Lecture topics
Dr. Daniel Eisenberg lectures to synagogue groups, community groups, high school classes, medical school classes, and kollelim, and is available to lecture to audiences of various religious backgrounds on the approach of traditional Judaism to contemporary medical ethics issues. Lectures and scholar in residence arrangements may be made by contacting Dr. Eisenberg directly. Dr. Eisenberg is a member of The National Council of Young Israel speakers bureau (NCYI) and the United Jewish Communities (UJC) speakers bureau.
For potential lecture topics, see the Previous Lectures section.
You can listen to some of Dr. Eisenberg's prior lectures at Torahcafe.com.
Dr. Eisenberg is learned on many topics so if you have a different topic that you want to be spoken about that is not on this list you may contact Dr. Eisenberg.
General
1. Why we need "Jewish" medical ethics: the importance of learning Jewish medical ethics and its impact on decision-making
2. From where do we derive Jewish medical ethics?
3. The Shulchan Aruch: A Jewish code of medical ethics
4. The Jewish approach to current biomedical ethical issues
5. Introduction to the halachic process: A case study
6. Maimonides the physician: Applying Maimonides’ approach to modern medical ethics issues.
7. Refaenu- the prayer for healing.
The Practice of Medicine
1. Who is a doctor? The definition and role of the physician in Judaism
2. The physician's obligation to heal: four Biblical perspectives
3. Physician-assisted suicide: is it ever permitted?
4. Professional confidentiality in Jewish law
5. Alternative medicine in Jewish law
6. Is self-endangerment permitted to save someone else?
The Patient
1. Using patients for teaching: informed consent?
2. Participation in human research
3. Experimental and risky treatment from a Jewish perspective
4. Patient autonomy and consent
5. Healthy lifestyles- is there an obligation to protect one's health?
6. The obligation of the individual to seek medical care
7. Is cosmetic surgery permitted in Jewish law?
8. Is there a right to healthcare?
9. Autonomy and consent from a Jewish perspective
New Technologies
1. Halacha Confronts Modern Technology: Jewish Medical Ethics Reexamined
2. The ethics of genetic screening from a Jewish perspective
3. Is stem cell research ethical? / Stem cell research: the Jewish response
End of Life
1. Ethical issues at the end of life
2. Nutrition and hydration in the terminally ill patient
3. A Jewish approach to brain death and dealing with the observant family
4. Medical and halachic perspectives on advanced directives and other end of life choices
5. End of life: the concept of goses and the determination of death from a Jewish perspective
6. Autopsy and Transplant from a Jewish perspective
7. The Jewish approach to issues arising from proposals to allow compensation to organ donors
8. Is euthanasia ever permitted?
9. Advanced directives (living wills) and healthcare proxies in Jewish law
10. Praying for a patient to die while working to extend life: Navigating the inherent tension in Jewish tradition between compassion for patient suffering and the custodial obligation to protect and extend life.
Reproductive Issues
1. Ethical issues at the beginning of life
2. Multifetal pregnancy reduction
3. The application of Jewish law to medical ethical issues- Abortion: a case study
4. The interface of disability and Jewish law: Is it ethical to intentionally produce disabled children by IVF?
Social Policy Issues
1. Is managed care ethical?
2. Who lives, who dies, who decides-Allocation of scarce resources in Jewish law
3. Individual versus societal ethics: Does Jewish law allow healthcare planning?
4. Autonomy and consent from a Jewish perspective
5. Issues that affect the practice of halachic medicine- how do we deal with the conflict?
6. Is smoking permitted in Jewish law?
7. Research and development from a Jewish perspective
8. Dilemmas in occupational and legal medicine
9. Respecting parental belief systems: does the child have rights?
10. A Jewish approach to rationing and triage issues: case presentations
11. The ethical stance of the Jewish chaplain in clinical bioethics consultations
12. Immunization from a Jewish perspective
Shabbos and Jewish Holidays
1. Shomer Shabbos residencies: How to find one and how they function
2. Medical treatment on the Sabbath and holidays
3. Does medicine have to be kosher for Passover?
4. May one sent candy to a diabetic for mishloach manos- is it the thought that counts?
1. Why we need "Jewish" medical ethics: the importance of learning Jewish medical ethics and its impact on decision-making
2. From where do we derive Jewish medical ethics?
3. The Shulchan Aruch: A Jewish code of medical ethics
4. The Jewish approach to current biomedical ethical issues
5. Introduction to the halachic process: A case study
6. Maimonides the physician: Applying Maimonides’ approach to modern medical ethics issues.
7. Refaenu- the prayer for healing.
The Practice of Medicine
1. Who is a doctor? The definition and role of the physician in Judaism
2. The physician's obligation to heal: four Biblical perspectives
3. Physician-assisted suicide: is it ever permitted?
4. Professional confidentiality in Jewish law
5. Alternative medicine in Jewish law
6. Is self-endangerment permitted to save someone else?
The Patient
1. Using patients for teaching: informed consent?
2. Participation in human research
3. Experimental and risky treatment from a Jewish perspective
4. Patient autonomy and consent
5. Healthy lifestyles- is there an obligation to protect one's health?
6. The obligation of the individual to seek medical care
7. Is cosmetic surgery permitted in Jewish law?
8. Is there a right to healthcare?
9. Autonomy and consent from a Jewish perspective
New Technologies
1. Halacha Confronts Modern Technology: Jewish Medical Ethics Reexamined
2. The ethics of genetic screening from a Jewish perspective
3. Is stem cell research ethical? / Stem cell research: the Jewish response
End of Life
1. Ethical issues at the end of life
2. Nutrition and hydration in the terminally ill patient
3. A Jewish approach to brain death and dealing with the observant family
4. Medical and halachic perspectives on advanced directives and other end of life choices
5. End of life: the concept of goses and the determination of death from a Jewish perspective
6. Autopsy and Transplant from a Jewish perspective
7. The Jewish approach to issues arising from proposals to allow compensation to organ donors
8. Is euthanasia ever permitted?
9. Advanced directives (living wills) and healthcare proxies in Jewish law
10. Praying for a patient to die while working to extend life: Navigating the inherent tension in Jewish tradition between compassion for patient suffering and the custodial obligation to protect and extend life.
Reproductive Issues
1. Ethical issues at the beginning of life
2. Multifetal pregnancy reduction
3. The application of Jewish law to medical ethical issues- Abortion: a case study
4. The interface of disability and Jewish law: Is it ethical to intentionally produce disabled children by IVF?
Social Policy Issues
1. Is managed care ethical?
2. Who lives, who dies, who decides-Allocation of scarce resources in Jewish law
3. Individual versus societal ethics: Does Jewish law allow healthcare planning?
4. Autonomy and consent from a Jewish perspective
5. Issues that affect the practice of halachic medicine- how do we deal with the conflict?
6. Is smoking permitted in Jewish law?
7. Research and development from a Jewish perspective
8. Dilemmas in occupational and legal medicine
9. Respecting parental belief systems: does the child have rights?
10. A Jewish approach to rationing and triage issues: case presentations
11. The ethical stance of the Jewish chaplain in clinical bioethics consultations
12. Immunization from a Jewish perspective
Shabbos and Jewish Holidays
1. Shomer Shabbos residencies: How to find one and how they function
2. Medical treatment on the Sabbath and holidays
3. Does medicine have to be kosher for Passover?
4. May one sent candy to a diabetic for mishloach manos- is it the thought that counts?