"Death-Row Privilege" April 18, 2006 "Death-Row Privilege" Topic of Catawba Valley Medical Center's April 'Conversations in Ethics'

Catawba Valley Medical Center invites healthcare professionals and the community to attend the next 'Conversations in Ethics' to be held from 12 noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, April 20 in the Northwest AHEC Lecture Hall, Room 112. This monthly, no-charge meeting provides an opportunity for discussion of some of the most important issues facing the healthcare profession today. Topic for the April session is "Death-Row Privilege." Roger, 42-years-old, has been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. He is married and a father of two. For many years he has been treated for this disease and has been compliant with his diet. For the past 5 years, Roger has been on disability unable to work while he continues dialysis. He would be viewed as a hard worker and a model citizen. His condition has deteriorated now to the point that the only option is to have a kidney transplant. He has been placed on a waiting list and is hopeful to hear the all-important phone call. Tim is a 47-year-old state prisoner on death row since 1996 when he was convicted of repeatedly stabbing 32- and 28-year-old sisters. The older woman survived 17 stab wounds to testify against him. The state pays $121,000 annually to keep Tim on dialysis. Last month the prison doctor determined he was a good candidate for a kidney transplant. With the state funding his medical care, Tim could be placed on a transplant waiting list ahead of others like Roger, who did not commit any crimes, and become the first death-row inmate to receive an organ transplant. Questions for consideration could be: Should one's status as a convicted criminal be considered in evaluating the individual for an organ transplant? Should a death-row inmate be kept alive at all cost in order to execute him/her later? How willing would you be to provide organs from a loved one to a death-row inmate? How willing are you to be an organ donor if your organs would go to a death-row inmate? Does it seem fair to pay for an inmate's transplant with tax dollars when there are so many who have no insurance and can't afford the procedure? Completion of this activity provides 1.2 contact hours of continuing nursing education via CVMC, Department of Organizational Learning, an approved provider of continuing education by the NCNA, an accredited approver by the ANCC-COA. For more information or to reserve no-charge lunch that is included in the event, call 828-326-3365. Catawba Valley Medical Center is a not-for-profit, public healthcare system providing and promoting the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being of the public in addition to serving as a center for health education, wellness services, preventative medicine and acute care. CVMC, recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a Magnet facility, was recently named a Hospital of Choice by the American Alliance of Healthcare Providers.