By Rabbi Harold Stern
Director of Spiritual Care
DOJ Health Services
This issue of the Ethics Network News greets the turn of the century by examining some age old questions in a new light. As a civilized and progressive society we pride ourselves on our technological achievements. Indeed we have a debt of gratitude to science in terms of the everyday conveniences afforded us by cell phones, e-mail and the wonders of modern medicine in significantly extending life through advanced technology unavailable to us 100 years ago. We live in exciting times.
The issues of dignity, respect and morality are as relevant today as they were during the rise of Protestantism and dawning of the Age of Enlightenment. We must consider that technological advances are fraught with timeless ethical issues. The traditional ethical paradigms of control, justice and distribution of scarce resources must be highlighted--not lost in the excitement and flurry of the mini-miracles at our disposal. Unprotected by well thought out guidelines, rooted in ethical or moral mores, these advances can easily take a life of their own. It is in this vein, that the New York City Long-Term Care Ethics Network has recently hosted two seminal conferences on Advance Directives and Organizational Ethics. Summaries of these forums are found elsewhere in this issue. Both conferences stressed the importance of everyday ethics.
The time has arrived for our ethical acumen to be equal to our ever growing technological prowess. 19th and 20th century ethics must be adapted. We must transition ethics from the academia of the classroom to the real world forums of the board room and the operating room, and apply its principles equally to all aspects of work in healthcare. This issue of the Ethics Network News invites you to take a look at how together we can shape an ethical future that respects and dignifies the lives of those in our care as we progress toward a meaningful millenium. It takes at least a village to guarantee a reasonable future and we hope that you will join us by embarking on this very significant journey.
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