In 1968, a report from a Harvard Medical School committee proposed the concept of "brain death" as a new criterion for determining human death, making possible the procurement of "living" organs from bodies diagnosed as “dead” by neurological criteria.
 
This conference will:
 
  • Explore how the Harvard report impacted the development of organ transplantation
  • Examine the scientific and philosophical foundations for determination of death by neurological or circulatory criteria
  • Discuss the controversial case of Jahi McMath from the perspectives of neurology, bioethics, and society
  • Debate alternative views about the ethics of organ procurement
  • Consider the impact of new technologies—such as gene editing and 3-D printing—that could radically alter these debates by eliminating the need for human organ donors

About ABC
The Harvard Medical School Annual Bioethics Conference (ABC) convenes leaders in the field each April
to explore ethical questions and concerns in health care.
Schedule of Events
The conference will examine a breadth of issues related to determination of death using a variety of presentation formats— from panels to presentations. View the full schedule and details here.
Meet the experts
Ample time is scheduled in each session to engage with colleagues and leading experts. Conference presenters represent a variety of fields including transplant medicine, law, biology, neurology, philosophy and more.
Poster submissions
A limited number of posters will be accepted for presentation during the conference. The submission deadline for abstracts is February 26 at 5 p.m. ET.

Brain Death and the Controversial Case of Jahi McMath
The conference kicks off with a free evening public forum on Wednesday, April 11.
Featured speakers include:

Robert Truog, MD, moderator
D. Alan Shewmon, MD, a neurologist's view
Arthur L. Caplan, PhD, a bioethicist's view
Michele Goodwin, JD, a social scientist's view

Location and time to be announced. Register here.
Conference Logistics
Joseph B. Martin Conference Center
In the heart of Boston's Longwood Medical Area, the Joseph B. Martin Conference Center at Harvard Medical School is easily accessible by public transit. Directions

Travel and Lodging
A discounted conference rate is available at the Inn at Longwood. Learn more about local accommodations and public transportation in Boston.

Registration
The Harvard Annual Bioethics conference is open to the public, registration and a $50 fee are required to attend.

The Center for Bioethics is dedicated to keeping our educational programs affordable. If this fee would prevent you from attending, please contact the Center for Bioethics at 617-432-2570 and we will be happy to assist you.

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Join the conversation!
Harvard Medical School Center for Bioethics
#HarvardBioethics
The Harvard Annual Bioethics Conference   is hosted and organized by the  Center for Bioethics  at Harvard Medical School and co-sponsored by  the Hastings Center  and the  Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology, and Bioethics  at Harvard Law School with support from the Oswald DeN. Cammann Fund at Harvard University.
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