ELM GROVE, March 8th – The Milwaukee Guild of the Catholic Medical Association Presents a Talk Entitled: “Getting the Facts About Organ Donation After Death: Church Teachings and Medical Realities”

Join the Milwaukee Guild of the Catholic Medical Association on Saturday March 9th with Mass at 8:00a.m. followed by the presentation at St. Mary’s Visitation Parish in Elm Grove (1260 Church St Elm Grove, WI 53122). The presentation by John Di Camillo, PhD, BeL, is titled: “Getting the Facts About Organ Donation After Death: Church Teachings and Medical Realities.”

Countless lives have been saved through vital organ transplantation. The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes organ donation after death as a “noble and meritorious act” (2296). At the same time, it highlights the dead donor rule and the need for explicit consent. There are concerns about proper informed consent when a person signs up at the Department of Motor Vehicles, has never discussed it with a medical professional, and is unaware of how it actually works. For example, people considering organ donation may not understand what “brain death” is, how it is determined in practice, and how this relates to Church teaching on vital organ donation. Moving forward, patients considering organ donation after death should understand the latest medical facts and relevant moral principles in order to make well-informed decisions.