bioethics.com

Ethics Grand Rounds: Race Matters in Medical Education, Research, and Practice
2026-05-01 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Online
This Grand Rounds examines the historical and sociopolitical construction of race, critiques its persistent use as a biological proxy in clinical algorithms and medical training, and explores how such practices shape diagnostic reasoning and contribute to health inequities. Drawing on empirical evidence and clinical examples, this talk proposes a framework for race-conscious medicine that more accurately reflects the role of structural racism in shaping health outcomes and guides more equitable clinical practice.

Making the Invisible Visible: Why Cultural Care Matters in Medicine
2026-05-04 12:00 - 14:00 (America/Denver) | Hybrid, PA
Presented by Bruce Feldstein, MD, BCC

The Weight of the ‘Why’: From Wanting to Know Why to Responding Ethically to Parents’ Reasons
2026-05-05 13:00 - 14:15 (America/Chicago) | Online
Presented by Amy E. Caruso Brown, MD, MSc, MSCS, HEC-C and Bryanna Moore, PhD

Hard Choices: Ethics in Modern Oncology
2026-05-08 09:05 - 16:55 (America/New_York) | Online
The Cancer Bioethics Consortium, in collaboration with the MSK Ethics Committee, presents this complimentary virtual conference designed for professionals across the oncology spectrum to explore the ethical complexities of cancer care and research.
The Cancer Bioethics Consortium (CBC) is a newly-created organization of healthcare professionals who work in the fields of oncology and bioethics in the United States. CBC is dedicated to promoting greater awareness, understanding, and collaboration around the ethical issues that permeate oncology practice and research.
The one-day virtual conference, Hard Choices: Ethics in Modern Oncology, convenes nationally recognized experts in oncology and bioethics, representing clinical, academic, administrative, legal, and governmental perspectives. The curriculum focuses on timely and emerging ethical challenges in oncology care and research through the lenses of bioethics, policy, and regulations. Rather than addressing clinical practice directly, the event will center on the less tangible, but equally vital, elements of care. Each session — including those focused on Cell and Gene Therapies, Tissue Acquisition and Bio Banking, and the Drug Shortages Panel — has been carefully designed to maintain a non-clinical perspective. Attendees can expect thoughtful discussions that do not offer guidance or recommendations regarding clinical management, treatment options, medical procedures, or therapeutic decision-making. The conference will emphasize broader ethical and policy issues shaping the field, distinguishing the conference from forums centered on direct patient care.
This conference is intended for both clinicians and non-clinicians seeking to better understand the ethical issues that shape oncology practice and research.
The program will be held live virtually via Zoom. All times listed on the schedule are Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Detailed access instructions will be provided in advance of the program. Following the conclusion of the program, participants will receive access to an online syllabus, which will include PDF copies of the faculty presentations.

Using AI for Clinical Ethics Consultation: Promise or Peril?
2026-05-14 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago)
Presented by Matt DeCamp

A Roadmap for Addressing the Use of Race in Clinical Algorithms
2026-05-27 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Online
Emma Pierson, PhD
Dr. Pierson is the Zhang Family Endowed professor and assistant professor of computer science at Berkeley, and core faculty in the Computational Precision Health program. She develops data science and machine learning methods to study inequality and healthcare. Her work has been recognized by best paper, poster, and talk awards, an NSF CAREER award, a Rhodes Scholarship, Hertz Fellowship, Rising Star in EECS, MIT Technology Review 35 Innovators Under 35, Forbes 30 Under 30 in Science, AI2050 Early Career Fellowship, and Samsung AI Researcher of the Year. Her research has been published in venues including Nature, Science, JAMA, The New England Journal of Medicine, PNAS, ICML and NeurIPS, and she has also written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Wired, and various other publications.

When the “Gift of Life” Costs More Than Expected: Ethical Considerations for First Person Authorizations of Organ Donation
2026-06-02 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Online
There has been significant concern surrounding the procedures and conditions for donation after circulatory death (DCD). As organ procurement organizations face increased pressure, there have been conflicts and concerns over the expectations for how patients who have designated themselves as donors are treated prior to death, and at the time of the withdrawal of life sustaining treatment. This session will describe the effects and limitations of “first person authorizations” (FPAs) for donation, and how unresolved questions about the scope of FPA can lead to conflict over how and when life sustaining treatment is withdrawn, conflict over treatments for living patients designed to improve organ procurement but not the patient’s medical interests, and confusion about the kinds of information that should be disclosed to patients or their loved ones prior to organ procurement.

Ethics & Engineering: Working Together on Novel Medical Device Development
2026-06-11 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Denver) | Online
Presented by Natalie Banacos.

International Association of Catholic Bioethics 12th Biannual Colloquium
2026-06-19 - 2026-06-23 | Sanctuaire Notre Dame de Grace Retreat Center, France
Wise Decisions: The place of love in AI-informed health care
It remains to be seen exactly what AI will be able to facilitate in the area of health care. However, it is already clear that its impact is likely to be limited. Some aspects of the provision of health care, and of the decisions made by patients and their caregivers, cannot – or should not – be left to AI. While factual information is a necessary condition of decision making – and AI is good at gathering facts – facts themselves carry only limited meaning : they certainly do not reveal objective values. As the recent COVID-19 pandemic underscored, a quantitative/statistical focus on “data” about, for example, infection rates and their prevention can lead to a failure to pay attention to other important aspects of human health and flourishing.
To articulate meaning and value requires a focus on various dimensions of health care, particularly those that are relational, which are not amenable to the tools of AI. To understand and nurture relationships between patients and their caregivers, which are complex and irreducible to quantifiable data, we need to unpack the “logos” that shapes these relationships. This logos has cognitive elements, but also affective, and conative dimensions involves feeling, empathy, motivation, and even love.

7th ELSI Congress
2026-06-22 - 2026-06-24 | Friday Center, 100 Friday Center Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27517, United States
For over three decades, the National Human Genome Research Institute’s (NHGRI) Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) Research Program has advanced scholarship on the ELSI of genetics and genomics.
The ELSI Congress brings together scholars who are dedicated to understanding and shaping the impact of genomic science on society, and to share research, exchange ideas, and influence the future of the field. Attendees will have opportunities to:

Present and discuss innovative scholarship
Network with colleagues across disciplines
Participate in sessions designed for trainees and early-career researchers, supporting mentorship and career development

Submit your abstract from January 16 to February 16 and share your expertise at the 7th ELSI Congress.
Please join us in Chapel Hill, NC, June 22-24 for an opportunity to collaborate, learn, and lead in addressing the ethical, legal, and social implications of genetic and genomic science.
Since the 7th ELSI Congress will be a hybrid event, if traveling isn’t possible, we encourage you to join us online.

14th International Conference on Ethics Education
2026-06-24 - 2026-06-26 | The Bazel – Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Netherlands
The 14th International Conference on Ethics Education is going to take place in the Netherlands!
Jointly organised by the International Association for Ethics Education (IAEE) and the Department of Ethics, Law and Medical Humanities from AmsterdamUMC
With the central theme ‘Shaping the future: educating responsible professionals’, this conference aims to bring together educators, researchers, academics, (health) professionals and students for mutual learning and debate on the current status quo in the field of ethics education and Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) and its relevance to shape professionals. What is achieved in training and education, and what steps are needed in the near future in order to help stimulate responsible professionals? What moral competences are professionals expected to develop and what type of knowledge, skills, attitude and behaviour can be trained via (formal and informal) education? How do current innovations (e.g. AI) challenge ethical education practices and approaches?
The conference will bring forward keynote lectures from experts in the field to share their latest insights and debate the conference theme. There will also be plenary sessions and opportunities to network and further debate these topics. The first day (24th of June 2026) will be dedicated to thematic and interactive pre-conference workshops, where participants will be invited to enrol in interactive discussions on topics such as the ethical use of AI in health and education, moral case deliberation or training in RCR (including open science and reproducibility).

CBHD 2026 Annual Conference
2026-06-25 19:00 - 2026-06-27 17:00 (America/Chicago) | LeTourneau University, 2100 S Mobberly Ave, Longview, TX, 75602, United States

Behind the Paper: Jennifer James
2026-06-26 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Online
Behind the Paper is a 3-part series of moderated conversations with biomedical and public health researchers about how one of their most successful scientific papers came to be.
We explore the false starts, organizational choices, funding challenges, authorship issues,
reframes and rejections that came before publication, as well as the challenges of
controlling a scientific narrative once the work reached the public domain. Behind the
Paper Series is moderated by Lauren Taylor, PhD, MDiv, Assistant Professor, Department
of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

The Image of God in the Kingdom of Technology
2026-07-01 09:00 - 2026-07-02 18:30 (Europe/London) | Westfield House, 30 Huntingdon Rd, Cambridge, CB3 0HH, United Kingdom
What does it mean to be human and created in the image of God at a time when we are being reduced to data and algorithms?
This conference explores why the ancient myth of Prometheus still matters for thinking about technology, religion, philosophy, politics, and what it means to be human. In Plato’s Protagoras, Prometheus steals fire for humanity. The fire represents human skills, technology, and the abilities that make social life possible. These gifts help make up for what humans originally lack, but they also raise deeper questions about human nature and humanity’s place in the world—questions that were never fully answered.
Today, technology is changing human life faster than ever before. It is no longer just a tool we use; it also shapes how we think about ourselves and our society. It encourages constant pressure to optimize our lives, treats identity like something that can be bought and sold, and promotes a managerial view of people. It also blurs the line between private and public life, leaving many societies feeling tired and divided.
In this context, the conference returns to a basic theological question: what does it mean to be human and created in the image of God at a time when people risk being reduced to data, consumer habits, and algorithm-like patterns shaped by both physical and digital worlds?
Bringing together scholars from theology, philosophy, biblical studies, and political theory, the conference aims to think more carefully about how technology should be used well. Rather than simply praising or condemning technology, it encourages thoughtful discussion across disciplines about human dignity and the meaning of the image of God in a technological age.
If you would be interested in presenting a paper at the conference, please contact Boris Gunjevic bg381@westfield [dot] cam [dot] ac [dot] uk

Adding Life to Their Years: Pediatrics, Palliative Care and Ethics
2026-07-17 - 2026-07-18 | Bell Harbor International Conference Center, 2211 Alaskan Way, Seattle, 98121, United States
Join us for the 21st annual Seattle Children’s Pediatric Bioethics Conference, Adding Life to Their Years: Pediatrics, Palliative Care and Ethics, from July 17–18, 2026, at Bell Harbor International Conference Center in Seattle.
This year’s conference will focus on issues at the heart of pediatrics: the relief of suffering, maintenance of hope and promotion of flourishing of children and their families. Bioethics and palliative care share these commitments, yet they sometimes bring different perspectives on how best to achieve them.
We will explore questions that arise at the intersection of pediatrics bioethics and palliative care, identifying areas of controversy and of synergy. In an era of rapid technological, financial and social change, this conference will provide space for thoughtful dialogue about the ethical challenges and opportunities shaping the future of pediatric care.
Join us as we explore the ethical questions that shape how we care, communicate and find meaning in the lives of children and families facing serious illness.

What ethical challenges emerge when hospitalization stretches from weeks to years?
How should clinicians and families navigate disagreements about goals of care?
What is the relationship between bioethics and palliative care?
Can parents refuse to share diagnoses or prognoses with their children?
How can communication strategies promote trust and combat misinformation?
How can we best support the flourishing of children and families facing serious illness?
What are the ethical limits of parental decision-making near the end of life?
How should we respond to concerns about suffering?

Health Care Ethics: Catholic Perspectives
2026-07-20 - 2026-07-24 | Pontifical Academy for Life, Piazza S. Calisto 16, Rome, Italy
Care of the sick and dying has always been a core Christian ministry. For much of the past two millennia, the local hospice or clinic run by Catholic sisters was the only health care facility in town. Today, many hospitals, ambulance services, rehabilitation clinics, and nursing homes continue to be affiliated with the Catholic church. In this seminar we will explore the values, tenets and principles that shape 21st century Catholic health care. In addition, we will discuss whether and how these same principles can also enhance the care offered in secular institutions..

Ethical Disobedience: Harm, Futility, and the Slow Code
2026-08-18 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Online
This session will examine the ethical status of slow codes — resuscitation attempts intentionally performed without genuine effort — in cases where CPR is futile or medically inappropriate but where implementing a DNAR order is challenging or conflict-ridden. Clinicians in such situations face a moral trilemma: perform harmful interventions, unilaterally refuse care, or perform a slow code. None of these is particularly ethically attractive. We will survey the longstanding bioethics consensus condemning slow codes and evaluate the arguments for and against that position. We will then consider whether slow codes might be justified as a form of ethical disobedience against legislative and judicial overreach that compels harmful care. Finally, we will critically examine claims that time-limited trials of futile CPR represent an ethically acceptable compromise.

Mediation Intensive Workshop
2026-08-20 09:00 - 2026-08-23 17:00, 2026-09-17 09:00 - 2026-09-20 17:00 (America/New_York) | University of Pennsylvania, 3600 Civic Center Blvd, Room 8-031, Philadelphia, PA, United States
The 4-day workshop will be held at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and will run from 9:00-5:00 each day. The Penn Program in Clinical Conflict Management has offered over 150 workshops and conflict resolution seminars since the program’s launch in May 2010.
In this Intensive, students will:

Learn how to navigate and improve challenging clinical relationships (patient-provider, family-provider, inter-staff conflicts)
Learn the techniques of facilitation among a diverse set of stakeholders
Learn to effectively manage clinical disputes among and between caregivers, patients and surrogates through mediation
Discover to how to define problems and assess underlying interests to generate mutually acceptable options
Role-play in variety of clinical situations as both disputants and mediators
Practice mediation with professional actors
Use video-tapes of simulations to improve mediation techniques and strengthen interpersonal skills
Receive constructive feedback in a supportive environment

This workshop is intended for nurses, physicians, clergy, social workers, clinical ethics consultants and members of ethics committees who face clinical ethics conflicts in their role in the healthcare system.
Description:
Professional mediators possess a unique skill set applicable to the facilitation of difficult conversations between individuals in emotionally laden situations. An effective mediation process can generate solutions that address the underlying interests of all disputants and resolve conflicts that appear intractable. This skill set has increasingly been recognized as invaluable to the work of clinical ethics consultants as they navigate conflicts between and among patients, families, surrogates and providers. Moreover, given wide-spread agreement that communication failures lie at the root of many clinical conflicts, mediation values and catalyzes the effective communication of individual concerns, values, perspectives and feelings — all of which are essential to the clinical ethics consultation process. This hands-on Workshop introduces the principal techniques of mediation through the use of simulated role plays with a focus on conflicts caused by communication breakdowns, highly charged value-conflicts, and cultural differences.
Instructor-Student ratio of 1:3. Space is limited. Students can earn Penn course credit or take the intensive as a workshop. Cost of the workshop is $2,600, which includes breakfast, lunch and materials. Tuition benefits can be applied for students taking it for Penn credit.
Workshop Instructors:
Autumn Fiester, PhD | Director, Penn Program in Clinical Conflict Management; Associate Chair for Education
Aliza Narva, JD, MSN, HEC-c | Director, Clinical Ethics Consult Service, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Stacy Smith, PhD, MA, MLS, HEC-c | Instructor, Penn Program in Clinical Conflict Management
Mary Walton, MBE, MSN, HEC-c | Emeritus Director, Clinical Ethics Consult Service, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

Ethics Educators Workshop
2026-10-22 - 2026-10-26 | France, France
Building forth on the Ethics Education Program of UNESCO, this workshop is designed to enhance the educational skills and abilities of ethics teachers. We explicitly invite academics who soon will start, or have just started, teaching ethics. However, experience has shown that very senior ethics educators also find this workshop to be very stimulating and helpful.

Ethics of End-of-Life Care: Contributions from the Arts and Humanities
2027-02-24 - 2027-02-28 | Pontifical Academy for Life, Piazza S. Calisto 16, Rome, Italy
Care for the dying and their loved ones is a most rewarding but also challenging endeavor. Such care can evoke complex moral questions that often defy standard methods of ethical analysis. In this seminar, we enter into dialogue with the arts and humanities to gain new insights about the human condition, find meaning in the final phase of life, and achieve a truly dignified death.

Ethics Week UnConference
2027-03-08 - 2027-03-12 | University of Colorado Anschutz, Aurora, CO, United States
Join us for one day, a couple of days, or the full week! Ethics Week brings together our Clinical Ethics UnConference, a hands-on workshop day (or ski day, if you prefer), and our annual Children’s Hospital Colorado Pediatric Ethics Conference—offering multiple ways to engage in thoughtful dialogue, practical learning, and connection across healthcare and the humanities.
