials identify these issues and determine how best to tackle them. We hope that by meeting together, these leaders will learn from one another and develop joint strategies" (Press Release, 2 July 2008).
To learn more about the ethical issues, visit IUCB's Pandemic Influenza Portal.
Eric M. Meslin Awarded the Chevalier.
On April 23, 2008 IUCB Director, Eric M. Meslin, Ph.D. was awarded the Chevalier de l‘Ordre National du Mérite [Knight of the National Order of Merit] by the French Government. The insignia was presented at the French Embassy in Washington D.C. by the French Ambassador to the United States, Pierre Vimont (see photo). The Chevalier is an Order of Chivalry by the President of French Republic, founded on December 3, 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle and is given for distinguished civil and military achievements. Dr. Meslin was made a Chevalier for his contributions to bioethics policy in France over the past 10 years.
Secretary-General of the WMA speaks at the IU Center for Bioethics - February 26, 2008:
In an event hosted by the Center, Dr. Kloiber (right) addressed a number of critical ethical and policy issues in international health and health research, including the next revisions to the Declaration of Helsinki. Prior to speaking to a full auditorium, Dr. Kloiber spoke informally with Eric Meslin (left) and other Center for Bioethics faculty and affiliates.
Margaret Gaffney Nominated for Ethics Award.
The Center congratulates Margaret Gaffney, MD, who was among the nominees named by students at the Indiana University School of Medicine for the 2008 AAMC Humanism in Medicine Award. This honor recognizes faculty members who embody "the importance of humanistic qualities and the enhancement of the interactions between medical school students and faculty .... Read more at Indiana Bioethics Blog
