Healthcare Reform in America:
An Ethical Challenge

Public Discussion

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

A panel of experts explores the moral dimensions of the current debates over American healthcare reform efforts, with the focus on identifying the principles that should frame and inform current health reform legislation. In addition to examining the principles driving reform efforts (and its opposition), this program will address what the U.S. can learn from the various healthcare systems found around the world and how those systems were achieved.

The resulting dialogue will promote a deeper understanding of the ethical issues surrounding health system reform and encourage rigorous discussion for future personal and public policy decisions.

Sponsored by the Parr Center for Ethics and the Health Focus Committee of the Campus Y. This event is free and open to the public.

Location: Rosenau Hall, Room 133, 6:30pm.

Parking: The closest free parking is available after 5:30pm on this day in the deck underneath the FedEx Global Education Center building. Access to the deck is off of McCauley St. Parking is also available in the Dogwood Parking Deck across from UNC Hospital.

Opening Presentation:

A short history of health system reform efforts and summary of current federal legislation by Professor Jon Oberlander.

Panelists:

Ralph Byrns, Adjunct Professor, Department of Economics.

Jon Oberlander, Associate Professor, Department of Social Medicine in the School of Medicine, Department of Health Policy Management in the Gillings School of Global Public Health; Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Political Science.

Winston Parris, Professor of Anesthesiology, Division Chief, Pain Management, Duke University School of Medicine.

Tom Ricketts, Professor of Health Policy and Administration and Social Medicine; Director of the Health Policy Analysis Unit, Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research.

Greg Salmieri, Lecturer and Fellow in Objectivity and Values, Department of Philosophy.

Lin Zinser, Vice President of Public Outreach, Ayn Rand Center of Individual Rights.

Moderator:

Jan Boxill, Director, Parr Center for Ethics, Senior Lecturer, Department of Philosophy