If you lurk on the parents’ listserv, you probably know that they’ve been working themselves into a tizzy over Gardasil, the new HPV vaccine. If you’re considering getting the shot or are interested in bioethics, check out this lecture.
The HPV vaccine is in the middle of a firestorm of controversy. The new vaccine made by Merck has proven very safe and highly effective against some of the strains of papilloma virus that cause genital warts and cervical cancer. But its high cost, intense lobbying by Merck, concerns about the vaccine’s impact on sexual behavior and worries about vaccine safety have hindered the vaccines acceptance. Should this new vaccine be mandated? Why is it only being offered to young women? Why is the cost so high? What can be done to insure easy access in the developed and developing world to this vaccine?
Arthur Caplan is a nationally and internationally renowned expert who has helped bring the field of bioethics to a new level of popular recognition over the past 25 years. He is currently the Emanuel & Robert Hart Professor of Bioethics, Chair of the Department of Medical Ethics and Director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania . Dr. Caplan is the author or editor of over 23 books and has served on the boards of numerous national committees and organizations, is a frequent guest and commentator for many media outlets, and writes a regular column on bioethics for MSNBC.com. His research focuses on transplantation research ethics, genetics, reproductive technologies, health policy, and general bioethics.
Join us as Dr. Caplan guides us through this interdisciplinary debate, and highlights both the popular and academic discussions over this important but contentious topic.
Date: Thursday, April 5
Time: 4:15 p.m.
Venue: Shanklin 107
Sponsored by: SGAC, MB&B, NS&B, WesWell, SALD, Campus Progress, ResLife, and the Office of the DOC