Emerging Topics in Catholic Health Care Ethics Webinar Series 5

A Clinical Ethics Webinar Series Co-sponsored by the Catholic Health Association in cooperation with
Georgetown University, Loyola University Chicago, Saint Louis University, Australian Catholic University, and Boston College

In our ongoing commitment to provide timely, relevant information about emerging issues for Catholic health care, the Catholic Health Association is offering a monthly series of webinars to address and clarify critical ethical issues in caring for patients and families in Catholic hospitals, long-term care facilities and medical centers nationwide.      

Each 45-minute session will examine the implications of a specific critical issue in clinical and organizational ethics in the context of Catholic Social Teaching and the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services (ERDs).

Emerging Topics in Catholic Health Care Ethics Series 5, Session 8
Physician Aid in Dying: Ethical and Clinical Questions
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
1:00 – 1:45 p.m. ET

This program is co-sponsored by the Catholic Health Association in cooperation with Loyola University Chicago.

This session of Emerging Topics in Catholic Health Care Ethics, led by Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics at Loyola University Chicago, will discuss physician aid in dying and the revisions to Part V (Issues in Care for the Seriously Ill and Dying) in the newly promulgated Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services.

Physician-assisted suicide (PAS), also commonly known as medical aid in dying (MAID), has become state law in many places that Catholic healthcare serves. While Catholic healthcare does not participate in PAS/MAID, it still raises ethical, and clinical questions within Catholic ministries. This presentation will outline typical features of aid-in-dying laws (Kuczewski), identify the language within the new revision of the ERDs that addresses referrals and care for patients at the end of life (McCarthy), and conclude by exploring clinical questions raised for healthcare professionals (Kockler).

Presenters

Michael McCarthy, Ph.D., HEC-C
Associate Professor
Graduate Program Director, Healthcare Mission Leadership
Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics
Loyola University Chicago

Mark Kuczewski, Ph.D.
Director, Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics
Stritch School of Medicine
Loyola University Chicago

Nicholas J. Kockler, Ph.D., MS, HEC-C
Vice President for System Ethics Services, Theology and Ethics
Providence St. Joseph Health

Brian Kane, Ph.D.
Senior Director, Ethics
Catholic Health Association of the United States

Cancellation Policy

• A refund of the full registration fee will be given for cancellations received through April 21, 2026.
• A refund of 75% of the registration fee will be given for cancellations received after April 21, 2026.

There is no additional charge for substitute registrants.