VATICAN - Pontifical Academy for Life: International Congress: “Close by the Incurable Sick Person and the Dying: Scientific and Ethical Aspects”

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - On February 25, 26, and 27 of 2008, in the Vatican’s New Hall of the Synod, there will be an International Congress “Close by the Incurable Sick Person and the Dying: Scientific and Ethical Aspects” and the 14th General Assembly for the Pontifical Academy for Life. The opening session of the Congress will have a greeting from the President of the Pontifical Academy for Life, Bishop Elio Sgreccia and an introductory speech from Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, President of the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Health Care, on “The Life, Gift of Love.”
The four sessions of the Congress will examine, among other topics: Sickness and Suffering in Sacred Scripture, Secularisation in the Face of Pain, Suffering, and Death, Developments of Modern Medicine in Life Support: Conquests and Risks, The Good of Life and the Good of Health: the Duty to Protect Them, Therapeutic Proportionality and Therapeutic Obstinacyin the Documents of the Magisterium, Deliberate Termination of Life of Newborns; the Groningen Protocol in Perspective, Accompanying the Dying Person: A Responsibility to Share, Palliative Care, Hospices, and Household Assistance, The Right to Die? The participants of the Congress will be received in an audience with the Holy Father Benedict XVI.
Participation in the Congress is by previous appointment only, which is available online until February 16, 2008. (S.L. (Agenzia Fides 12/2/2008; righe 19, parole 219)