Thursday, April 23, 2009
Ethical issues: Bioethics lecture series in Roanoke
A surgeon aims to help others make informed health decisions.
JEANNA DUERSCHERL The Roanoke Times
Dr. Christine Toevs lectures to residents at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Toevs, a Carilion Clinic surgeon, is leading lectures on bioethics for the nonmedical community.
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As a trauma surgeon for Carilion Clinic, Dr. Christine Toevs regularly faces bioethical issues.
She makes sure her patients and their families are well informed so they can make their own decisions.
Over the years, Toevs has faced end-of-life issues almost daily. This has led to her particular interest in bioethics. So much, in fact, that she received a master's degree in the subject.
Her passion has led her to plan a six-week lecture series, "Bioethics for Everyone." Toevs said she provided the same type of classes twice before, while living in Mississippi. She moved to Roanoke two years ago.
Toevs' series will be held at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church on Brambleton Avenue, although she said the church's role is minimal -- it is providing only the location. Toevs, a member of the church, approached the pastoral staff and asked if she could give these lectures in an effort to educate the community. After some discussion, the staff agreed and granted permission.
Designed for the nonmedical community, the series should help people understand the complexities involved with medical and ethical issues in the health care community, she said.
"I would like the attendees to complete this lecture series with a good foundation of the ethical issues that they and their health care professionals face as they encounter these challenges," Toevs said.
The first lecture was Wednesday night, on the topic of stem cells.
Over the next five weeks, Toevs has planned lecture topics ranging from cloning and reproductive technologies to physician-assisted suicide. The topics are all based on the latest medical and ethical issues. And although subjects may be controversial, Toevs plans only to give information -- not debate the subjects.
Toevs also noted that she is conducting these lectures on her own and that they are not Carilion-sponsored classes.
"My goal is to educate the people with the facts so they can make their own informed decisions about the issues," Toevs said. "My hope is they will have a foundation to begin to investigate these issues with some insight and knowledge."
