The diagnostic and clinical criteria for diagnosing persistent vegetative state.

Physicians have a right to conscientiously object to procedures and therapies that they find to be morally objectionable.

The Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care are the basis of Catholic health care practices.

The principle of double effect and proportionate reason can be a useful way of assessing actions as moral or immoral.

Physicians do not have to give therapies or perform procedures that they judge to be futile and Catholic patients have the moral right to determine what is extraordinary or ordinary care.

The Catholic Church demonstrates a preferential option for the poor not only by providing charity but also by demanding justice for the poor.

The Catholic Health Association of the United States has chosen to allow the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services to supersede Pope John Paul II’s allocution on patients in a permanent vegetative state.

A response to a March 2007 Virtual Mentor clinical pearl about the diagnoses made on the television show House.

A graduate of Georgetown medical school explains the rich moral training in social justice and commitment to humanity she received at that Jesuit institution.

Introduces a Virtual Mentor theme issue on professionalism based on New York University's medical school professionalism portfolio program.