Matters of life, death, and vulnerability are at the heart of the everyday work of those in the medical professions, and ethical, spiritual, and social issues are embedded in these vocations of care. As practitioners navigate difficult decisions with patients, they must rely on solid principles to guide difficult choices in a complicated landscape that also includes social and economic barriers to accessing health care. Health care is fundamental to human dignity yet is too often inaccessible to already-vulnerable populations, making the vocation of doctors and other medical practitioners all the more critical.
Catholic social teaching offers principles to help guide the practice of medicine with a special attention to human dignity, a priority for the poor and vulnerable, and a deep solidarity, helping inspire efforts to realize Pope Francis’ hope "that closeness to those who suffer and a concrete commitment in charity may grow among us and that no cry of pain may go unheard any longer." This conversation, featuring two people whose work in the medical field is guided by Catholic principles, will explore this intersection of Catholic social thought and medical care and discuss opportunities for emerging medical professionals to live out the moral mandate to care for the vulnerable.
This in-person gathering was co-sponsored by Magis GUSOM, a student group at Georgetown University’s School of Medicine.
