A Visiting Professor Lecture by Dr. William Winslade, James Wade Rockwell Professor of Philosophy of Medicine, Professor of Preventive Medicine and Community Health and Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.
Date: Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Time: 4:00-6:00
Place: Emory Hospital Auditorium
Vitalism is the view, based on religious or secular values, that a person’s life should be prolonged as long as possible even if the person is terminally ill or permanently unconsciousness. This lecture will explore the psychological, legal, social, and ethical consequences of vitalism in the context of several recent controversial cases.
For more information, please contact Marion Osborne at (404) 727-5048. Sponsored by the Center for Ethics and Emory Health Sciences.
Consumerism, body image, eating disorders, and sexual orientation will be the subjects of a Center for Ethics dialogue between popular author Naomi Wolf and television personality Carson Kressley on April 2. The dialogue will be moderated by Rev. Bridgette Young, Associate Dean of the Religious Life Program.
[Continue reading "April 2 | Sex, Shopping & Self"]Disclosing a harm-causing medical error can be one of the most anguishing conversations a healthcare professional can have. In addition to fears that disclosure might lead to a lawsuit, a harm-causing error can also assault the professional’s sense of competency and adequacy. Often, the necessary conversation between healthcare professional and patient or family is avoided or conducted very poorly.
John Banja's new book, Medical Errors and Medical Narcissism, examines the concept of “medical narcissism” and how error disclosure to patients and families is often compromised by the health professional’s need to preserve his or her self-esteem at the cost of honoring the patient’s right to the unvarnished truth about what has happened.
This groundbreaking book explores common psychological reactions of healthcare professionals to the commission of a serious harm-causing error and the variety of obstacles that can compromise ethically sound, truthful disclosure. Insights are offered on how talented, capable persons who feel a driving need to demonstrate their competence can fall into narcissistic traps. Guidance on disclosing errors artfully and ethically is provided through a series of step-by-step recommendations along with a list of particularly helpful words and phrases.
A reading and discussion with author John Banja at 7pm, Wednesday, March 16 in the Jones Room, Woodruff Memorial Library. Book signing and reception to follow. Free and open to the public. RSVPs to (404) 727-1179 are appreciated but not required. Parking information.
It has been my privilege to serve as Director of the Center for Ethics since summer of 1994. During these years the Center has grown significantly both in numbers of faculty and staff, and in its programming and outreach. We have been fortunate to have the support of members of both our internal and external boards, and we have been encouraged by the interest of the presidents, provosts and deans who have been leaders during this decade.
I want to express special thanks to John Wieland, who served as the founding Chairman of the Center’s Advisory Council, and helped us recruit and lead a strong external board. And my thanks also go to to Jeff Rosensweig, Associate Dean of the Goizueta School of Business, who ably serves as chair of our faculty Board of Advisors. With them, I am proud and grateful that the Center for Ethics has grown in service, teaching, and impact.
Now is the time for me to share with you that I am stepping down from my leadership role in the Center. I have been advised by my doctors that a less demanding lifestyle is in order. With that goal in mind, it is clear that this is the appropriate moment for me to end my tenure as director and to open the way for the search for the Center’s next leader.
[Continue reading "Coming transitions in Center leadership"]Question: So why the interview with yourself?
Answer: Because I not only know the best questions to ask, I also know the answers. Plus, interviewing yourself is a great way to control the interview.
Question: It’s kind of narcissistic, though.
Answer: True, but that doesn’t mean it’s psychologically unhealthy.
Question: Well, maybe we’ll discuss that later. With a title like “Medical Errors and Medical Narcissism,” do you think any doctors will read the book?
Answer: Well, some will be turned off by the title. But I tried the title out on dozens of physicians as I was writing the book, and I was heartened by a fairly consistent reaction, which was their eyebrows ascending on their foreheads and their saying, “Interesting …” A few looked at me crossly, though, and said, “What’s your evidence?”
Question: That’s a good question. What is your evidence? In fact, what is the claim you’re making in this book, that physicians are pathological narcissists?
Answer: No, I’m not saying that and I make repeated attempts in the book to remind the reader that I am not making that claim. The claim I really want to make is that medical training, in fact healthcare training in general, has lots of narcissistic traps or temptations for trainees to succumb to.
Question: Like what?
[Continue reading "John Banja interviews himself on his book "Medical Errors and Medical Narcissism""]Emory undergraduates Erik Fyfe and Molly Harrington, both recent members of the Ethics and Servant Leadership Forum, were among six students honored with the 2005 Emory University Humanitarian Award. Awards were presented January 26 by Emory President James Wagner and other top administrators.
Both Fyfe and Harrington were participants in the 2003-2004 EASL Forum, and Harrington was also a Servant Leader Summer Intern in 2004.
Awardees were nominated for the awards by fellow students or professors.