Catholic Exchange

“Not Quite Dead” Organ Donor Controversy

• Archives
• Tuesday, November 8th, 2011
• Nancy Valko, RN

In the understandable zeal to save or extend as many lives as possible through organ transplantation, are some ethical boundaries being crossed?

Are “Death Panels” Already Here?

• Archives
• Friday, June 4th, 2010
• Nancy Valko, RN

Government tends to revolve around issues such as regulations, taxes, and spending for various programs. Medical ethics, on the other hand, is about caring for a patient’s health and well-being. It is not surprising then that when government economics and… Read More

The War Against Conscience Rights

• Archives
• Saturday, June 13th, 2009
• Nancy Valko, RN

In December 2008, the Bush administration announced stronger protections for health care providers’ conscience rights, protecting them from workplace discrimination. In February 2009, the Obama administration quietly started the process of overturning those conscience protections.

These actions did not occur in a vacuum.

Whatever Happened to Common Sense at the End of Life?

• Archives
• Monday, September 17th, 2007
• Nancy Valko, RN

Withdrawal of treatment, "living wills", terminal sedation, assisted suicide, organ donation, etc. Currently, it's virtually impossible to escape all the death talk in the media and elsewhere. For example, if you are admitted to a hospital for almost any reason,… Read More

The War against Children with Disabilities

• Archives
• Tuesday, June 5th, 2007
• Nancy Valko, RN

"Dr. Goldberg said, for some couples 'losing a normal pregnancy secondary to the procedure is not as problematic as the birth of a Down syndrome child, so they're willing to take that risk'" — "Screen All Pregnancies for Down Syndrome,… Read More

Enforcing the “Right to Die”: The Case of Terri Schiavo

• Archives
• Saturday, August 30th, 2003
• Nancy Valko, RN

Urgent update and note from author:
The following is an article for Voices magazine I wrote on 8/3/02. The magazine will be published next month but, because of the critical developments in Terri’s case, this article has been placed online… Read More

Who Wants a “Defective” Baby?

• Archives
• Saturday, August 16th, 2003
• Nancy Valko, RN

“Of course, no one wants to adopt a defective baby. ” This was said with much emotion (and not much charm) by an older gentleman in a class at a local university where I was speaking this past April. I… Read More

Are Pro-Life Healthcare Providers Becoming an Endangered Species?

• Archives
• Tuesday, July 1st, 2003
• Nancy Valko, RN

At the urging of Planned Parenthood, the Nevada state Assembly approved an amendment in April to stop pharmacists with religious objections from refusing to fill prescriptions for any drug, including abortifacient contraceptives and the so-called “morning after” pill.
The Implications… Read More