Conference will explore Bioethics and Technology

The Interprofessional Commission – Ohio State’s interdisciplinary bridge between the academic and professional communities – will present “An Interprofessional Conference on Bioethics and Technology,” on Thursday and Friday (2/3 and 4) at Veterans Memorial, 300 W. Broad Street in Columbus. The conference for professionals, students, media, policy makers and interested citizens will provide a setting for dialogue about the ethical issues and public policy debates generated by new biotechnologies such as genetic testing and stem cell research.

A highlight is a free public lecture by Daniel Brock, professor of medical ethics at Harvard Medical School, entitled “Is a Consensus Possible on Stem Cell Research: Moral and Political Obstacles.” Brock will deliver the lecture at 7 p.m. on Thursday (2/3). Other speakers include Paula Gregory, professor of genetics at Louisiana State University. Gregory, formerly a professor of genetics at Ohio State, will deliver the keynote address, “Predictive Gene Testing: Opening Pandora’s Box,” at 8:30 a.m. on Friday (2/4). In addition, Thomas J. Moyer, Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court, will deliver the luncheon address on Friday (2/4).

Conference sponsors include: The Bioethics Network of Ohio, OMERIS, The Alfred Willson Fund of the Columbus Foundation, and the Interprofessional Commission of Ohio at The Ohio State University. For more information, see http://education.osu.edu/paes/feep/bioconf/biohome.htm

WHAT: “An Interprofessional Conference on Bioethics and Technology”

WHEN: From 1:30 p.m. on Thursday (2/3) till 4 p.m. on Friday (2/4)

WHERE: Veterans Memorial, 300 W. Broad Street, Columbus

WHY: To discuss the ethical issues and public policy debates generated by biotechnologies like gene testing and stem cell research.