Monthly Meetings Summary

May 2001: Medical Ethics
Dr. Barbara Cole, MD

Dr. Barbara Cole joined us in our introductions by saying that she was her own "heart kid". In fact she and Adina (my 14 year old daughter -single ventricle, pulmonary atresia) are in cardiac rehab at Barnes together. Dr. Cole has been in nephrology at Children's for 31 years. She has met many of our transplant children through out the years when they struggle with kidney problems and she served on the ethics committee for many years as well.

Dr. Cole began her talk by outlining the principles of medical ethics:

1. Not to make decisions but to help promote communication to make sure all parties consider all sides of an issue.
2. To help us think about and prepare for the more difficult issues at hand when physicians must make decisions about resources and care.
3. To make sure physicians can be true to the vow to do no harm do what is beneficial and not more than what is necessary honor and respect individual rights and protect justice in a society.
4. Consider the best use of advances in medical technology.
   We had a wonderful discussion and Dr. Cole ended by reminding us that we should think of the ethics committee as a source of support for us as families.

Many of you have heard that Jennifer and Stephen Van Hoven had their baby early. Emerson John died after living only nine days. His family asks that donations be sent to Children's Pediatric cardiology department and that each of us do "one kind and thoughtful deed that you otherwise would not have done."

ON A HAPPIER NOTE, KELLY WEBB HAD A BABY BOY, HUNTER. ALL ARE DOING WELL.

NEXT MEETING JUNE 6, 7PM.

Notes provided by Susan Talve.