2005 Medical Students Forum
Canadian Physicians for Life sponsored 50 medical students and two residents to attend our 2005 Medical Students Forum in Montreal, November 17-20. This event was an enormous success, thanks to the excellent speakers, enthusiastic audience, and the generosity of our donors.
Dr. Margaret Somerville spoke about the ethical implications of the new reproductive technologies. Dr. Stephen Genuis, in his first talk, traced some of the major developments leading to the sexual revolution, and discussed concrete solutions for dealing with issues such as the high rates of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease epidemic. In his second talk on end of life decisions, Dr. Genuis discussed the challenging decisions physicians encounter as they manage issues related to the latter stages of life. For example, when does a physician discontinue therapy or interventions? When should one NOT initiate treatment? And how do physicians deal with the issue of assisted death?
Recipient of the Family 2004 Council Award of The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario Dr. Deborah Zeni discussed what is not taught in medical school—the aftermath of abortion, analyzing the literature on such issues as abortion’s link to breast cancer, ectopic pregnancy, and risk of future pre-term birth. Students enjoyed the wisdom of Dr. John Patrick as he discussed what happens in society when we accept abortion practice. UBC Med Student Sherry Yang described how she and some classmates were successful in introducing a pro-life perspective into their reproductive choices lecture by bringing in Dr. Sheila Harding to address the class on “Finding the Balance: Observations on the Ethical Practice of Pro-Life Medicine.” Dr. Harding then repeated that presentation to this audience. Students learned from these pro-life doctors important information not taught in medical schools. They also learned how to deal with colleagues and patients over contentious moral issues.
Students, residents and physicians also took part in the national pro-life conference on Friday where they heard such speakers as: editor of Reader’s Digest, Peter Stockland, who discussed the problem of media bias and what can be done about it in this high-tech information age; Professor Ian Dowbiggin discussed the history of euthanasia; Dr. Catherine Ferrier talked about the potential for palliative care; and more.
The student forum ended on an inspirational and humorous note when the keynote speaker at Saturday night’s banquet, Dr. Dave Hepburn, addressed his audience on the theme, “What good have I done in the world today?”
And how did the students react to all of this? Here is what some of them said:
Dear Canadian Physicians for Life,
On behalf of other medical students and myself who attended the CPL Medical Student Forum in Montreal this November, I wish to express our sincere gratitude for your support that made our attendance at this conference possible. We were able to learn valuable information at the conference that is not presented to us elsewhere in our medical education, and as a result we are better equipped to approach the pro-life issues we will face throughout our training. We also were able to interact with physicians who have more wisdom and experience in the practice of pro-life medicine, and they are an invaluable source of mentorship to us aspiring physicians. Thank-you for your investment in us, as the next generation of physicians who endeavor to practice medicine with honour and respect for life as a foundational principle.
(Student from University of Saskatchewan, Class of 2007)
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Coming into the pro-life conference I was a pro-life medical student who was feebly standing upon a few simple arguments that I had not thoroughly thought through. I knew that someday I would have to actively pursue important issues if I was to have any chance at implementing my beliefs into my practice. Unfortunately, I have found that medical school is not an institution that develops ethical and moral thinking; if anything it has turned out to be one which removes them. However, at the end of the conference I was an inspired medical student strengthened with the testimonies of practicing pro-life doctors who hold the tools to be able to talk about these issues with students, patients, and future colleagues. More than ever before I now feel that the pro-life stance is very defendable.
In particular, discussions about not referring for abortion were very useful. I have previously been taught that not referring for abortion is ethically considered to be abandoning your patient. The stories and evidence presented by speakers at this conference were very compelling and clearly revealed a high standard of care towards patients who were not referred by these doctors.
One of the strengths of the conference was that it addressed issues from several vantage points – medical, philosophical, ethical and faith-based. All of the speakers, no matter what their background, were interesting and gave talks that I felt were important for me as a medical student to hear.
Again, I would like to thank the Canadian Physicians for Life and the donors who made it possible for me to go to this conference. I would not have been able to attend without sponsorship. Thank you.
(Student from University of Alberta, Class of 2008 )
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The conference was an amazing experience for me. It was great to meet students and physicians who are working to further the pro-life cause. In the current climate of medical school it is becoming increasingly difficult to express, let alone hold, pro-life views. It was so encouraging to see how others are successfully acting on their beliefs in practice.
This conference impressed upon me the fact that unlike the vast majority of the population, doctors are in a very powerful position from which to help women and their babies. We will be directly involved in helping women make the decisions around a pregnancy she is not ready for. We are in the position to help her realize the value of the life inside her. We are in the position to save the life of her child! It impressed upon me a great sense of responsibility to act on my beliefs.
Discussing these issues with other pro-life students made me realize again how valuable the conference was. They, like I, were galvanized by the conference to act on their belief of the intrinsic value of life.
Thank you so much for sponsoring me. It changed the way that I will practice.
(Student from University of British Columbia, Class of 2008)
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I sincerely want to thank everybody who made this congress possible. I really enjoyed my experience at the congress and found it most inspiring and encouraging. I do feel sometimes quite alone in my belief in my work field, and hearing from the concrete experiences of other physicians who stand for the same values I do and who share a truly human and caring approach to their patients was very special for me. I especially enjoyed the talks from Dr Genuis. I do hope that such an event will take place again in the future.
(Resident from University of Montreal)
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As leaders in health care, physicians are charged with the enormous responsibility of deciding, at least on a microscale, who shall live, and who shall die. Traditionally, this task has been handled reverentially according to Hippocratic and Judeo-Christian ethics. Unfortunately, in North America, as in much of the developed world, the sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship has been violated by such forces as: healthcare economics, radical feminism, ageism, political correctness, and an attitude of selfish entitlement. When healthcare is influenced by these insidious factors, the inevitable result is death of the weak…the unborn, the debilitated, and the elderly…and survival of the strong…young, healthy citizens who spend, vote, and lobby their way toward ever greater power. There are at least two ways to combat such social Darwinism. The first, and most direct is to tear down the roots of systemic corruption, as exemplified by the overthrow of the Nazi regime. The second, less direct approach is to create a “silent revolution” of independent thinkers. Doctors can be made aware of the systemic devaluation of human life. After acknowledging the threat, they can be armed with the critical knowledge and persuasive tools to rise against it, one patient encounter at a time. Most importantly, they can become impassioned, fuelled by the greatest natural force of all: Love. I would humbly assert that all of these functions are being admirably fulfilled by Canadian Physicians for Life.
(Student from University of Western Ontario, Class of 2008) |
