Please take a moment to review the important issues raised by the So-Called Equal Rights Amendment Proposal One
Equal Rights Amendment – Be Informed
Psychedelics…as Medicine?
Dr. Carroll recently published a paper taking a deep dive into the issue of psychedelics being used for treatment of various conditions. Can a faithful Catholic use, or support the use of, these substances? Excellent question, check it out!
Empathy, AI, and Medicine
Dr. Carroll recently partnered with Dr. Selinger, a philosopher at RIT, to publish an Op-Ed discussing empathy, AI, and medical practice.
White Mass – Save the Date!
We are excited to announce that the Finger Lakes Guild White Mass will be held at Sacred Heart Cathedral on October 27th at 11:15am. More details come soon. We hope to see you there!
Terminal Anorexia
ANAD fears that this label could be used as a justification for providers to offer medical aid in dying and overlook the fact recovery remains possible even after decades of chronic illness.
This is a very reasonable/real concern. We need to remember that while it may not be true of all supporters of PAS, there are those who truly think at need to be facilitating the killing of people who are suffering…in ever-larger numbers.
If you or someone you know is suffering from an eating disorder, please seek help. ANDA has a helpline and treatment directory. It can also contact MyCatholicDoctor for help from Catholic therapists licensed in many States.
Life-Limiting Prenatal Diagnoses and Beauty
While it is sad that this study was initiated with what seems to be an unquestioned assumption that it is, unusual, to “continue pregnancy after a life-limiting prenatal diagnosis”…we are very happy to see this result:
While we might choose a term like, “integral beauty” (the beauty of life is not some accident but rather is integral to life itself)…it is wonderful that this qualitative study included as an outcome, “…feelings of gratitude towards life…”
Hopefully this will picked up on by these and other researchers in the future!
Annual Catholic Professionals Conference and Mini-Retreat
Transgender News from England – The Cass Review
The final report of the Cass Review (pdf)was recently submitted to NHS in England. This report provides an evaluation of the current state of the science with respect to so-called transgender medical and psychological interventions while also making various recommendations for current treatment protocols and future research.
A few Key Findings of note:
– “While a considerable amount of research has been published in this field, systematic evidence reviews demonstrated the poor quality of the published studies, meaning there is not a reliable evidence base upon which to make clinical decisions, or for children and their families to make informed choices.”
– “The rationale for early puberty suppression remains unclear, with weak evidence regarding the impact on gender dysphoria, mental or psychosocial health. The effect on cognitive and psychosexual development remains unknown.”
– “Clinicians are unable to determine with any certainty which children and young people will go on to have an enduring trans identity.”
The bottom line is that, as we recently highlighted, there are no good data to support so-called transgender medicine, no matter what anyone claims. Indeed, the excruciating suffering experienced by those who feel their body does not match their experienced gender is only exacerbated by those who claim otherwise.
We appreciate that the Cass Review takes a clear-eyed view of the data. However, it should also be noted that the Review, not surprisingly, does not go as far as we would like, leaving the door open for continued treatment aimed at suppressing and changing secondary sex characteristics of those suffering from gender dysphoria.
CA PAS Bill Dead
Great news from California!
VSED…in the real world…
The topic of Voluntary Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED) has been discussed in the medical world for a number of years. It is generally touted as a “natural” and/or “legal” way by which one can purposefully end one’s live without resorting to Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS)* or Euthanasia.
This came up recently at Strong Hospital while I was on the inpatient palliative care service. Ultimately, the questions that arose include:
1. What is the medical team’s responsibility to patients who are undertaking (or planning to undertake) VSED?
2. Should we treat hunger/thirst with opioids/benzos, or with offering food/water?
3. Can a patient use an advance directive document (e.g., living will) to direct that, when he becomes confused and asks for food/water that this be withheld and he be treated with opioids/benzos (or even sedation)?
4. Can a health care proxy enforce a patient’s explicitly-stated wish for VSED if the patient is asking for food/water.
These questions, and others, will be the topic of a panel discussion, which I will be part of, at Strong Hospital on April 17. See Upcoming Events for more info.
See also a related recent post and an article in the Linacre Quarterly by Dr. Cavanagh
– Tom Carroll
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* Often now referred to as Medical Aid in Dying (MAID)