The first program of the new season will begin on Aug. 18, 1999. "Benefits & Harms: Consequentialist Ethics," will be presented by Dr. Gordon Wilson, Chairman of the Dept. of Philosophy of The University of North Carolina at Asheville (UNCA).

This will be the first of a series of 12 lecture-discussions on medical ethics. Ethical concerns are becoming very important today due to our advancing technology. We are able to alter and interfere with many disease processes due to advances in diagnosis and treatment. At the same time, we are altering what was once thought of as the natural processes of life and death. Innovators responsible for these developments have not always realized the new and novel dilemmas and some of the long-term implications of these new procedures. We are now beginning to realize that there is both a positive and a negative side to the results of our interference. Now we are beginning to ask: What is the cost of doing this? And not just the monetary cost but also the mental and spiritual costs of human suffering. We are beginning to ask why? To what end? What is our goal? Is the juice worth the squeeze? Who is it for, the patient for the family?

Why are we doing the things we do? What are the means of determining their value, to the individual and to society? What is "the good" and how do we measure it? What is our goal? Who determines whether a procedure is carried out or not? Is the patient always the best judge of and for himself? If not, then who? On what do we base our decisions? There are endless questions and all of us will face many of them in our lifetime!

Our lecture series will address various aspects of medical ethics. The first half of the series will address some principles of medical ethics while the second half will address specific areas of concern within the field of medical ethics. The program format we plan will be a brief lecture orienting the audience to the major concerns and thoughts in the area of interest and providing us grounds for subsequent discussion. Following the lecture, there will be one or two respondents who will address either the lecture itself or some other aspect of the subject from the individual's point of view, perhaps from experience. The respondent will be free to express himself about the subject. This will be followed by an open discussion with the audience. Members of the audience will be encouraged not only to ask questions, but to express their ideas, notions and opinions as well. Our meetings are friendly and informal. All are welcome to attend and are encouraged to participate. While we are friendly, we love controversy and meaningful discussion which leaves us stimulated and full of questions and perhaps even insights.

We all have but one chance to live on the earth. My father used to say "years seem long but life is short." This is our one chance to experience, to realize, to learn and understand, and to apply what we learn to life's situations, those already here and those to come. This is applied philosophy!

Enclosed is an updated schedule for the coming programs. There are changes from the previous program you received earlier. We are looking for people in our organization to respond to some of the talks. If you are interested in participating in one of them, please call me at 891-9787. We'd like to hear your opinions.