Ethics meetings & conferences

2012 Physician Assistant Education Association Annual Education Forum

November 7-11, 2012 Seattle, Washington

American Society of Human Genetics 62nd Annual Meeting

Tuesday, November 6 through Saturday, November 10, 2012 San Francisco, California

The world's top scientists and clinicians in the human genetics field will gather to present their latest research findings at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG), which will be held on November 6-10, 2012, in San Francisco, CA (http://www.ashg.org/2012meeting). ASHG is the primary professional membership organization for human genetics specialists worldwide, representing nearly 8,000 researchers, academicians, clinicians, genetic counselors, nurses, and others with a special interest in this area (http://www.ashg.org).

The ASHG Annual Meeting continues to be the largest human genetics meeting in the world, attracting more than 7,000 scientific participants each year. The ASHG 2012 Meeting will provide attendees with the latest information about cutting-edge developments in human genetics and genomics research. In addition, nearly 250 U.S. and international exhibitors at this year's ASHG Exhibitor Trade Show will offer an unprecedented opportunity to view the latest advances in genetics-related products and services derived, in part, from work presented at previous ASHG meetings.

Topics to be addressed in the scientific program for the ASHG 2012 Meeting will include: gene discovery in human genetics; new insights and challenges from next generation sequencing; advances in medical genetics and translation/applications in clinical care; progress in gene therapy; personalized medicine; cancer genetics; advances in non-invasive prenatal diagnosis; revelations about human alleles from studies of model organisms; implications of population genetic studies; modeling in statistical genetics; data centralization and its implications for our field; ethical, legal and social implications of genomics; changes in genetics education; and much more.

For more information about the ASHG 2012 Annual Meeting, or to register and/or submit an abstract for presentation at this year’s meeting, please go to: http://www.ashg.org/2012meeting.

International Neuroethics Society 2012 Annual Meeting

The International Neuroethics Society is pleased to announce that the 2012 Annual Meeting will take place on October 11 and 12 in New Orleans as a satellite of the Society for Neuroscience meeting.

The International Neuroethics Society is an interdisciplinary group of scholars, scientists, clinicians and other professionals who share an interest in the social, legal, ethical and policy implications of advances in neuroscience. Our mission is to promote the development and responsible application of neuroscience through interdisciplinary and international research, education, outreach and public engagement for the benefit of people of all nations, ethnicities, and cultures.

First International Congress--Narrative Medicine and Rare Diseases

The First International Congress "Narrative medicine and rare diseases" will be held on 4 June 2012, at the Italian National Institute of Health (Aula Pocchiari, Viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, Italy). The Congress aims (i) to promote narrative medicine applied to rare diseases among health practitioners and patients, (ii) to stimulate new theoretical approaches and practical applications, at international level.

The Italian National Centre for Rare Diseases of the Italian National Institute of Health has organised the Italian national
congress "Narrative medicine and rare diseases" annually since 2009.

Rare diseases, defined by their low prevalence, can be acute, severe, chronic and disabling conditions. They may be difficult
to diagnose and with few specific therapeutic treatments.

Narrative medicine aims to build a bridge between the clinical knowledge of health care practitioners and the patient’s subjective experience.

This year, the Italian National Centre for Rare Diseases of the Italian National Institute of Health is organising the First International Congress "Narrative medicine and rare diseases".

The official language will be English (simultaneous translation service English/Italian will be available).
Travel and accommodation expenses will be born by the participants.

For additional information, clarifications, or questions, please contact the Scientific Secretariat, at medicina.narrativa@iss.it.  

Istituto Superiore di Sanità
Via Giano della Bella, 34
00161 - Roma (I)
Phone: 06 4990 4017
Fax: 06 4990 4370
taruscio@iss.it

Symposium: Bioethics and Regenerative Medicine

Centre for Applied Philosophy, Politics & Ethics and School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, with the support of Brighton & Sussex Medical School and LABTEC

Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 July 2012: Brighton, United Kingdom

In the last few decades R&D in the biomedical field has been providing therapeutic solutions to a number of clinical applications. In addition to the treatment of diseases triggered by genetic factors, traumatic conditions and serendipity /idiosyncratic causes, many biomedical technologies are applied to the treatment of pathologies related to ageing and lifestyle. Bioethical issues thus need to be discussed not only in the context of the impact of technology on the moral status of biological material and donors/recipients, but also on the basis of its role in the context of saving and/or improving the quality of life: that is to say, in the context of human dignity.

Aim

The aim of the workshop is to analyse bioethical issues in the field of tissue/organ replacement or regeneration -- i.e. regenerative medicine -- where clinical treatments involve the use of medical devices, artificial materials and stem cells (in relation only to cells harvested from adult donors, not from embryos).

Format

A two-day workshop bringing together colleagues in regenerative medicine and in medical- and bioethics for sustained discussion of these and related issues.

Issues

1. Should technology be assessed from a bioethical point of view as something quite separate from biology and its evolution? Or should it rather be framed within the realm of natural processes and their selection mechanisms? Will these two different starting-points lead to different answers to bioethical questions?

2. What is the impact that the perception (or fear) of death and ageing has on individual bioethical views?

3. We all regard quality of life as important. Do the concepts of human integrity and full biological capacity coincide and/or overlap? What is the role of psychological perception in this discourse? Does it make any difference if psychology is itself considered as a ‘product’ of biological evolution?

4. How is bodily integrity to be understood? Is my integrity threatened if an artificial material and/or a donor’s cells are implanted in my body?

5. What are the relations between human dignity and bodily integrity?

6. How might bioethical views change under the pressure of new technologies?

Why We Can’t Wait: Conference to Eliminate Health Disparities in Genomic Medicine

May 31 - June 1, 2012 Miami, Florida

Genetic advances hold extreme promise, but also the potential to further increase health disparities. Now is the time to address this. Join a forum of stakeholders to learn, identify, and discuss many of the challenges and possible solutions for addressing health disparities in genomic medicine.

Who should attend:

Physicians, researchers, ethicists, allied health professionals (i.e., nurses, psychologists, etc.), public health specialists, and members of the community.

Conference goals and objectives:

Educational Goals
o Understand the role genomics plays in health disparities
o Understand the impact of genomic medicine disparities on current disease management
o Appreciate the role genetic research could play in remedying health disparities.
o Anticipate future challenges in integrating genomic medicine in all populations
o Create a forum for stakeholders to identify and generate plausible solutions for health disparities in genomic medicine

Overall Learning Objectives
Specific talks will accomplish these from varying ethnic and disease perspectives.
o Define the role of genomic medicine in healthcare
o Identify current disparities in healthcare related to genetics and genomic medicine
o Predict the disparities that may emerge with the integration of genomic medicine, including sequencing
o Recognize the importance of genomic research and minority participation in such research
o Cite the gaps in translation due to lack of participation in genomic medicine research
o Analyze and implement methods to overcome barriers to research participation in their community
o Anticipate the resources needed to appropriately integrate genomic medicine into clinical practice so that all persons benefit.

For more information or to register, please visit: http://geneticsawareness.org/2012conference

To contact the Planning Committee, please email: HIHGGAPCONF@med.miami.edu

4th International Conference on Neuropathic Pain

May 23-26, 2013 Toronto, Canada

This congress will unite basic scientists, clinical scientists, and practical clinicians in the field of neuropathic pain. A rich scientific program will provide the most up to date information in the field based on the premise that a deep understanding of the issues can improve patient care.

Topics

I Basic science (animals)

Ia. Animal models
Ib. Systems
Ic. Cellular/molecular
Id. Genetics
Ie. Glia / immune
If. Other

II Basic science (human)

IIa. Human models
IIb. Systems
IIc. Cellular/molecular
IId. Genetics
IIe. Glia / immune
IIf. Other
IIg. Imaging

III Clinical

IIIa. Diagnosis / assessment
IIIb. Peripheral neuropathic pain
IIIc. Central neuropathic pain
IIId. Pharmacotherapy
IIIe. Invasive therapies
IIIf. Other treatments
IIIg. Psychosocial aspects
IIIh. Neuropathic pain in cancer patients
IIIi. Genetics
IIIj. Epidemiology
IIIk. Pain services, health care system
IIIl. Education, ethics, economics, law
IIIm. Possible neuropathic pains
IIIn. Evidence

Kenes International
1-3 Rue de Chantepoulet
PO Box 1726, CH-1211
Geneva 1, Switzerland
Tel: + 41 22 908 0488
Fax: + 41 22 906 9140
E-mail: neuropathic@kenes.com

2012 Claremont International Jain Conference: Bioethics: Religious and Spiritual Approaches

Cosponsored by Claremont Lincoln University, the International School for Jain Studies, Jain Center of Southern California, and the Federation of Jain Associations in North America (JAINA)

Bioethics: Religious and Spiritual Approaches

August 24-25, 2012 Claremont, California

The rapid growth of the medical sciences and of medical technologies has given doctors the ability to diagnose and to cure as never before. At the same time, these breakthroughs raise perplexing ethical questions: when does life begin, and when does it end? When is the quality of life so compromised that doctors should cease further interventions? What is informed consent? What constraints should apply to research on human subjects? And, above all, how can the sanctity of life be preserved? This conference will bring the resources of Jainism (see note below), of the dharma traditions of India, and of the world’s religious and spiritual traditions in general to bear on the most difficult bioethical questions of our day.

Conference Details

Plenary sessions take place in Mudd Auditorium, Claremont Lincoln University, 1325 N. College Ave., Claremont, CA 91711. There is an inexpensive registration fee and a discount for students.Early registration at a reduced rate will close on July 15th.

The conference hotel is the Claremont DoubleTree, 555 W. Foothill Blvd. in Claremont; (909) 626-2411. Other accommodations can be found at Hotel Claremont (909) 621-4831. Claremont is 15 minutes from the Ontario International Airport.

Note on Jainism:

Jainism is one of the oldest religions originating from India. At the very heart of Jainism is the ethic of non-violence, Ahimsa , which means ‘Respect for all living beings.’ Ahimsa continues to guide the daily lives of all Jains, who are vegetarians, and practice ecology and conservation. Out of 14 million Jains in the world, 125,000 are settled in North America. The other two tenets of Jainsim are non-absolutism, which means that real truth has multiple facets, and non-possessiveness, which means that one should balance one’s needs and desires. JAINA is the umbrella organization of nearly 70 Jain centers and congregations in North America, that has Special Consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

Organizing Committee:

Matthew Fisher, Coordinator
Dr. Manoj Jain
Dr. Nitin Shah
Manish Mehta, Ph.D.
Rajen Dhami

American Society for Bioethics and Humanities 14th Annual Meeting

October 18-21, 2012 Washington DC

Theme: Representing Bioethics

The American Society for Bioethics and Humanities promotes the exchange of ideas and fosters multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and inter-professional scholarship, research, teaching, policy development, professional development, and collegiality among people engaged in clinical and academic bioethics and the medical humanities.

For general inquiries and customer service:

American Society for Bioethics and Humanities
4700 W. Lake
Glenview, IL 60025-1485
Phone: 847/375-4745
Fax: 847/375-6482
Email: info@asbh.org

The Thin Ethical Line: When Professional Boundaries and Personal Interests Collide--Eighth Annual Pediatric Bioethics Conference

Friday and Saturday, July 27 and 28, 2012 Seattle, Washington

Healthcare providers have professional responsibilities to care for their patients. Yet physicians, nurses, social workers and trainees face daily choices when their professional responsibilities are not congruent with personal interests, beliefs and values. How should providers navigate these boundaries? We will explore these issues as we discuss the ethical concerns that may arise when personal interests and values challenge traditional professional responsibilities.

Can healthcare professionals conscientiously object to providing certain kinds of healthcare services?
Should healthcare providers perform procedures or prescribe medications for their own family members?
Is it ever acceptable for healthcare professionals to lie on behalf of their patients?
Is it OK to ask patients to sign a political petition in the office or hospital setting?
Should healthcare professionals become “friends” with their patients or their patients’ parents on Facebook?
Should healthcare professionals engage with families in non-medical settings or accept gifts or invitations to personal events?

Contact Information

For questions about the conference, please contact Kathie Kohorn at 206-987-5379.

For questions about the Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics, please contact Jill Webster at 206-884-8355.