Author / Monica Delles
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![A list of the sections in the Ethics Dispatch.]()
Ethics Dispatch August 2025
Nurses and frontline staff bear the brunt of a growing wave of hostility, facing risks that extend far beyond the usual emotional toll of caregiving. In this Ethics Dispatch, the Center for Practical Bioethics analyzes competing values that govern providers’ response to violence, as well as institutional responsibilities and Ryan shares a personal story about his response to an aggressive family member.
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![Portrait of Elijah Wetzel.]()
Two Things I Learned as an Ethical AI Intern
Elijah Wetzel, a religion major with minors in political science and global health at Wabash College, served as an intern for the Center for Practical Bioethics. Before leaving the Center to spend a semester at the University of Edinburgh, Elijah wrote about what he has learned about AI and bioethics – the unprecedented nature of both obscures their future – and about who has a voice in this future.
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Richard Butin, MD: The Making of an Ethics Champion
The Center for Practical Bioethics is proud to honor Dr. Richard Butin, Staff Physician and Associate Professor of Medicine at University Health, as 2025 Ethics Champion of the Year in recognition of his leadership in addressing complex ethical issues in health and healthcare.
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![A caring doctor-patient moment. The doctor is setting their hand on the patient's hand.]()
Case Study – Doctor-Patient Relationships: When Is It Ethically Acceptable to End Them?
Bioethics case study on doctor-patient relationships in VIDEO and PRINT. This case study in clinical ethics discusses when it is acceptable to end a doctor-patient relationship. Published by the Center for Practical Bioethics.
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![Man holding his head in pain.]()
Case Study: Behavioral Issues Lead to Challenging Discharge
Bioethics case study on Mr. Ankeal with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and multiple other chronic conditions, including chronic pain has been hospitalized. He has been moving between outpatient dialysis centers for several months due to repeated behavioral issues. The hospital care team has been unable to find an outpatient dialysis clinic willing to accept him due to his documented behavioral history. Published by the Center for Practical Bioethics.
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July 24 2025 Email Newsletter
The Center for Practical Bioethics’ July e-newsletter starts with a letter of gratitude to our supporters. This month’s stories include the impact of clinical ethics consultation at a large health system, ethical perspectives on Medicaid cuts, and a bioethics video case study on distributive justice.
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![The graphic advertising the Flanigan Lecture of an outline of a saxophone player.]()
2025 Flanigan Lecture
Join us on Nov. 12, 2025 for the 31st Annual Flanigan Lecture, Reflections from an Imperfect Art: Jazz, Medical Ethics, and the Moral Practice of Medicine presented by the Center for Practical Bioethics. Dr. Patrick T. Smith, a leading voice in bioethics and theology, will explore how jazz—born from struggle and creativity—offers powerful metaphors for justice, equity, and the moral practice of medicine.
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![Hands piled on top of each other to represent building relationships.]()
It’s All About Building Relationships
Whether you read our Bioethics Bulletin for personal or professional reasons, Editor Trudi Galblum explains the Center’s goal: To be your trusted bioethics source for valuable hot topic analysis, case studies and workshops.
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![Krystal Pence picture.]()
Clinical Ethics Consultation at a Large Health System
Krystal Pence, LMSW, is seeing the growing impact of the Ethics Committee on patient care and institutional policies at Advent Health Kansas City. Krystal describes what dealing with complex cases was like “before and after” her hospital’s Ethics Committee began working the Center.
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![Our Ethics Dispatch social media graphic showing glasses a reading tablet and a print newspaper.]()
Ethics Dispatch July 2025
The July Ethics Dispatch is on Why Rural Healthcare Fails Without Medicaid: An Ethical Analysis. With Medicaid cuts looming, we discuss the principles of bioethics to the cuts’ impact on rural healthcare. And we explore the philosophical concept of “ought implies can,” which holds that for someone to have a moral obligation, that person must have the ability to accomplish said obligation. Which begs the question: When do we have a moral obligation to provide Medicaid coverage?
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