Medicine as a Moral Practice with Farr Curlin

What does it mean to practice medicine? This opening address sets the stage for our three days together by exploring the moral dimensions inherent in the clinical encounter. Medicine is not merely applied biology; it is a practice oriented toward human flourishing, grounded in particular understandings of what human beings are and what they need.

What does it mean to practice medicine? This opening address sets the stage for our three days together by exploring the moral dimensions inherent in the clinical encounter. Medicine is not merely applied biology; it is a practice oriented toward human flourishing, grounded in particular understandings of what human beings are and what they need.

An opportunity to meet your fellow participants and faculty in a relaxed setting as we begin this journey together.

Introduction to Natural Law with Jeremy Bannon

Can moral principles be discovered, or are they merely constructed? This session introduces natural law theory—the philosophical tradition that holds that moral truths are grounded in human nature itself and can be known through reason. Understanding this framework is essential for grasping why medicine has intrinsic boundaries.

Philosophy of the Human Person with Benjamin Frush

Who is the patient before you? This session explores competing visions of the human person and their implications for medical practice. Are we merely autonomous individuals, or are we embodied beings who exist in relationships of mutual dependence? The answer shapes everything from informed consent to end-of-life care.

Human Value and the Kingdom of Ends with Ewan Goligher

What gives human beings their dignity? This session examines different philosophical accounts of human value and their implications for practices like assisted reproduction, genetic selection, and enhancement technologies. We’ll explore Kant’s principle that persons should always be treated as ends in themselves, never merely as means.

A History of the Hippocratic Tradition of Medicine with Nathan Gamble

The Hippocratic Oath has shaped medicine for over two millennia. But what does it actually say, and why did physicians historically swear never to give poison or assist in suicide? This session traces the development of medical ethics through history and asks what we risk losing when we abandon this tradition.

Patient Autonomy and the Pursuit of the Good with Quentin Genuis

Contemporary medical ethics often treats patient autonomy as the supreme principle. But is medicine simply about facilitating whatever patients request? This session examines the proper relationship between physician judgment, patient autonomy, and the objective goods that medicine pursues.

Work through real clinical scenarios involving conflicts between physician conscience and patient requests. How do we honor patient autonomy while maintaining professional integrity? What do we do when institutional policies require participation in practices we believe are harmful?

Navigating Postmodern Challenges in Gender and Identity with Nathan Gamble

Contemporary debates about gender identity and medical interventions challenge basic assumptions about the body, the person, and the goals of medicine. This session provides philosophical clarity on these questions and practical guidance for navigating them in clinical practice.

The Character of the Doctor-Patient Relationship with Farr Curlin

What makes the doctor-patient relationship different from other professional relationships? This address explores the covenantal nature of medical practice and the virtues required to sustain trust over time.

Understanding and Applying the Principle of Double Effect with Jeremy Bannon

When is it permissible to administer treatment that may hasten death? How do we distinguish between killing and allowing to die? The principle of double effect provides crucial guidance for navigating morally complex situations in palliative care and beyond.

Just because we can provide a treatment doesn’t mean we should—but how do we determine when treatment is medically futile or ethically inappropriate? Work through cases involving ICU care, aggressive interventions in terminal illness, and the difficult conversations these situations require.

Flourishing, Suffering, and Grace with Benjamin Frush

How we approach death shapes how we practice medicine throughout life. This session examines what it means to die well, the role of suffering in human life, and how medicine can help patients face death with dignity—not by hastening it, but by providing genuine comfort and accompaniment.

Medicine and Moral Dilemmas Before Birth with Anastasia Zello

When does human life begin, and what follows from that answer? This session addresses prenatal diagnosis, selective termination, and the care of medically fragile newborns—examining how our understanding of the human person shapes our approach to the beginning of life.

Issues in End-of-Life Care with Ewan Goligher

The language of “death with dignity” has become ubiquitous, but what does dignity actually mean? This session examines the expansion of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, exploring why many physicians believe these practices fundamentally contradict medicine’s healing purpose.

Pandemics and public health crises raise urgent questions about triage, resource allocation, and the limits of state authority. How do we balance individual rights and collective welfare? What moral principles should guide decisions when resources are scarce?

A Moral Approach to Addiction Care with Quentin Genuis

Addiction is often framed as a purely biological disease or a matter of personal choice. But the truth is more complex. This session offers a richer understanding of addiction that honors both human agency and the powerful forces that constrain it, with implications for how we care for patients struggling with substance use.