ASIAN FEDERATION OF CATHOLIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONS

Christmas Message from Dr Loh

2012-01-01T20:25:00.000+08:00

My Dear Brothers and sisters in Christ,
May the peace and Love of Christ be with you all.Today is indeed a happy day for us christians as we are celebrating the birth of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This will be my last christmas message to you as my tenure of office will be over in oct.2012 at the 15th AFCMA congress in Bali, Indonesia.
As I reflect on the past events of the year the most significant event was the triple disasters of earthquake, tsunami and radiation leakage that affected the North East coast of Japan. Our Japanese colleagues from the Japan Association Catholic Medical Association led by Dr. buichi did a wonderful job in helping the victims of the tragedies. Our AFCMA member countries viz. Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan and Singapore responded magnificently to the call for help by our Brothers and sisters from JCMA by contributing generously to the JCMA Fund for Tsunami Disaster of Japan. This augurs well for AFCMA and shows the excellent co-operation and compassion that our fellow AFCMA member countries have for each other.
I would now like to remind you to attend the 15th AFCMA Congress in Bali, Indonesia which is co-hosted by the Indonesian Catholic Medical Community (ICMC whose President is Dr. Ignatius Harjadi) and PERDHAKI (Dr. Felix Gunawan is the Executixe Director).The Congress will be held from 18-21 Oct.2012 and the theme is "The Challenges of Catholic Doctors in the Changing World".The Organising Committee led by Dr. Albert Hendarta is working very hard to ensure the success of the Congress. They hope to have a total of 600 participants.
Year 2011 has not been a good year for us all as torrential rain and floods have played havoc to most of our Asian countries especially Thailand, Phillipines, Malaysia, etc resulting in loss of lives and damage to properties.
At the last AFCMA Congress in Hong Kong HE Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan exhorted us to reach out to those Asian countries which are not yet members of AFCMA.Actually India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka used to be members of AFCMA but unfortunately we have lost contact with their representatives. The previous contact from Pakistan Dr. Waris Khan has migrated. Fortunaetely God has Blessed us with two new countries viz. Vietnam and Cambodia. We look foward to seeing the Catholic Healthcare Workers Association of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (led by Dr. Pham Chi Lan and Rev. Father John Toai) and the Cambodian Catholic Healthcare Workers Association (led by Nurse Paola and soon to be Dr. Savoeun)at our 15th AFCMA Congress in Bali in Oct.2012.Dr. Jang Sang Park was elected to be in charge of memberships at the AFCMA Congress in 2008.We hope to get some more representatives from the Asian countries. So if you have any contact please let us know.
Another matter that I need to bring to your attention is the Bioethics Booklet. Dr. Edna Monzon Chair Person of our AFCMA Bioethics Committee has pledged to complete writing this important Booklet and hand it to us before the next Congress in Oct.2012. Meanwhile Dr. Edna is busily compiling all the relevant information together with the other Members of the Bioethics Committee. This is the Handbook on Bioethics for Catholic Healthcare Workers. It will be very useful for us Catholic Healthcare Givers as it will teach/remind us to follow the Teachings of the Magisterium and apply it to our daily lives.So please help us to pray for for the succesful completion of this Bioethics Booklet.
The above are two challenges that our AFCMA have to face with before the 15th AFCMA Congress in Bali in Oct.2012 viz. (1) to get more Asian countries to join AFCMA and
(2) the production of the Bioethics Booklet for Catholic Healthcare Workers. We sincerely hope that we will be able to achieve our targets.
Finally I conclude with St. Paul's Letter to the Phillipians 4:13----" I have the power to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me". This is to remind ourselves that if we have faith in Christ then nothing is impossible as He lives in us.
Thank you and God Bless and have a Blessed Christmas everyone!
In Jesus Christ,
Dr. Freddie Loh
President AFCMA

Visit to VIETNAM

2011-12-12T12:54:00.003+08:00

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I have recently just came back from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam where I was fortunate to meet up with our Brothers and Sisters from the Catholic Healthcare Workers Association of Ho Chi Minh City to advise them to join AFCMA/FIAMC and also invited them to attend our 15th AFCMA Congress in Bali, Indonesia from 18-21 Oct.2012. The Catholic Healthcare Workers Association of Ho Chi Minh City has already been formed and Rev. Father John Toai is the Association's chaplain. Dr. Pham thi Chi Lan and Dr. Nhuyen Dang Phan are the Association's President and Vice-President respectively.
I am enclosing some of the photos that we took together in Ho Chi Minh City. Please note these two places with the signboards viz. (1) Phong Kham Mai Khoi. This is the New Mai Khoi Clinic that The Japan catholic Medical Association (JCMA) led by Dr. Buichi, Catholic Doctors Association of Western Australia led by Dr. Lennard Chan and Catholic Doctors Association of Malaysia (CDAM) represented by me helped to relocate. The old Mai Khoi Clinic was situated in an old shophouse and the owner wanted to take it back. This New Mai Khoi Clinic is situated in a Church compound in HCMC and treats both normal patients and HIV patients. The signboard depicting "Phong Kham Mai Khoi" means Mai Khoi Clinic or Our Lady of the Rosary Clinic. I am indeed glad that I was able to visit the clinic with the Members of the Catholic Healthcare Association of Ho Chi Minh City and took the photo together with them to show it to our other members from AFCMA.
(2)Another place that I visited was Mai Am Mai Tam which is the Sheltered Home for abandoned children from 3 to 16 years old children whose parents have died of HIV. This place is situated in the Thu Duc District and is about 20 minutes from the HCMC centre. It houses 30 children and belongs to the Archdiocese of HCMC and under the pastoral care of Rev. Father John Toai. There are altogether 75 children housed in 3 separate Homes as each building can take in only 30 children. The children are divided into groups where 5 children are under the care of a "Mother" who herself had been treated for HIV.The "Mother" is paid a nominal salary to look after the children. Dr. Chi Lan informs me that it costs about USD4,000 per month to run the Mai Am Mai Tam Shelter or Shelter of Hope. The words Mai Am Mai Tam means Mary Immaculate Heart Shelter.
The members of the Catholic Healthcare Association of Ho Chi Minh City under the care of Dr. Chi Lan And Dr. Phan are a vibrant and enthusiastic group dedicated to doing God's work. They will be an asset to AFCMA/FIAMC. They have said that they wish to attend our 15th AFCMA Congress in Bali in Oct.2012 but will need some partial subsidy. We certainly look foward to welcoming them in Bali where Dr. Chi Lan can present the Country Report to tell us what and how their Association is doing to help the unfortunate and underprivileged members of their beloved country of Vietnam.
In Jesus Christ,
Dr. Freddie Loh,
President AFCMA

Please paste the following website to your browser to assess the photographs taken in Vietnam:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=112571512937068420327&target=ALBUM&id=5678903661388350225&authkey=Gv1sRgCM3L3aa_o7ataw&invite=CK_o1bMH&feat=email

CDAM Council

2011-11-21T09:35:00.003+08:00

We would like to congratulate the Catholic Doctors Association of Malaysia on their new Council which was recently elected at their Annual General Meeting:-

President: Dr David Kumar
Vice President: Dr Melvin Raj
Secretary: Dr Juliet Matthew
Treasurer: Dr Beulah Rasan
Committee Members: Dr Freddie Loh
Dr Anthony Samy
Dr Raj
Auditors: Dr Francis Lopez & Dr Gnanapragasam

We give the new council our best wishes on their new appointments and may Gob bless them and guide them in their mission.

15th AFCMA Congress, 18th -21st Oct 2012, Bali, Indonesia

2011-10-06T21:23:00.007+08:00

Official Congress website:

www.afcma2012.com

Please visit the above website if you need to register for the Congress.

For further information please contact Dr Albert Hendarta at following Email:

hendarta@hcm-excellence.com

15th AFCMA Congress, Bali

2011-09-27T20:24:00.000+08:00

Dear Colleagues, Presidents of AFCMA member countries,

Dear Fathers, Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

On behalf of the committee, it is my pleasure to announce that the 15th AFCMA Congress will be held on 18 – 21 October 2012, in Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotel in Bali, Indonesia. As you perhaps know, Indonesia was appointed as the host for the next AFCMA Congress. Please see attached the first announcement. The congress website is www.afcma2012.com, which will be updated from time to time.

I do hope that all of you, Board and Members of AFCMA will make a note in your calendar for this important date, so that you can schedule your presence at the congress from now on. I would also urge Board and Members in other regions within FIAMC to come and attend the Congress.

The Organizing Committee has chosen Bali as the location of this congress, to attract more participants. Most of you would have heard of Bali as one of the favorite tourist destinations in the world. We assure you that aside from the interesting topics that will be discussed in the congress, there will also be opportunity for you to see the beauty of the Paradise Island of Bali.

Please go through the following pages in this announcement, especially the Congress Programme. There are still some vacancies for congress speakers that you may be able to fill. The topic can be related to the main theme, subtheme or as free papers. Please let me know if you are interested to be one of the speakers.

With this announcement I would like to welcome you to the 15th AFCMA Congress in Bali, and encourage you to register early.

With my warmest regards,

In Christ,

Albert Hendarta, MD, MPH.

Mobile: +62 811 21 9515

Email: hendarta@hcm-excellence.com; hcm.alberthendarta@gmail.com

Update from the President

2011-07-17T22:51:00.000+08:00

Dear Friends from other member countries of FIAMC,
Allow me to update you on two important happenings in Asia one recent and the other in Oct.2012.
In March 2011 North East Japan was struck with the triple disasters of Earthquake, Tsunami and RadiationLeakage from the Fukushima power plant. According to Dr. Buichi Ishijima President of the Japan Catholic Medical association (JCMA) thousands of people were dead or missing and 25 towns and villages along the North East coast of Japan were swept away. Tha JCMA responded magnificently by sending its members to help in the affected areas but were overwhelmed by the magnitude of the triple disasters.JCMA then appealed to the international community for help by sending donations to the "JCMA Fund For Tsunami Disaster of Japan".The money would be used to purchase drugs and other medical necessities fot those affected by the disasters. Our own member countries of AFCMA were shocked and distressed and chipped in by asking their members to help our Dear Japanese Brothers and Sisters by donating to the"JCMA Fund...".Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan and Singapore were among the countries which responded. Besides these our Asian countries also sent donations via Caritas from our local Churches raised from the parishioners..Due to the magnitude of the disasters Divine Intervention was essential. Therefor all of us offerred special prayers to ask our Lord Jesus to put a stop to the holocaust and comfort those affected by the disasters and help them to relive their lives again.
We are glad to say that the worse is over now and that Japan is on the road to recovery although the problem with the radiation leakage at the Fukushima power plants is not entirely over. The Japanese people and JCMA must be congratulated for their resilience in overcoming the grief and sufferings caused by the triple disasters.
I would now like to inform you that the 15th AFCMA Congress will be held in Bali Indonesia from 18-21 Oct.2011. The theme of the Congress is "The Challenges of Catholic Doctors in the Changing World".The Indonesian Catholic Medical Community (ICMC) and Perdhaki are jointly organising this important event. Some of the members of the Organising Committee are (1) Dr.Albert Hendarta-- Organising Chairman (2)Dr. Ignatius Widjaja-- President of ICMC and(3) Dr. Felix Gunawan-- Scientific Chairman.
Bali is a beautilful island with tropical forests, sandy beaches, coral reefs and fantastic shopping outlets. It will be a wonderful opportunity for those of you who have not been to Bali to come and join us in our 15th AFCMA Congress from 18-21 Oct.2012.On behalf of Dr. Albert Hendarta and the Organising Committee I would like to invite you to come for an Update on the many challenges that we Catholic Doctors are facing in the Changing World. After the Congress you can extend your stay in Bali to enjoy the many interesting facets that beautiful Bali has to offer.
Finally the Organising Committee will be sending out the First Announcement in the near future and we look foward to seeing some of you in Bali in from 18-21Oct.2012.Please keep those dates free.
Thank you and God Bless!
In Jesus,
Dr. Freddie Loh,
President AFCMA.

Easter Greetings from Dr Freddie Loh

2011-05-04T23:13:00.000+08:00

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
On Good Friday Jesus's last 3 words before he gave up his spirit was "It is finished" John 19.30 i.e. his mission on earth was accomplished. He came and died on the Cross in order to redeem our sins so that we can have eternal life!
On the 3rd day i.e. Easter Sunday He rose from the dead to show that He has conquered death and sin. All Praise and Glory go to our Lord Jesus Christ!
Today is Easter Sunday. Jesus Christ is risen. Hallellulia! We too have risen with Him. Let us all celebrate this joyous occassion together. Happy Easter everyone!
In Jesus Christ,
Dr. Freddie Loh.

Christmas Message from Dr Loh

2011-01-24T14:26:00.001+08:00

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
It is time that once again we sit down and spend time together with our loved ones to celebrate the birth of our lord Jesus Christ. We are called to behave like the Holy Family i.e. like Joseph,Mother Mary and Jesus. While we celebrate Christmas we must thank God for giving us the wonderful things that he has given us and we must not forget that there are people out there who are marginalised, living in fear of the authorities and barely have enough food to eat for sustenance.
I wish to now inform you that I have just come back from Phnom Ponh Cambodia after a Medical mission Trip to Cambodia with Dr. John Lee and his Singapore group of Catholic Doctors and Dentists , Medical and Dental students and the Parishioners from different parishes of Singapore. I must thank John for allowing me to join in his Medical Mission to Cambodia called ACTS or Advent Cambodian Trips which have been an eye opener for me. I am sure that John and the Singapore Catholic Doctors Association (Dr. Sally Ho) will be describing to you more in detail at our next AFCMA Congress in Bali under Singapore's Country report.
For those of you who wish to come to Cambodia you must visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. This was a former school converted into a prison by the Pol Pot Regime designed for the detention, interrogation, inhuman torture and killing of the detainees after their confession were received and documented. Altogether about 20,000 prisoners were killed. The Cambodian people had been living through a nightmare in the nineteen seventies. It is hoped that by making the crimes of the inhuman regime public it will prevent new Pol Pot from emerging anywhere on earth!
Different well meaning groups have come to help the people of Cambodia and to rebuild their lives. That is why John and Priscilla Lee's mission here is very welcome by the Cambodian people. The Don Bosco Salesian Sisters have set up schools to helpto educate the young childrenwho have to walk a few kilometers barefeet to school as there is no transport whilst the Missionaries of Mercy (Mother Teresa's) have a Home for the sick.
Dr. John Lee and myself met up with His Grace Bishop Olivier and he was very keen to my suggestion of setting up a Cambodian Catholic Health Care Association so that they will be more organised in their work. The Association can then apply to join AFCMA as a temporary affiliate member and join in our activities. Presently they have about 10 members mainly medical students which Savouen graduating next year.I sincerely hope that as promised by Ms Paola and Mr. Savouen that their Association will be formed within 6 months.
Finally I wish to remind those member countries who wish to help our Indonesian colleagues in Organising the15th AFCMA Congress to pay up their donation towards the AFCMA Sponsorship Fund now. Please pay to Perdhaki whose Banking details I have already given to you earlier. So far the Catholic Doctors Association of Malaysia (CDAM) have donated USD 500 whislt AFCMA itself contributed USD1,000.Please let me and Dr. Chong Khin Yam and myself know once your Association have donated so that it will be recorded in AFCMA's Treasurer's Report in 2012.
Thank you, God Bless Everyone and have a Blessed Christmas.
In Jesus Christ,
Dr. Freddie Loh,
President AFCMA.

Antidepressants and the Dying

2010-11-02T11:30:00.002+08:00

Here is a question on bioethics asked by a ZENIT reader and answered by the fellows of the Culture of Life Foundation.

Q: What are some ethical issues surrounding the taking of anti-depressants? Does their mood-altering effect raise moral problems for people preparing their consciences for death? -- K.N., Augusta, USA.

E. Christian Brugger offers the following response.

A: There are many brands of antidepressants on the market today divided over several drug categories (or classes). An older class known as tricyclics came into widespread use in the 1950s and 60s. Common brand names include Elavil and Pamelor. A newer class known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) came into common use in the late 1980s and 1990s and are still widely prescribed (including the famous drugs Prosac and Zoloft). One of the newest classes of the last 10 years, called selective serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSNRIs), includes the popular brands Cymbalta and Effexor. In addition to depression, antidepressant drugs are also prescribed for anxiety, bipolar disease, eating disorders and chronic pain.

All three classes work at the cellular level of the brain blocking the absorption of brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters, believed to be involved in mood. The two most common neurotransmitters targeted by these meds are serotonin and norepinephrine.

Some fear that because they are involved in the altering of a person's mood, taking antidepressants is morally analogous to the taking of illicit mood-altering drugs.

I believe this is incorrect. Neurotransmitter medications, at least for depression and anxiety, when effective -- and they often are ineffective even when medically indicated -- ordinarily do not induce a "high," but work rather by restoring mood to a measure of statistical normality in one whose mood has grown flat and darkened, or has been shadowed by anxiety.

Whether or not antidepressants are advisable or promise symptomatic relief for certain individuals is a clinical question; and nobody reading this article should take what I say as clinical advice. My purpose here is to address moral questions surrounding the legitimacy of taking antidepressants for clinically indicated conditions.

The principal purpose of legitimately prescribed medications is therapeutic, that is, ordered toward the restoration of health. People suffering from major depression, dysthymia (low level chronic depression), chronic anxiety, panic attacks or bipolar disease are suffering from real health disorders. Medicine has demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt that these conditions have a distinct biological dimension. Data indicates that that dimension can be positively benefited by antidepressant medications.

These conditions might also have what clinical psychology calls a behavioral dimension. And I firmly believe that one's voluntary choosing and thinking can contribute to the exacerbation or minimization of the effects of many psychic disorders. It is unquestionably the case that for persons diagnosed with these types of disorders, some behavioral changes will be necessary to restoring long-term therapeutic health. But antidepressants can and should sometimes be part of a comprehensive therapeutic plan.

That said, antidepressants can cause significant side effects that burden one's life, affect one's relationships and limit one's range of activity. Moreover, similar to wearing glasses, one's neurochemistry after taking antidepressants for extended periods can establish new levels of normality on the medication. And so people who cease taking the meds will sometimes feel worse than before going on them. Finally, the newer classes of antidepressants are very expensive and can burden one's budget especially during economic downturns such as our own.

In making a good morally informed decision about beginning or continuing treatment with one of these drugs, consideration of these possible burdens should be factored in.

The question above asks specifically about the use of anti-depressants for persons preparing for death. The only uses of the meds for which I am familiar in end-of-life care are for treating the psychic states of those with terminal conditions. Those conditions, involving as they do bodily deterioration, can precipitate or exacerbate the types of neurochemical imbalances that correspond to states such as depression. In other words, as one's biology deteriorates, the biological basis for depression will often increase. Fear of dying might also play a role in one's mental state.

If such persons exhibit signs of depression, not only is it legitimate to treat them with antidepressant medications, it can be, in my opinion, a requisite part of palliative care (i.e., relieving distress involved in the dying process). Studies consistently illustrate that those patients most vulnerable to euthanasia are suffering from (among other things) treatable depression. For persons consigned to a bed because of incapacitating illness, behavioral options may be limited, so medications may be one of the few options available.

If health care workers appear unconcerned about the mood of the dying, then family members and other caregivers should insist that the patient's mood be taken seriously.

If the administration of antidepressants causes severe side effects that inhibit a person from conscientiously preparing himself or herself for death, then patients might rightly forgo their use as "excessively burdensome."

But if a patient is suffering from psychological distress of some sort as a (biological and/or environmental) result of a terminal condition, or if they have a history of mood disorders, and antidepressant medications can promise some relief, then treating them with these medications is no more morally suspect than treating them for chronic pain.

2010-09-28T11:59:00.002+08:00

Following is a reprint of the letter sent by our president to the Catholic Newspaper in Malaysia(HERALD):
I am enclosing the text of my letter addressed to the Editor of the Malaysian Herald Catholic Weekly News letter dated 19Sept.2010 issuefor your perusal and ? comments. This was written is in response to the letter written by a concerned Parishioner who was disturbed by the news that Japanese Medical scientists disposed of human embryos at the end of stem cell manoeuvers.
"Dear Editor,
I refer to Bobby George's article on 'Defenceless embryos cannot cry: Time to act'. We wish to assure him that we Catholic doctors also firmly believe that life begins at conception and is inviolable and must be respected.'Thou shall not kill' is one of our main Commandments and 'I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly'
(John 10:10) are repeatedly mentioned in our Holy Father John Paul II's 'The Gospel of Life' reminding us of the sacredness of humanlife.
The Japan Catholic Medical Association (JCMA) together with the Central Bishops' Association of Japan had in July 2008 already sent their protests against their Government's draft proposal to create human embryos for 'research purposes' in Japan but their protests were ignored. This is the second time that the Ministry of Education and Science have again called for the final public opinion regarding their proposal to create human embryos for 'research purposes' as it is aware of the ethical considerations involved. Let us pray that the Japanese Government will listen to their own people and act wisely.
Recently the Catholic Doctors' Association of Taiwan R.O.C. was involved in opposing their Government's views on surrogate mothers.An Artificial Act on Reproduction passed in 2007 had regarded a woman's body and the foetus as tools which are dehumanising to the mother-child relationship. The Taiwanese doctors pointed out that the Catholic Church in Taiwan instead supported the natural way of promoting impregnation called Natural Procreative Technology or NAPRO. By using treatments that work together with the women's menstrual and fertility cycles at the Cardinal Tien Hospital, they have helped many couples to give birth succesfully. Many of these couples have been unsuccesful previously when they used artificial reproductive technology. Both NAPRO and BOM (Billings Ovulation Method) are accepted by the Catholic Church as natural family planning methods and have helped many sub-fertile women to conceive.
In conclusion we doctors including the Catholic Doctors Association of Malaysia (CDAM) are doing what we can to defend our Church's teachings in our daily lives at home and at work. We look froward to working closely with other health care workers in this respect as we are part of the team.
Dr. Freddie Loh,
President,
Asian Federation of Catholic Medical Associations (AFCMA)"

Update on Billings Ovulation Method

2010-08-11T18:10:00.001+08:00

Study on the Billings Ovulation Method™ and the Achievement of Pregnancy
1/1/1999 – 31/12/2003
Study conducted by Research Team of Ovulation Method Research and
Reference Centre of Australia Ltd

Summary of Results
Study involved all couples who expressed a desire to achieve a pregnancy and
who attended 17 Australian Billings Ovulation Method™ clinics within the required
time frame.

Total Participants 449
Outcome known 358
Outcome unknown 91

Total pregnancies 278 of 358
Pregnancy Rate 78%
Known Live Birth rate 61%
Possible Live Birth rate*
*14 still pregnant at end of study;
outcome of pregnancy unknown for 62 couples.
88%
Average months trying to achieve for all couples in study
before coming to Billings Ovulation Method™ clinic 15 months
Average months from initial instruction in Billings Ovulation Method™ to conception 4.7 months
Couples who were childless 60%
Prior knowledge of signs of fertility 18%

207 women in the study were classified as sub-fertile – trying to achieve a pregnancy for more than 12 months
(e.g. 20 couples had been unsuccessful with IVF/AI – 7 achieved pregnancy with Billings Ovulation Method™) Outcome known for 172:

Known pregnancy rate for this sub-fertile group 111/172 65%
65 subjects over 38 yrs old - known pregnancy rate 32/48 66%
93% stated they were satisfied and would recommend Billings Ovulation Method™ to others.

95% stated that the Billings Ovulation Method™ gave an understanding of fertility and infertility

From: Marian Corkill

FIAMC Lourdes Congress 6th to 9th May 2010

2010-05-25T21:46:00.002+08:00

Following is an account of Dr Freddie Loh's sharing of the FIAMC Congress at Lourdes recently.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Here is a brief summary of the 23rd FIAMC's Lourdes Congress that was recently successfully concluded. Prior to the Congress the FIAMC Exco. Committee meeting was held and Dr. Peter Au-Yeong and Dr. Edna Monzon graciously agreed to represent Dr. Buichi Ishijima and myself at short notice as we were unable to attend in time.Dr. Peter Au-Yeong read the AFCMA's President report prepared by me.
AFCMA was well represented at the Congress. The following show the country and their no. of representatives:
(1) Indonesia 24 headed by Dr. Ignatius and Dr. Albert Hendarta(the Organising Chairman of the 15th AFCMA Congress in Bali in 2012)
(2)Malaysia 13 headed by Dr. Frederick Yap
(3)Singapore 11 headed by Dr. John Lee and Father Gino
(4)Hong Kong 4 headed by Dr. Peter Au-yeong
(5)Phillipines 2 headed by Dr. Edna Monzon and
(6) India 4 headed by Father Dr. Stephen Fernandes
(7)Vietnam 1 rep.by Dr. Pham Chi Lan
(8)Myanmar by Dr. May Thu Lynn (our new AFCMA member)
Also present was Dr. Eamonn from Australia who represented Oceana.
The Theme of the Congress was "Our Faith As Physicians" with 4 sub-themes viz. God the Creator, Jesus Christ Suffering and Healing, the Spirit of Life, and The Church, The Body of Christ.There was also a session on Pro-Life.
The Congress was officially declared open by His Excellency Mgr. Zymunt ZIMOWSKI President of the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Health Care on 6 May 2010.
Besides the Scientific Program we also had other activities as this was also our pilgrimage to Lourdes. We had masses at the Grotto (where our Lady appeared to St. Bernadette),Rosary Basilica and the underground Basilica St. Pius X.We walked along with the others at the Marian Procession carrying candles at night and also the Eucharistic Procession,Adoration and Blessing of the Sick. We drank the holy water from the "Taps" of Lourdes and carriedthe water home in bottles in the figurine of our Lady to be given to our relatives and friends. Some members were fortunate to be able to have their "Bath".
Here are some excerpts from a few of the speakers during the Congress:
(1)Dr. Richard Watson(USA)who spoke on 'Should Christian Physicians incorporate prayer as part of therapy?'said that prayer must be for the truly Catholic Doctor at the very core of the doctor-patient relationship.Every time we come into contact with a patient the interface reflects, 'Chritus Medicus'-Christ the Divine Physician our Healer and Savior interfaces with 'Christus Patiens'Christ the Patient, our Redeemer who sufferred for us and saved us by His wounds.
(2) Father Dr. Stephen Fernandez(India) spoke on 'Life in the Spirit and the Challenging Mission of Medical Professionals'. He said that evetyoneis called to meet the Lord in a life experience and bear witness to Him through personal testimony and through their works of faith and justice.We can never live a full Christian Life without experiencing the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.The Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles at Pentecost and transformed their lives.Dr. Stephen then spoke onthe many challengesthat medical professionals are facing in Asia and esp. in India viz. 3.1 million people in India are living with Aids/Hiv, the resurgence of tuberculosis,etc..
(3) Dr. Nicola NAPOLI (Rome) spoke on new therapeutic approacheswith adult stem cells for regenerative medicine.He said that a major task of contemporary medicine is restoration of human tissues and organs lost to diseaseand trauma.Many approaches to tissue engineering have been hindered by factors such as rejectionby the immune system, limited blood supply or morbidity of the donor site. An interesting development has been the discovery of harvesting adipose derived stem cells. This brings new hope as adipose tissue can be easily harvested in adults and can represent an abundant source of therapeutic cells.
Finally at the General Assembly Dr. Simon Castellvi was re-elected as President of FIAMC. Our own Dr. John Lee (Singapore) was also re-elected as Vice- President of FIAMC for another term of 4 years. Bombay has been selected to host the next FIAMC Congress.
In Jesue Christ,
Dr. Freddie Loh
President AFCMA.

Doctor say many are cured in LOURDES

2010-02-13T08:56:00.000+08:00

The former head of the Lourdes Medical Bureau is affirming that all people can receive a cure at Our Lady's shrine if they pray and hope for it with perseverance.

Doctor Patrick Theillier, who retired from leadership of the Lourdes Medical bureau last year, stated this in an interview with France Catholique.

The cure, he explained, "might not be as spectacular as to be considered a miracle."

However, the physician added, it can affect "in a profound and lasting way the person who experiences it, in all his being, body, soul and spirit."

Doctor Theillier affirmed that "these cures are truly innumerable."

The bureau is a medical organization run by doctors that operates within the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, which, among other things, is responsible for the medical investigation of cures associated with the shrine.

The doctor noted that there are, of course, miraculous cures as well in Lourdes, and 67 have been officially recognized as such.

He affirmed that these miracles are sometimes "necessary," such as at the beginning of the Church. "For faith to increase, it must be supported by miracles," Doctor Theillier said.

Moral sufferings

Yet today, he continued, perhaps more than a century ago, we have a need "to be relieved from moral sufferings and the wounds of life, of a psychological-spiritual order, which goes beyond medicine."

"Here is where Lourdes responds to a very present need, which undoubtedly corresponds more to its original message," the physician stated.

He asserted that these types of "miracles" are "much greater" than the bodily cures, as souls are "regenerated." These miracles, he said, can take place if you desire them, hope with faith, and pray to God.

"Extraordinary physical cures have become rare," Doctor Theillier observed, given that "God acts in the first place through human mediation, through medicine and doctors."

This year, Lourdes will be the site of the international congress for the World Federation for the Catholic Medical Associations. The theme for this May 6-7 event will be "Medicine and Faith."

Doctor Theillier issued an invitation for all doctors worldwide to go to Lourdes on this occasion in order to network with colleagues, hear addresses on the application of faith to medicine, and make a pilgrimage as an "occasion to experience the cure that we all need."

"My hope at this time is that numerous Catholic doctors who suffer much at present because of their faith […] will come to find by Our Lady's side consolation and cure," he said.

He invited all Catholics, "Speak with your doctor!"

The physician concluded, "As those who have come to previous congresses have shown, the doctors who attend will be able to experience God's mercy in this place of graces."

Christmas Message from Dr Freddie Loh

2010-01-02T11:16:00.000+08:00

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The Peace of our Risen Christ be with you!
It has been one year that your New AFCMA Council took office. I will give you a brief outline of some of our activities for the past year.
(1) Relocation of MAI KHOI CLINIC in HCMC, Vietnam. I am glad to inform you that The Catholic Doctors Association of Malaysia (CDAM), Japan Catholic Medical Association (JCMA) led by Dr. Buichi Ishijima together with the Catholic Doctors of Western Australia represented by Dr. Leonard Chan and Dr. Michael Shanahan we managed to raise sufficient funds for our Vietnamese colleagues led by Father John Toai for the latter to relocate their HIV Clinic to new premises in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
(2)Year 2009 was not a good year for our Asian countries.
a) first of all we were all affected by the HINI flu epidemic. Some countries were badly affected resulting in numerous deaths. Our members helped their own countries by giving vaccinations, Tamiflu treatment and advising their Church authorities and the public on preventive measures.
b)Natural disasters also affectedour countries and especially Typhoon Ketsana in the Phillipines and Padang earthquake caused massive damage and loss of lives to the affected countries. CDAM and CHAK (Catholic Health Associations of Korea including the KFCMA (Korean Federation of Catholic Medical Associations) responded magnificently by donating cash to the Catholic Physicians Guild of the Phillipines (CPGP) led by Dr. Edna Monzon and Perdhaki (Association of Catholic Hospitals in Indonesia) led by Dr. Felix Gunawan for them to use for emergency relief work for their countrymen.
c) We are pleased to inform you that we have prepared our own AFCMA letterhead (by courtesy of Dr. K. Y. Chong) which will be used for official functions.
Future Events: a) I must remind you to attend the Lourdes Congress Organised by FIAMC from 6-9 May 2010. The theme for the Congress is "Medicine and Faith". This will be a wonderful opportunity forus go to Lourdes for our Pilgrimage besides attending the scientific sessions. Registration fee is only Euro 350. Closing date for registration is Mid. March 2010. Please register online:
http://pagesperso-orange.fr/theillier/index.htm.
b) the 15th AFCMA Congress will be held in Bali, Indonesia in 2012. ICMC(Indonesian Catholic Medical Community) headed by Dr. Ignatius Widjaja and Perdhaki will be co-hosting the event. Dr. Albert Hendarta is the Organising chairman. Proposed theme is "The Challenges of Catholic Doctors in the Changing World".
Challenges: We need to get more member countries/members to join us. Unfortunately we have lost touch with our members from India, Thailand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. We hope that you can help Dr. Jang Sang Park (Korea) and myself on this matter.
c) Code of Ethics for Catholic Physicians and other Health Care Workers. Dr. Edna Monzon and her Bioethical Committee will be preparing this important booklet for us to prepare us and advise us on bioethical issues involving the Church's Teachings.
Finally iI hope that you will inform us on any important matters involving your country and share it with us eg. The Guild of St. Luke, St. Cosmos and St. Damian organised a sccesful Medical Outreach Program "The Myanmar Missionary Trip 2009". Sister Mary Lou is busy with her Hamdan project in China. Dr. John Lee the Head of our Medical Missions Overseas has finally completed the building of FIAMC's Hospital in Aceh, Indonesia, etc..
Have a Blessed and Joyous Christmas and may HE guide us to do HIS WILL so that others will recognise us by our words and actions.
With love from Christ,
Dr. Freddie Loh,
President AFCMA.

Pope right about AIDS

2009-09-01T11:23:00.001+08:00

The director of Harvard's AIDS Prevention Research Project is affirming that Benedict XVI's position was right in the debate on AIDS and condoms.
Green, an expert on AIDS prevention, said that "as a scientist he was amazed to see the closeness between what the Pope said last March in Cameroon and the results of the most recent scientific discoveries.The condom does not prevent AIDS. Only responsible sexual behavior can address the pandemic. When Benedict XVI said that different sexual behavior should be adopted in Africa, because to put trust in condoms does not serve to fight against AIDS, the international press was scandalized."

The scientist affirmed that the Holy Father spoke the truth. He noted, "The condom can work for particular individuals, but it will not serve to address the situation of a continent. To propose the regular use of the condom as prevention in Africa could have the opposite effect."

He explained the phenomenon of human behavior called "risk compensation," whereby a person "feels protected and thus exposes himself more."

Green highlighted the successful policies that have been implemented in Uganda to battle AIDS, programs based in the "ABC" strategy: "Abstain, Be faithful, and, as a last resource, use a Condom."

He reported: "In the case of Uganda, an impressive result has been obtained in the fight against AIDS. The president was able to tell the truth to his people, to young people, that on occasions some sacrifice, abstinence and fidelity are necessary. The result has been formidable."

AFCMA Outreach Programme

2009-08-20T07:33:00.001+08:00

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

I am happy to inform you that our AFCMA outreach programme to the HIV patients in Ho Chi Min city in Vietnam has been a success. Dr Buichi Ishijima (President of Japan Catholic Association), Dr Takeuichi and Father Yamaguchi joined me in this expedition. Our Vietnamese brothers and sisters led by Father John Toai, Dr Chi Lan and Dr Pham had requested that we help them to relocate the present HIV clinic called Mai Khoi Clinic in Central HCMC as the landowner wanted to take back the land.

They needed about USD 30,000 initially. The Japanese Catholic Medical Association via Dr Buichi Ishijima has managed to raise USD 10,000 (donated by Caritas Japan). They have also given Dr Chi Lan USD 14,000 for the purchase of opthamological equipment. The Catholic Doctors Association of Malaysia has managed to raise about USD 6000 from pledges from its members and the Association itself. It will be nice if other member Associations of AFCMA chip in to help by donating towards this most worthy cause.

Our Vietnamese colleagues also have a place 30km outside HCMC which houses the terminally ill HIV patients called The 'Grass House' as the roof is made of attap leaves. Dr Leonard Chan, our Australian partner, had earlier visited this place and called it the 'death shed' due to the terrible living conditions there.

Our AFCMA delegation managed to visit the present Mai Khoi Clinic and also the new location for the clinic. I was fortunate to visit the 'grass house' which is located 30 km from HCMC and is only accessible by motorbike as it is located about 500m from the road.

Some of the photos that we took can be seen on Bubbleshare, and the link will be sent to your e-mail (three albums).

Finally, I am also very pleased to inform you that our Vietnamese brothers and sisters in Christ have decided to form their own national association so that they can become members of AFCMA/ FIAMC and join us in our activities. We have advised them on how to do so accordingly.

Thank you.

God bless, FROM DR FREDDIE LOH

FAQs on STEM CELLS

2009-05-20T21:47:00.005+08:00

In view of the current controversies surrounding stem cell research, it would be appropriate to try to present some information regarding stem cells. I will try to answer some common questions regarding embryonic stem cell research as well as other alternatives such as adult stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells.

1) What are stem cells?

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells(ie. a cell that has not yet specialized into a particular type of cell like a liver cell or muscle cell or brain cell). They have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body during early life and growth. In addition, in many tissues they serve as a sort of internal repair system, dividing essentially without limit to replenish other cells. A stem cell can divide into daughter cells identical with itself or it can become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell.

2) Why are stem cells unique?

Stem cells are distinguished from other cell types by two important characteristics. First, they are unspecialized cells capable of renewing themselves through cell division, sometimes after long periods of inactivity. Second, under certain physiologic or experimental conditions, they can be induced to become tissue- or organ-specific cells with special functions. In some organs, such as the gut and bone marrow, stem cells regularly divide to repair and replace worn out or damaged tissues. In other organs, however, such as the pancreas and the heart, stem cells only divide under special conditions.

3) What is a stem cell’s potency?

Potency refers to its capacity to differentiate into particular type of human cells.

a) Totipotent stem cells: Totipotent stem cells can differentiate into every tissue in the human body including the extraembryonic support tissues like placenta, umbilical cord and amniotic sac, Such cells can construct a complete, viable, organism. A single celled embryo(also called a zygote) is totipotent These cells are produced from the fusion of an egg and sperm cell. Cells produced by the first few divisions of the fertilized egg are also totipotent.

b) Pluripotent stem cells: Pluripotent stem cells are the descendants of totipotent cells and can differentiate into nearly all cells, i.e. cells derived from any of the three germ layers but not the extra embryonic support tissues. Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent.

c) Multipotent stem cells: Multipotent stem cells can differentiate into a number of cells, but only those of a closely related family of cells e.g. blood cells.

d) Oligopotent stem cells: Oligopotent stem cells can differentiate into only a few cells, such as lymphoid or myeloid stem cells.

e) Unipotent stem cells: Unipotent cells can produce only one cell type, their own, but have the property of self-renewal which distinguishes them from non-stem cells (e.g. muscle stem cells).

4) What is the difference between embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells?

Embryonic stem cells are derived from the inner cell mass of an embryo usually during the blastocyst stage (around 5 days old). In the process of harvesting these cells, the embryo will be destroyed. Embryonic stem cells are undifferentiated, self renewing, pluripotent cells.
Adult stem cells too have the ability of self proliferation and differentiation. They are derived from adults cells but not from embryo. They are also found in newborn tissues e.g. the cord blood of new born babies. Although some adult stem cells have been found with the capacity for pluripotency, most are only capable of differentiating into the tissue type or related cell type of the tissue they were found.

5)What are the ethical concerns surrounding stem cell research?

The objective of stem cell research is indeed noble. It has the potential ability to treat a host of diseases such as Alzeimers / Parkinsons disease, spinal cord regeneration stroke, diabetes, heart failure, liver failure, inflammatory bowel disease, short bowel syndrome, GI motility disorders.
It is currently being used in haemopoietic stem cell replacement.
The nobility of such objectives should not justify the means. Is it justifiable to kill embryos to achieve such objectives? Those who judge human embryos to be human beings think that embryonic stem cell research is wrong. There are those who believe that embryos are “pre human entities” and that such research are justified. The Catholic church does not condone embryonic stem cell research. The Vatican and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have consistently supported stem cell research that does not exploit or destroy embryos. (Please refer to the following references: i)Pontifical Academy for Life, Declaration on the Production and the Scientific and Therapeutic Use of Human Embryonic Stem Cells (August 25, 2000); Catholic Online, "American Bishops Reaffirm Church Support for Adult Stem-Cell Research," www.catholic.org, June 26, 2006, www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=20275. ii)Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Instruction Dignitas Personae (On Certain Bioethical Questions) (2008), nos. 24, 31, 32.)

Adult stem cell research avoids this ethical problem by avoiding research on embryos altogether. Adult stem cell research has made remarkable progress in its ability to treat serious diseases. In contrast, embryonic stem cell research despite all the millions of dollars spent have produce nothing but failures.

6) What are induced pluripotent stem cells(IPSC)?
This latest research which was pioneered by researchers in late 2007 shows great promise as it avoids the ethical controversy surrounding embryonic stem cell altogether.
Here an adult somatic cells(usually a fibroblast) is induced to become like an embryonic stem cell through a process whereby certain genes are inserted into the somatic cell via the help of viral vectors. The resulting stem cell which is pluripotent will have similar properties to embryonic stem cells. These cells can then be allowed to develop into tissues to be used for transplantation and other therapeutic uses.

AFCMA President's update

2009-05-09T23:08:00.005+08:00

The peace of the Risen Christ be with you! I am writing to you to update you some of the things that have happened since my last communication to you.
You must be aware by now that our new AFCMA Exco. have formed two Committees viz. (1) Medical Mission Committee headed by Dr. John Lee and assisted by Dr. Michael Poon to look after our overseas medical mission and (2) Bioethics Committee headed by Dr Edna Monzon from Phillipines to help in the Formation of Catholic Health care workers on Bioethics issues,etc..Please look at our AFCMA web-site for the names of the other Committee members of these two Committees.
I am pleased to inform you that besides the wonderful work done by Dr. John Lee on behalf of AFCMA and FIAMC in reaching out to those in need we also have other AFCMA member countries and individuals who are also doing God's work within their own resources eg.
(1)the Myanmar Missionary trip 2009 by the Guild of St. Luke,St.Cosmas and St. Damian Hong Kong.I am fowarding their report prepared by Dr. Michael Poon to you. They were working together with the Zetaman(= one who is sent to serve) --a group of lay people and Sisters in the Taunggyi Diocese in Myanmar.Apparently they need USD15,000.00 to build a home for HIV orphans.
(2)Sister Mary Lou who is actively involved in her Handan project in China trying to raise funds for a new 6 storey Hospital which does not even have an elevator. She is also trying to get someone to 'adopt a boy' at the Sacred Heart Seminary Prep School I for USD 200 per child per year. These youngsters are all hopeful candidates for the Priesthood and are from the nearby farms.
(3)Presently our AFCMA is involved with an outreach program in Ho Chi Min City together with our Australian(Oceania) partner. Our Vietnameses colleagues need to relocate their HIV Clinic as the owners need back the building. They will need USD30,000.They also have an attap shed 30 Kilometers outside Ho Chi Min City which is in a deplorable condition and does not even have doors so that the patients will all get drenched when it rains! This shed is used to house the terminally ill HIV patients. Fortunately The Japan Catholic Medical Association led by Dr. Buichi Ishijima has agreed to join inthis Outreach Mission and hopefully with the help of Caritas Japan they will be the main sponsors. The Catholic Doctors Association of Malaysia together with Catholic Doctors of Western Australia represented by Dr. Leonard Chan are the other parties involved in this humane mission. I myself will be going to HCMC to meet up with Dr. Buichi Ishijima, Dr. Takeuchi and Father Yamaguchi there in June 09 and will give you a short report of our trip there when we return from HCMC.
Meanwhile please pray for the success of all our AFCMA Missions mentioned above. If you have any Mission work that your Association has done or will be doing please let me know.
Before I end please remember (1 Cor. 10.31)--Whatever YOU DO.. DO ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.

Influenza A H1N1 guidance

2009-05-05T09:23:00.002+08:00

Everyday preventive actions for Influenza: 1) Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. 2) Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. 3) Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective. 4) Avoid close contact with sick people. 5) Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way. 6) If you get influenza-like illness symptoms, stay home from work or school except to seek medical care and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

You may obtain more info from the following website:
http://cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/

AFCMA Committees

2009-04-30T15:31:00.004+08:00

There are 2 AFCMA Committees namely Overseas Mission Committee and Bioethics Committee. The Chairperson and members of these 2 committee are as follows;

Medical Mission Committee: Chairman--Dr. John Lee (Singapore) assisted by Dr. Michael Poon (Hong Kong),Other Committee Members: Dr. Freddie Loh (Malaysia), Mr. Savoeun Choung (Cambodia),Dr. John Tang (Taiwan) and Dr. Kwang-ho Meng(Korea).

Bioethics Committee : Chair Person--Dr. Edna G Monzon(Philippines),Other Committee Members:Dr. Peter Au Yeong(Hong Kong), Dr. Buichi Ishijima(Japan),Dr. John Hui (Singapore), Prof. Hung-chi Lue (Taiwan)and Dr.Chong Khin Yam (Malaysia).

FIAMC Statement on OBAMA & Life Issues

2009-02-20T11:31:00.001+08:00

Here is the statement released today by the World Federation of the Catholic Medical Associations about new threats to human life under the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama.

The election of Barak Obama as President of the United States marked an important watershed in American history and culture. Running for office in a time marked by economic and geo-political turmoil, Obama promised to be a force for positive change, political reconciliation and effective government. Unfortunately, President Obama has begun his term with actions that will undermine respect for human life, human dignity and religions freedom. We call upon Catholic physicians and health care providers, and all people of good will, to spare no effort in convincing President Obama to reverse these decisions.

During the 2008 campaign, some Catholics and self-identified Catholic advocacy groups endorsed Barak Obama for President based in part on his support for economic justice and foreign policy, and in part on his pledge to try to reduce the number of abortions by increased social spending on support for pregnant women. Yet as a legislator and as a candidate, Obama had taken positions utterly opposed to respect for human life. For example:

-- Obama has long been an advocate of abortion on demand, and has touted his 100% approval rating from Planned Parenthood, the largest provider of abortion in the United States;

-- Obama opposed every limitation on abortion, including laws requiring parental notification and consent before minors could obtain abortions;

-- Shockingly, as a state senator, Obama actively opposed any protections for infants born alive after failed abortion procedures and misrepresented his record on this issue during the 2008 campaign;

-- Finally, during the campaign, Obama proudly proclaimed his support for the “Freedom of Choice Act” (FOCA) -- the most radical expansion of abortion license in the world -- and promised to sign the law as President.

In addition to his unqualified support for abortion, Obama has promised to provide federal funding for stem-cell research that destroys human life at the embryonic stage.

Since taking office, President Obama has engaged in a series of actions that indicate that he is prepared to implement his prior support for abortion.

-- Within the first few days of taking office, Obama overturned the “Mexico City Policy,” a U.S. government policy that denies federal funding to international agencies that promote or perform abortion as a means of birth control;

-- More ominously, when overturning this policy, President Obama indicated his willingness to provide financial support to the United Nations Population Fund, an organization that lost U.S. government funding after it collaborated with the Chinese government’s coercive “one child” population policy.

-- President Obama is filling his Cabinet and Administration positions with supporters of abortion, including Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State (who has long been a proponent of abortion “rights” in the United States and around the world); Rahm Emanuel, White House Chief of Staff (who had a 100% voting record with the National Abortion Rights Action League as a member of Congress and a reputation as an aggressive pro-choice politician); Dawn Johnsen, nominee for Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel (who was the Legal Director for NARAL and part of the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project); Eric Holder, Attorney General (who has been a longtime supporter of abortion “rights”); Melody Barnes, Chair of the Domestic Policy Council (who has been a member of the boards of directors for both Planned Parenthood and Emily's List); Ellen Moran, White House Director of Communications (who is the current executive director of Emily's List); and Thomas Perelli, nominee for Associate Attorney General (who collaborated with pro-euthanasia attorney George Felos to successfully starve Terri Shiavo to death).

-- While he has made no move to encourage the passage of FOCA, many are still concerned that the provisions of FOCA will be added piecemeal to other bills and legislative acts.

-- Finally, President Obama has declared his opposition to the new HHS rule that protects the conscience rights of health care providers. The rule was enacted in the last days of the Bush administration in response to many threats to the conscience rights of physicians, pharmacists and health care providers in the United States.

In light of these actions and appointments, we are issuing an urgent appeal to President Obama to reconsider his support for abortion and research that can succeed only by destroying innocent human life. In addition, we offer our prayers, encouragement and appeals to Catholic physicians in the United States to educate the public and to oppose these efforts to promote abortion. Finally, we appeal to all members of FIAMC to be vigilant in opposing the new threats to human life and dignity that could now come from the Obama administration officials in foreign policy positions and at the United Nations.

Christmas message from AFCMA President

2008-12-29T09:47:00.001+08:00

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
May the Peace and Joy of Christmas be with you!
We have just returned from the succesful 14th AFCMA Congress held in Hong Kong.
Congratulations to Dr. Peter Au Yeong, Dr. Michael Poon and the Hong Kong Guild of St. Luke, St. Cosmas and St. Damian for a job well done.The theme of the Congress was "Human Dignity in Modern Medicine".
At the Congress a new team of Council Members was elected. A Medical Mission Committee headed by Dr. John Lee to help in overseas mission emergencies was formed. Tha Bioethics Committee headed by Dr. Edna Monzon was also formed to look into and address issues that challenge our Church's teachings,etc.. Please look at our AFCMA web-site www.afcma.blogspot.com for the full list of Office Bearers. Special thanks to Dr. K.Y.Chong for looking after and updating our AFCMA web-site.
As the new President of AFCMA I hope that you will give me and our Council Members your fullest support so that together we will bring greater glory to God! During the next 4 years I hope that together we will continue to advocate for the dignity of vulnerable persons such as the unborn,elderly,disabled and the terminally ill,etc. as per the the 14th AFCMA Congress's resolution. Interestingly the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith from the Vatican has just issued the "Dignitas Personae" a document which addresses a range of bioethical issues including stem cell therapies,embryo experimentation and infertility treatments. It focusses on the dignity of the human embryo and promotes biomedical research that is respectful of the dignity of every human being and procreation.
Another matter that I wish to address during my term of office is the AFCMA country membership. At the just concluded AFCMA Congress His Eminence Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan President of the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care exhorted us to reach out to those Asian countries which are not yet members of AFCMA. I sincerely hope that with God's grace we will be able to increase our country membership by at least one country when we meet for the next Congress in Indonesia in year 2012. If you know of anyone who can help us in this matter please let us know.Thank you.
As we waitwith joy to celebrate the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a Blessed and Merry Christmas andmay HIS light shine through us to guide us and act according to HIS WILL. Amen!
Yours Sincerely in Christ,
Dr. Freddie Loh
President AFCMA

!st Communication from our President

2008-12-19T08:21:00.000+08:00

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We had just had the successful AFCMA Congress in Hong Kong. Grateful thanks to Dr. Peter Au yeong and Dr. Michael Poon and the rest of the Organising Committee.
I must thank you for having faith in me by electing me as the new AFCMA President. I am rather worried whether I can carry such a heavy responsibility. Nevertheless I am comforted by the fact that I have a strong Council consisting of experienced and young enthusiastic members to run the Association with me.
I must stress that we are all doing this for HIS Greater Glory. I pray that the Holy Spirit will envelope all of us, to empower us in our efforts and zeal in trying to continue with and improve on the good work that the previous AFCMA Council had achieved. We must also commit ourselves to adopting and following the Resolutions made at the 14th AFCMA Congress in showing respect for 'Human Dignity' by our words and actions.
Finally for logistic reason I think that it is best we communicate by e-mail.
Thank you and God Bless Everyone.
Yours Sincerely in Christ,
Dr. Freddie Loh

Petition against Pro Abortion Lobby

2008-12-06T23:00:00.001+08:00

As a first step towards advocacy for the human dignity of the unborn, you can consider joining the following petition:

Pro-abortion lobbyists are scheduled to lobby the UN on 10 Dec 2008, the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to make abortion a human right. C-FAM are running a signature campaign to counter this. In the last 9 days over 50,000 have added their signatures and the total number is over a quarter of a million. Go to the following link and check them out:
http://www.c-fam.org/publications/id.95/default.asp

14th AFCMA CONGRESS

2008-12-06T21:46:00.004+08:00

The 14th Congress of the Asian Federation of Catholic Medical Associations (AFCMA) was successfully concluded in Hong Kong on 30th November 2008.

We would like to congratulate Dr FREDDIE LOH from Malaysia who was elected as the new President of the AFCMA during the 14th AFCMA congress. We pray that God will give him and his new office bearers the grace and wisdom to carry out their tasks for the next 4 years.

The Congress Resolution made at the conclusion of the meeting was:

This congress reaffirms that all human beings have an inalienable dignity proper to the human nature present in everyone. In respect for this human dignity, we pledge to:

1. disseminate the knowledge about the inalienability of human dignity
2. care for our patients in way that maximally preserves their dignity, and
3. advocate for the dignity of vulnerable persons, such as the unborn, elderly, disabled, and the terminally-ill,etc.

You may access details of the lectures given during the Congress at the following AFCMA website: www.doctor.catholic.org.hk/14afcma.html

Alternatively, you may go to our links section and click on "14th AFCMA Congress"

US Bishops comment on Freedom of Choice Act

2008-11-22T12:46:00.000+08:00

In the last United States Congress meeting, a Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) was introduced that would, if brought forward in the same form today, outlaw any "interference" in providing abortion at will. It would deprive the American people in all fifty states of the freedom they now have to enact modest restraints and regulations on the abortion industry. FOCA would coerce all Americans into subsidizing and promoting abortion with their tax dollars. It would counteract any and all sincere efforts by government and others of good will to reduce the number of abortions in our country.

Parental notification and informed consent precautions would be outlawed, as would be laws banning procedures such as partial-birth abortion and protecting infants born alive after a failed abortion. Abortion clinics would be deregulated. The Hyde Amendment restricting the federal funding of abortions would be abrogated. FOCA would have lethal consequences for prenatal human life.

FOCA would have an equally destructive effect on the freedom of conscience of doctors, nurses and health care workers whose personal convictions do not permit them to cooperate in the private killing of unborn children. It would threaten Catholic health care institutions and Catholic Charities. It would be an evil law that would further divide our country, and the Church should be intent on opposing evil.

On this issue, the legal protection of the unborn, the bishops are of one mind with Catholics and others of good will. They are also pastors who have listened to women whose lives have been diminished because they believed they had no choice but to abort a baby. Abortion is a medical procedure that kills, and the psychological and spiritual consequences are written in the sorrow and depression of many women and men. The bishops are single-minded because they are, first of all, single-hearted.

The recent election was principally decided out of concern for the economy, for the loss of jobs and homes and financial security for families, here and around the world. If the election is misinterpreted ideologically as a referendum on abortion, the unity desired by President-elect Obama and all Americans at this moment of crisis will be impossible to achieve. Abortion kills not only unborn children; it destroys constitutional order and the common good, which is assured only when the life of every human being is legally protected. Aggressively pro-abortion policies, legislation and executive orders will permanently alienate tens of millions of Americans, and would be seen by many as an attack on the free exercise of their religion.

This statement is written at the request and direction of all the Bishops, who also want to thank all those in politics who work with good will to protect the lives of the most vulnerable among us. Those in public life do so, sometimes, at the cost of great sacrifice to themselves and their families; and we are grateful. We express again our great desire to work with all those who cherish the common good of our nation. The common good is not the sum total of individual desires and interests; it is achieved in the working out of a common life based upon good reason and good will for all.

Our prayers accompany President-elect Obama and his family and those who are cooperating with him to assure a smooth transition in government. Many issues demand immediate attention on the part of our elected "watchman." (Psalm 127) May God bless him and our country.

New Office Bearers, HONG KONG

2008-07-19T09:17:00.000+08:00

Here is a message from the new Council of the Guild of St. Luke, Hong Kong:

On behalf of the Guild, I am delighted to inform you that our new Council has been elected in 55th Annual General Meeting on 20 June 2008. Details are as follows:

Master:Dr. Michael Poon 潘志明醫生 (Surgery, NDH)

Honorary Secretary:Dr. Wong Pui Yan Stella 黄佩茵醫生 (Medicine, TKOH)

Assistant Honorary Secretary:Dr. Ambrose Leung 梁焯燊醫生 (Medicine, YCH)

Honorary Treasurer:Dr. Francis Chu 朱俊傑醫生 (FM, NTWC)

Our correspondence address is PO Box No. 11302, General Post Office, Hong Kong

Our email address is: hk_guild@pacific.net.hk

Thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely, from Dr. Stella Wong, (Hon. Sec.)

Our heartiest congratulations to the Hong Kong Catholic Doctors

US Bishops' Statement on Stem Cell Research

2008-06-20T09:47:00.002+08:00

Following is an abstract from the recent US Bishops' statement on Cloning & Stem Cell Research:

"Scientists hope these biological building blocks can be directed to produce many types of cells to repair the human body, cure disease, and alleviate suffering," they noted. "But some scientists are most intrigued by stem cells obtained by destroying an embryonic human being in the first week or so of development. Harvesting these 'embryonic stem cells' involves the deliberate killing of innocent human beings, a gravely immoral act."

They looked at 3 false arguments put forth to justify destroying human embryos to obtain stem cells: "1) any harm done in this case is outweighed by the potential benefits; 2) what is destroyed is not a human life, or at least not a human being with fundamental human rights; and 3) dissecting human embryos for their cells should not be seen as involving a loss of embryonic life."

After showing the fault in each argument, the bishops noted: "This is not only a teaching of the Catholic Church. Our nation’s Declaration of Independence took for granted that human beings are unequal in size, strength, and intelligence. Yet it declared that members of the human race who are unequal in all these respects are created equal in their fundamental rights, beginning with the right to life.

"Tragically, this principle of equal human rights for all has not always been followed in practice, even by the Declaration’s signers. But in our nation’s proudest moments Americans have realized that we cannot dismiss or exclude any class of humanity -- that basic human rights must belong to all members of the human race without distinction."

"Human cloning is intrinsically evil because it reduces human procreation to a mere manufacturing process, producing new human beings in the laboratory to predetermined specifications as though they were commodities. […] This is especially clear when human embryos are produced by cloning for research purposes, because new human lives are generated solely in order to be destroyed," the bishops clarified.

They added: "Some researchers and lawmakers even propose developing cloned embryos in a woman’s womb for some weeks to harvest more useful tissues and organs -- a grotesque practice that Congress has acted against through the Fetus Farming Prohibition Act of 2006.

"Some would solicit women as egg donors for human cloning research, even offering cash payments to overcome these women’s qualms about the risk to their own health from the egg harvesting procedure."

Referring to a proposal that has already been approved in the United Kingdom, the bishops continued, "Other researchers want to use animal eggs for human cloning experiments, creating 'hybrid' embryos that disturbingly blur the line between animal and human species."

"It now seems undeniable that once we cross the fundamental moral line that prevents us from treating any fellow human being as a mere object of research, there is no stopping point," the prelates stated.

Referring to Pope John Paul II's "The Gospel of Life," they added: "The only moral stance that affirms the human dignity of all of us is to reject the first step down this path. We therefore urge Catholics and all people of good will to join us in reaffirming, precisely in this context of embryonic stem cell research, that 'the killing of innocent human creatures, even if carried out to help others, constitutes an absolutely unacceptable act.'"

"The issue of stem cell research does not force us to choose between science and ethics, much less between science and religion," the bishops concluded. "It presents a choice as to how our society will pursue scientific and medical progress. Will we ignore ethical norms and use some of the most vulnerable human beings as objects, undermining the respect for human life that is at the foundation of the healing arts?

"Such a course, even if it led to rapid technical progress, would be a regress in our efforts to build a society that is fully human. Instead we must pursue progress in ethically responsible ways that respect the dignity of each human being. Only this will produce cures and treatments that everyone can live with

AFCMA Congress in Hong Kong

2008-05-29T10:59:00.000+08:00

Just a friendly reminder to keep your dates free for the coming AFCMA Congress in Hong Kong in November 2008:

Date: 27th to 30th November 2008

Venue: 9/F Catholic Diocese Centre
16, Caine Road, Hong Kong

Theme: Human Dignity in Modern Medicine

Accomodation:Bishop Lei International House,4 Robinson Road, Mid Levels, Hong Kong(2min walk to congress venue)Room rates are HK 780.00 per night inclusive of breakfast.

Registration fees: US $ 200 or HK$ 1,600 ( for early birds before 15/8/08)
Contact: afcma08@gmail.com for more details

AFCMA CONGRESS, HONG KONG

2008-03-01T08:29:00.000+08:00

Dear brothers and sisters,

By the grace of our Lord, we are delighted to announce the 14th Congress of Asian Federation of Catholic Medical Associations will be held in Hong Kong from 27th to 30th November 2008. The congress is jointly organized with Hong Kong Catholic Nurses Guild and Catholic Diocesan Commission for Hospital Pastoral Care.

The topic of the congress is "Human Dignity in Modern Medicine"

Lookng forward to meeting you!

Love In Christ,

The Guild of St. Luke, St. Cosmas and St. Damian Hong Kong

A message from the Pope on Bioethics

2008-02-02T08:18:00.000+08:00

Pope Benedict XVI invited the members of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to give particular attention to "the difficult and complex problems of bioethics." In this context, he indicated that the "Church's magisterium certainly cannot and should not intervene on every scientific innovation. Rather, it has the task of reiterating the great values at stake, and providing the faithful, and all men and women of good will, with ethical-moral principles and guidelines for these new and important questions."

"The two fundamental criteria for moral discernment in this field," he added, "are unconditional respect for the human being as a person, from conception to natural death; and respect for the origin of the transmission of human life through the acts of the spouses."

The Pope highlighted new problems associated with such questions, such as the freezing of human embryos, pre-implantation diagnosis, stem cell research and attempts at human cloning.

All these, he said, "clearly show how, with artificial insemination outside the body, the barrier protecting human dignity has been broken. When human beings in the weakest and most defenseless stage of their existence are selected, abandoned, killed or used as pure 'biological matter,' how can it be denied that they are no longer being treated as 'someone' but as 'something,' thus placing the very concept of human dignity in doubt."

The Holy Father highlighted how "the Church appreciates and encourages progress in the biomedical sciences, which opens up previously unimagined therapeutic possibilities."

At the same time, he pointed out that "she feels the need to enlighten everyone's consciences so that scientific progress may be truly respectful of all human beings, who must be recognized as having individual dignity because they have been created in the image of God." In this context, he concluded by ensuring participants in the plenary assembly that study of such themes "will certainly contribute to promoting the formation of consciences of many of our brothers and sisters."

Bioethics & The Sanctity of Life

2007-10-09T13:16:00.000+08:00

Bioethics is defined as the application of moral principles to the life sciences, to the many problems in relation to human life that has resulted from the rapid advancement in science and technology.

I will very briefly outline the many bioethical issues which we face today. Included in this discussion are:
1) Beginning of life issues:- such as i)assisted reproductive technologies like sperm donation, eggs donation, surrogate mothers, frozen embryos and lately tailor made test tube babies designed to produce tissue for bone marrow transplantation, ii)cloning, iii)embryonic stem cell research and iv)abortion.
2) End of life issues: euthanasia, dysthanasia, orththanasia, life support and adequate nutrition & hydration for comatose patients and persistent vegetative states,
3) Organ transplantation
4) The death penalty

In the field of assisted reproductive techniques very few are acceptable to the moral teachings of the church. Examples of those techniques which may be morally acceptable are GIFT (Gamete Inta-Fallopian Transfer ) and Lower Tubal Ovum Transfer (LTOT). IVF (In-Vitro Fertilization or test tube babies), Cloning and embryonic stem cell research all involve destruction of embryos and are thus not approved. Presently many Catholics still do not know that IVF is not morally acceptable. There are still some Catholics who still have the mistaken belief that abortion is permissible for health reasons or in cases of rape or incest.

Euthanasia is defined as an action or omission which of itself or by intention causes death, in order that all suffering may be eliminated.
Dysthanasia is defined as the undue prolongation of life which ends in an undignified death. It is an abusive use of extraordinary or inappropriate technological means to prolong life – usually costly and usually done for fear of a malpractice lawsuit.
Orthothanasia means correct dying. It is allowing to die. Human Life must be protected and even dutifully prolonged but should not be unduly or uselessly prolonged. It is not a form of passive euthanasia. It is vital to make a difference between allowing death to occur and intending death to occur.

When treating a dying patient, there is the question of appropriate versus inappropriate care. A patient with terminal and advanced prostate cancer is in severe pain and agony during the last few days of his life. His doctor administers morphine which helps relieve suffering but hastens his death. Is this appropriate? Yes, of course. A lot of doctors still fail to prescribe adequate doses of morphine for their dying terminally ill patients. Adequate hydration and nutrition in patients who are in a coma or in a persistent vegetative state are considered ordinary means and should not be withheld. The only exception is when they are imminently dying or when the nutrition cannot be assimilated by the patient’s body.

Organ donation for the purpose of transplantation is in itself good. It should be encouraged as an act of solidarity and charity. However all risks of harm to both donor and recipient must be kept to the minimum and the benefits must outweigh the risks. There should be no discrimination in the procurement and allocation of organ. Buying and selling an organ is wrong. It is against the dignity and worth of a person and could lead to exploitation, coercive profiteering, poor health standards and misinformation.

As for capital punishment and the death penalty, our late Pope John Paul II have often spoken against this and it would be wrong for a doctor or health care worker to assist in lethal injections and other such procedures.

In summary, as Catholic Doctors we should defend human life from the moment of conception till its natural end. We should inculcate virtues that are essential to ethical and good patient care and I feel that the 5 essential virtues are: 1)Truthfulness in carrying out one’s duty 2) Respectfulness for the patient’s dignity and rights 3) Compassionate and Competent care 4) Humility and 5) Prayerfulness.

Posted by Dr K Y Chong

New Office Bearers in HONG KONG

2007-09-26T18:16:00.000+08:00

Please be informed that the new office bearers of the Guild of St Luke, St Cosmas and St. Damian have been elected in June 2007. Details are as follows:

Master: Dr. Au Yeung Kar Kit, Peter
Honorary Secretary: Dr. Wong Pui Yan, Stella
Honorary Assistant Secretary: Dr. Ambrose Leung
Honorary Treasurer: Dr. Francis Chu
Thank you for your attention.
Yours sincerely,Dr. Stella Wong(Honorary Secretary)

“Responses to Certain Questions Concerning Artificial Nutrition and Hydration”

2007-09-15T08:13:00.000+08:00

On August 1, 2007, The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued responses to two questions posed by Bishop William Skylstad on July 11, 2005, then-President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, concerning the 2004 address of Pope John Paul II, “Life-Sustaining Treatments and the Vegetative State: Scientific Progress and Ethical Dilemmas.” Included was a commentary explaining the reasoning and implications of the responses. (click here to read the text of the document).

The responses were intended to settle certain questions that have arisen over the meaning and proper interpretation of John Paul II’s 2004 address. The first response affirms that the provision of food and water is “an ordinary and proportionate means of preserving life” and therefore obligatory so long as it fulfills it purpose, “which is the hydration and nutrition of the patient.” In its response, the CDF does not single out any class of persons, but reaffirms the general teaching of John Paul II that the provision of food and water is “in principle” obligatory for all patients, although the commentary does later list some cases in which this rule does not apply. The second response affirms that one may not remove the artificial provision of food and water from a patient simply because a physician has concluded with certainty that the patient will never regain consciousness. The loss of consciousness is not a sufficient reason to deprive a patient of ordinary care.

The responses provide a clear rejection of the claim of certain theologians that the provision of food and water for patients in the persistent vegetative state is not morally obligatory. Nutrition and hydration are to be considered ordinary care, not an extraordinary means of preserving life.

We would note that it is unusual for the CDF to provide a commentary to its own responses. Typically, a Vatican reply to a “dubium” consists of a short response and that is all. The commentary is left to others. In this case, however, the CDF appended a very thorough explanation of its position that was evidently meant to ensure that there would be no occasion for theological misunderstanding.

A Change in Catholic Tradition?

Whether the provision of food and water for patients in the persistent vegetative state is morally obligatory has been a controverted question within the Catholic Church for several decades. The 2004 statement of John Paul II, “Life-Sustaining Treatments and the Vegetative State,” was meant to provide some resolution to this question, but it received a mixed response from certain theologians in the United States. Of particular note was the claim that John Paul II had broken with 200 years of Catholic tradition and rejected the teaching of Pope Pius XII on when to forgo extraordinary means of treatment. The CDF responses and commentary address these concerns.

The commentary takes pains to note that John Paul II’s address stands in conformity with previous tradition and is not, in any way, an innovation or an abandonment of previous teaching. The commentary reviews a series of high-level statements from Vatican sources all tending toward the same conclusion on the necessity of providing nutrition and hydration to patients in the vegetative state, including the CDF’s Declaration on Euthanasia (May 5, 1980), the Pontifical Council Cor Unum’s “Some Ethical Questions Relating to the Gravely Ill and the Dying (June 27, 1981), an address of John Paul II to the participants of an international forum on leukemia (November 15, 1985), the Charter for Health Care Workers issued by the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance (1995), and an address of John Paul II to bishops of the United States on their ad limina visit to Rome (October 2, 1998). This review of previous statements speaks to the claim of those who have said John Paul II’s address was completely unexpected and without precedent. The commentary notes that the Pope himself made reference to many of these same documents in his address “Life-Sustaining Treatments and the Vegetative State.”

Of greater significance is that the commentary responds to the claim that John Paul II and Pius XII stand in opposition to each other over the question of whether food and water should be provided to patients in a persistent vegetative state. The commentary acknowledges that the address of Pius XII to a Congress on Anesthesiology, “The Prolongation of Life” (November 24, 1957), is often cited in defense of the view that nutrition and hydration may be taken away from these patients; however, it points out that this is clearly a misreading of the text. Pius was addressing the question of resuscitation in those who had suffered a serious illness and were in the process of dying or already dead. Patients in a vegetative state are not dying. They “breathe spontaneously, digest food naturally, carry on other metabolic functions, and are in a stable situation.” When food and water are removed from these patients, “the cause of their death will be neither an illness nor the ‘vegetative state’ itself, but solely starvation and dehydration.”

The cases under discussion by Pius XII and John Paul II differ. One concerns the prolongation of life through possibly extraordinary means in a patient who has suffered a life-ending illness; the other concerns the preservation of life through ordinary means in a patient who is in a seriously debilitated but stable condition (not dying). Providing food and water to those who are in a permanently unconscious state is not an attempt to effect a cure of their disability, but “to keep the patient from dying of starvation and dehydration.”

Some Exceptions to the Rule

The commentary points out that the CDF recognizes certain exceptions to this rule. In places where medical science is not advanced, and the provision of food and water by artificial means is not possible, there is no moral obligation. The same is true of cases in which food and water are not being assimilated by the body because of disease. In rare cases, it is also possible that nutrition and hydration will be excessively burdensome for a patient, for example, when their administration by tube causes medical complications.

Vatican critical of Amnesty International's Abortion stand

2007-08-23T17:50:00.000+08:00

VATICAN CITY, AUG. 20, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone says that Amnesty International's decision to support abortion is not the solution to violence against women.

"Even the life that is the result of violence should be saved," said the cardinal in an interview today with Vatican Radio.

"Even though they are persons in gestation, they are persons, they are human subjects, with all the dignity of a human being," he added.

"Certainly violence against women needs to be fought against," Cardinal Bertone affirmed, "[fighting] against this inhumane form of violence that is rape."

He added that it is "necessary that we all fight to defend the dignity of women, and of each woman."

But, the cardinal emphasized, "life cannot be eliminated as such, even though it is the result of violence."

Amnesty International announced in June that its current policy regarding abortion "is to support the decriminalization of abortion, to ensure women have access to health care when complications arise from abortion and to defend women's access to abortion, within reasonable gestational limits, when their health or human rights are in danger."

Closing of Stem Cell Firm(News from Zenit)

2007-08-13T19:00:00.001+08:00

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, JULY 29, 2007 (Zenit.org).- A prominent bioethicist says he hopes that the closure of ES Cell International, a leading embryonic stem cell research facility, is a sign of growing realism.

Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk commented on the closure of the biotechnology firm in Singapore, telling ZENIT, "We can only hope that a certain realism may finally be sinking in, as Wall Street types recognize that the timeline for clinical therapies is likely to be quite long."

The firm closed when investors concluded that "the likelihood of having products in the clinic in the short term was vanishingly small," Alan Colman, former chief executive of ES Cell International, told Science magazine.

"The comments of Alan Colman remind us that some investors may have succumbed to the fever-pitch hype that has been a defining characteristic of this area of science for many years," Father Pacholczyk affirmed.

He added: "Progress in human embryonic stem cell research has been slow over the past few years, and the proposal to treat sick patients remains largely a speculative endeavor at this moment in time.

"Beyond the technical impediments and the need for much more basic research, there remain grave moral impediments affecting this entire area of research as well, and it is clear that some investors are exercising caution about stepping into the midst of what has certainly become an ethical minefield."

"On the other hand," Father Pacholczyk explained, "there are a number of companies that are pursuing and rapidly developing treatments for patients based on adult stem cell applications, and the timeline for these therapies suggest that investors may actually see returns in just a few years, with the added advantage that no fundamental moral lines will have to be crossed to garner a profit."

AISAC Conclusions

2007-06-12T09:11:00.000+08:00

CONCLUSIONS

THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF CALTHOLIC HEALTH CARE

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF CATHOLIC HEALTH CARE

INSTITUTIONS

VATICAN CITY

3-5 May 2007

In response to the recommendation of the interim board of the International Federation of Catholic Health care Institutions the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care invited us

to constitute the Third International Congress of Catholic Health Care. We are over one hundred in number and come from over forty countries and all the continents of the earth.

We serve in diverse dimensions of the ministry of Catholic health care and in a variety of settings. Like Servant of God John Paul II we recognize the Catholic health care is an essential ministry of the Church. A ministry that has been called by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to an aggiornamento, that is, to a new impetus that â€œimplies renewal and deepening of the pastoral proposal itselfâ€.

After two days of input and discussion we have developed the following recommendations

to ourselves and to our colleagues in the ministry about how we can promote this

Aggiornamento of the ministry under the title of advancing our stewardship of the ministry.

Catholic health care entities should articulate the essential characteristics of the ministry and measurable outcomes for the same in a manner that they can be actualized in the organizationâ€™s strategic planning process.
In order that all who serve in Catholic health care can be nourished and guided by a
fulsome understanding of the ministry, an integrated approach to the professional and ministerial development of all those who serve in the ministry should be developed in a manner appropriate to their mode of service. This should be reinforced by on-going formation and continuous evaluation.

The ministry should deepen its understanding of and commitment to collaboration within the ministry and with other ecclesial ministries. There also should be collaboration, as appropriate, with secular entities in a manner that does not compromise Catholic identity. To advance this collaboration there should be dissemination of effective models of collaboration.
The ministry should be known for its special commitment to providing health care to the poor, marginalized and vulnerable in a manner that truly advances their human dignity and does not encourage dependency. This commitment should be expressed in a strategic and transparent manner that is facilitated by efficient and effective models of care and that encourages cross-country sharing.
Catholic health care should be known for its advocacy for access to health care being a fundamental human right. This advocacy should begin with the manner in which at the local level the ministry provides for the health care needs of the community they serve and by the vision of person and society that animates this service. Such advocacy should be based on accurate social analysis and be made effective by the appropriate training and education of those who would carry it forward.
As we have engaged in conversation and ref lection about these imperatives we have considered how to advance collaboration with diocesan bishops and Episcopal conferences

as well as appropriate national and international collaboration. As regards our collaboration

as a ministry of the universal church we recognize the important contribution AISAC can make to encouraging, facilitating and empowering such collaboration and sharing.

Consequently, we actively support the animation of AISAC as an international federation, with ecclesial and civil status appropriate to its role. This renewed reality should be constituted after appropriate consultation with the ministry, with the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care and other appropriate dicasteries.

As w conclude our time together we express our gratitude to the Pontifical Council for

Health Pastoral Care and in special way to its President, His Eminence, Cardinal Lozano B. We also extend our prayerful best wishes to His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI and ask for

his blessing of our dedication to carrying forward the healing mission of Jesus

Destroying Embryos Isn't Progress, Says Cardinal

2007-05-17T20:38:00.000+08:00

Destroying Embryos Isn't Progress, Says Cardinal

WASHINGTON, D.C., APRIL 8, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Cardinal Justin Rigali is urging the U.S. Senate to reject legislation that allows for federal funding of stem cell research that destroys human embryos.

The archbishop of Philadelphia said in a letter sent Wednesday to the Senate that the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 would "encourage deliberate attacks on innocent human life in the name of medical progress."

Cardinal Rigali, who is the chairman of the Committee for Pro-life Activities of the U.S. bishops' conference, emphasized that the stem cell issue is not a matter of supporting versus opposing progress.

"The question is whether our technical progress is guided by an equally advanced sense of the dignity of each and every human life," the cardinal wrote.

Cardinal Rigali noted that ethically sound research using non-embryonic cells has continued to advance. "It seems virtually every byproduct of live birth -- amniotic fluid, amniotic membrane, placenta, cord blood, and the tissue of the umbilical cord itself -- contains stem cells that may rival embryonic stem cells in their flexibility."

The cardinal told the senators: "Please support medical progress that we can all live with."
ZE07040811

Bioethics Conference

2007-01-20T14:01:00.000+08:00

An international conference to
celebrate the 30th anniversary of
the Linacre Centre’s foundation

St Mary’s College Strawberry Hill (near London Heathrow)

5-7 July 2007

Organised by Linacre Centre for Healthcare Ethics,London, UK

TOPICS

Incapacity and personhood, non-voluntary euthanasia in Belgium and the Netherlands, research on those unable to consent, reproductive health of mentally ill/intellectually disabled women, non-treatment decisions, responding to the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

SPEAKERS

Archbishop Mario Conti, Fr Benedict Groeschel, Dr David Jones, Dr Bill Sullivan, Dr Wendy Hiscox, Professor Desmond O’Neill, Dr Helen Watt, Dr Aaron Kheriaty, Anthony McCarthy, Dr Philip Howard, Professor John Finnis.

VENUE
Strawberry Hill was originally a small cottage by the River Thames. Horace Walpole, son of Robert Walpole, rented the cottage in 1717 and subsequently bought it; he then set about enlarging the house and adding to the land. Walpole did not follow the eighteenth-century fashion of classical building, but sought his inspiration in medieval styles. Some of his contemporaries imitated his design, and so this house and the idea it embodied take their place in the history of architecture as Strawberry Hill Gothic. The site is now owned by St Mary’s College, a Catholic college of the University of Surrey, and a centre for bioethics teaching and research. It is readily accessible from London Heathrow Airport.

ACCOMMODATION
Reservations have been made for 170 Conference participants to be accommodated in the College. Early booking is therefore strongly recommended. Meals can be provided for non-residential participants. There are a limited number of single rooms with ensuite bathrooms, and also a limited number of standard single rooms (couples and families are invited to book adjacent single rooms). It may be possible for overseas participants to stay at the College the nights before and after the Conference - please contact the Conference Organiser, Lauren Dykes.

HOW TO REGISTER
Provisional bookings may be made by telephone (+44 (0)20 72667410), by fax (+44 (0)20 7266 5424), or by e-mail (admin@linacre.org). Bookings should be confirmed by sending us the completed booking form (available at http://www.linacre.org:80/ConferenceProceedingsAd.htm ) and full payment. Provisional bookings can only be held for six weeks. If payment has not been received within that period, the booking will be automatically cancelled.
The Conference opens at 5.00 pm on Thursday 5 July, and closes with lunch on Saturday 7 July. Some participants may wish to attend the prior meeting of the International Association of Catholic Bioethicists, which runs from 1-5 July at the same site (separate booking required – contact secretariat@iacbweb.org. Please let us know if you have reserved accommodation).

FROZEN EMBRYOS

2007-01-16T08:25:00.000+08:00

Fate of Frozen Embryos Worrying Swiss Bishops

Swiss bishops are asking their federal government to account for the use and fate of frozen embryos.

The bioethics commission of the Swiss episcopal conference reported gaps and omissions in the official statistics since 2001, and called on the federal office to provide the information lacking from 2001 to 2005.

In a letter sent on Dec. 29 to Adelheid Burgi-Schmelz, director of the Federal Office of Statistics, Dr. Urs Kayser reported that there are "particularly grave" flaws in the census of these embryos conceived in vitro."

"Transparency is lacking in the use of surplus embryos," stated Kayser in the letter, pointing out that this is against Swiss law.

The commission wants to know where the 100 embryos came from which were used for stem cell research. To date, these embryos do not appear in the country's statistics.

Update on the St Luke's Medical Guild of OMAN

2006-11-01T22:01:00.000+08:00

The St Luke's Medical Guild of Oman recently had their annual general body meeting on 13th October 2006. The existing executive committee was requested to continue in office for another year. The incumbent President of the Guild is Dr Mario C.deSouza who has continued to update the AFCMA on their activites.

Those who are interested in knowing more about them is advised to log on to their recent webpage about their Health & Social Awareness quiz:

Oman: St. Luke's Medical Guild Conduct Health And Social Awareness Quiz
http://www.mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=35025

Dignity of the Human Embryo

2006-10-03T23:33:00.000+08:00

ROME, OCT. 1, 2006 (Zenit.org).- God loves every human embryo from the first moment of its existence, concluded the most recent videoconference organized by the Vatican Congregation for Clergy.

The Sept. 27 conference, held over the Internet, attracted some of the Church's leading theologians to discuss "Bioethics: The Human Genome and Stem Cells," including Bishop Elio Sgreccia, president of the Pontifical Academy for Life.

The discussion was opened and closed by Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos, prefect of the Congregation for Clergy.

He presented the mystery and dignity of the human embryo with the words of Psalm 139:13-14: "You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother's womb. I praise you, so wonderfully you made me; wonderful are your works! My very self you knew."

"These words on the transcendent nature of the human person and his very high dignity acquire a richness of particular significance when we enter the new horizons opened by biology, genetics and molecular medicine," said the Colombian cardinal.

"They are scientific horizons that open astonishing knowledge on man's biological life and delicate ethical questions for human freedom," he added.

Identity

In conclusion, Cardinal Castrillón Hoyos said at the end of the discussion, "we have heard the reaffirmation of the inviolable character of the biological nature of every man, as he forms a constitutive part of the individual's personal identity in the course of the whole of his existence."

In the different addresses, he added, it was theologically argued that "genetic manipulation, when it is not therapeutic, that is, when it does not tend to the treatment of pathology of the genetic patrimony, must be radically condemned."

In that case, he clarified, "it pursues modifications in an arbitrary way, inducing to the formation of human individuals with different genetic patrimonies established according to one's discretion. Eugenics, the creation of a superior human race, is an aberrant application."

Based on the theologians' interventions which had just been heard, the cardinal underlined that "the project of human cloning represents a terrible deviation which a science without values has reached."

"To halt the project of human cloning is a moral imperative which must be translated into cultural, social and legislative terms," he affirmed.

The videoconference, part of a monthly series, brings together theologians from around the world.

The intervention of Cardinal Hoyos can be downloaded in Italian from www.clerus.org.

Pope's Message on Adult Stem Cells

2006-09-19T21:30:00.000+08:00

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, SEPT. 18, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI encouraged scientific research with adult stem cells, saying that it is work that respects human life and opens "fascinating" possibilities for illnesses that now seem incurable.

The Pope clarified that the Church is not against science, but "is against those forms of research that involve the planned suppression of human beings who are already alive, though they may not yet have been born," as is the case of research with embryos that leads to their elimination.

The Holy Father explained this Saturday in the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo when addressing the participants in the international congress on the topic "Stem Cells: What Future for Therapy?"

The symposium, held last Thursday through Saturday at the Augustinianum Institute of Rome, was organized by the Pontifical Academy for Life and the International Federation of Catholic Medical Associations.

"Progress can only be authentic if it serves the person and the person himself grows, when not only his technical power but also his moral capacity grows," the Pope said.

From this point of view, "research into somatic stem cells merits approval and encouragement when it brings together scientific knowledge, the most advanced technology in the field of biology, and the ethic that postulates respect for human beings at every stage of their existence."

The duty

In this context, the Holy Father mentioned the promising horizons being opened in the cure of illnesses involving "the degeneration of tissues with consequent risks of invalidity and death for those affected."

Addressing the physicians and bioethicists present, Benedict XVI continued: "How can one not feel the duty to praise all those who apply themselves in this research and those who support its organization and costs?"

The Pope appealed to Catholic scientific institutions or those inspired by its humanism to increase research in this field and "to establish closer contact among themselves and with others who seek, using appropriate methods, to relieve human suffering."

The Holy Father added that "In the face of the frequent and unjust accusations of insensitivity directed against the Church, I would like to underline the constant support she has given over the course of her 2,000-year history to research aimed at the cure of illnesses and at the good of humanity.

"If there has been -- and there still is -- resistance, it was and is against those forms of research that involve the planned suppression of human beings who are already alive, though they may not yet have been born."

Suppression

"In these cases," Benedict XVI continued, "research, disregarding the therapeutic results, is not authentically at the service of humanity," as it implies "the suppression of human lives that have the same dignity as other human individuals and of the researchers themselves."

The Pontiff highlighted how history "has condemned such science in the past, and will condemn it in the future, not only because it is devoid of the light of God, but also because it is devoid of humanity."

"Man is not an object which we can dispose of; rather, each individual represents the presence of God in the world," he said. "In the face of the direct suppression of human beings, there can be no compromise or prevarication; it is inconceivable for a society to fight crime effectively when it itself legalizes crime in the field of nascent life."

Welcome to New member from Oman

2006-09-09T08:27:00.000+08:00

Dear Dr. Mario de Souza,

This is to inform you that the Asian Federation of Catholic Medical Associations officially recognize the St. Luke's Medical Guild of Oman as a member of the Federation as of September 1, 2006.

As the President of the AFCMA, I have circulated your application letter together with the Constitution to the Executive Officers of our Federation, and received positive responses with warm welcoming remarks from them all.

Using this opportunity, I once again thank you and congratulate to your efforts to organize the first Catholic medical guild in Arabian gulf region.

For your information, our next Congress will be held in Hong Kong in 2008.

With best regards in Him,

Kwang-ho Meng, MD

President, AFCMA

Earthquake in Yogyakarta,Indonesia

2006-05-31T23:46:00.000+08:00

Dear friends,

I am sure that you have already heard a lot about the earthquake in Yogyakarta and do try to find out ways to help the victims of the disaster.
As you know well, Dr. John Lee of Singapore, Chair of the Medical Mission Committee of our Asian Federation of Catholic Medical Associations is working very hard to coordinate all the activities supporting the victims on behalf of the AFCMA as he did during theTsunami disaster in Aceh last year.
Using this opportunity, I would like to thank you all once again for having joined our medical mission project for the Tsunami victims.

I know that you have already started out your efforts to help the victims in Yogyakarta including prayers, and I thank you in advance for all those good works.

For your information, the Korean Federation of Catholic Medical Associations is now organizing a project to help the Yogyakarta victims together with the International Coorperation Division of the Archdiocese of Seoul. This will include sending charity funds and a medical team.

I hope that you will also aid in the effort to help the victims of the Indonesian earthquake.
Above all, let us pray that our Lord will help our Indonesian brothers and sisters to recover quickly from the tragic disaster.

Regards in Christ,

Kwang-ho Meng
President, AFCMA

Regulated Market of Organ Sales

2006-05-02T08:00:00.000+08:00

Pope John Paul II has stated that acts of selfless love "are most solemn celebrations of the Gospel of life" and that a particularly praiseworthy example of such love "is the donation of organs, performed in an ethically acceptable manner, with a view to offering a chance of health and even of life itself to the sick who sometimes have no other hope." Evangelium Vitae [1995] ¶86

The National Catholic Bioethics Center strongly opposes any regulated market of organ sales. Such a scheme would harm the charitable nature of organ donation and substitute in its place a market for the buying and selling of human body parts. The human body is not a commodity, but a gift over which God has given us a limited stewardship. Furthermore, to turn the body and its organs into commodities places at great risk those who are poor and vulnerable by making them susceptible to the allure of monetary gain from a surgical procedure which in no way benefits them medically.

AIDS & CONDOMS- A discussion by Cardinal Lozano

2006-04-28T08:58:00.000+08:00

" Cardinal Lozano Barragán said. "This discussion took place in John Paul II's last months of life, but John Paul II was very, very conscious of these problems. I know it through personal experience, because I had access to him in this respect."

"When the Holy Father Benedict XVI did me the favor of granting me an audience he told me that it would be appropriate to talk about this subject" among competent persons of the Holy See, the cardinal said. "It is a question of examining scientifically and morally how things are."

The study responds first to the question: What guarantee exists to prevent infection with AIDS through a condom? A second question is: Is it morally licit to use a "technical" condom?

To respond to these two questions, the cardinal explained, "there are two important principles, which are the Sixth Commandment that says, 'You will not commit impure acts,' and the Fifth, which must always be taken into account: 'You shall not kill.'"

"Both commandments must be taken into account," he said. "But these are very general principles. The study is being done reflecting on the different opinions of experts on the application of both principles to the concrete case of the condom in these specific circumstances.

"The theologians give their opinions. We, as a council, cannot say, 'I adopt this opinion.' We contribute the existing opinions to the dialogue that, on the other hand, are known."

Cardinal Lozano Barragán added: "The Holy Father will see the results of this dialogue and with the help he has from the Holy Spirit must tell us, if he wishes, where we must go. He might also think that it isn't the appropriate moment to pronounce himself.

"I repeat: What I think and my commitment is simply to be an echo of what the Pope says. I don't have a personal opinion as head of this dicastery. My official opinion is to reproduce exactly to the letter what the Pope says."

New Presidents elected in Member associations of AFCMA

2006-03-31T08:24:00.000+08:00

Recently, the Catholic Medical Associations of Indonesia & Taiwan have elected a new president/chairperson for their respective associations:

1) Dr Ignatius Harjadi Widjaja has been appointed as the new chairman for Indonesian Catholic Medical Community at the 2nd KMKI Congress held in Jakarta, Indonesia on the 12th March 2006. Dr Widyo was elected as the vice chairman

2) The Federation of Catholic Health Care Associations of Taiwan (FCHAT), as member of the AFCMA, has elected a new President to succeed Sister Mary Ann Lou He is Professor Han-Sun Chiang M.D. A famous Urologist and also Dean of College of Medicine in Fu Jen Catholic University, Taiwan.

The Catholic Doctors Association of Malaysia recently elected a new president and he is Dr Anthonysamy.
The Catholic Doctors Guild of Hong Kong also recently elected a new president and he is Dr Peter Au Yeung who is currently also the vice president of AFCMA.

AFCMA President elected to IBC,Unesco

2006-03-30T15:09:00.000+08:00

Dear friends,

I have a good news that I would like to share with you.As of March 14, 2006, I was appointed one of 36 members of the International Bioethics Committee, UNESCO.
As some of you may already know, the International Bioethics Committee of UNESCO (IBC) was established in 1993 to promote a transdisciplinary and multicultural debate on the ethical issues of advances in the life sciences, and this is the only advisory body within the United Nations system to engage in ethical reflection on life sciences and their applications. IBC elaborated the text of the Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights (1997), the International Declaration on Human Genetic Data (2003) and the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights (2005). Recently, the Committee decided to focus its work on two principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights, one concerning consent and the other on social responsibility and health in 2006-2007. For a period of four years term, as a man of preventive medicine and public health, medical ethics education specialist, and especially as a Catholic physician, I would like to stress the importance of life education and hope to contribute to the Committee in developing life education curricula including bioethics at different levels of school.

Your support and prayers are very much appreciated.

With best regards in Him,
Kwang-ho Meng, MD, PhDPresident, AFCMAand Professor, The Catholic University of Korea Colellege of Medicine Seoul, Korea

The Hand of God Stretched out to Humanity

2006-02-14T08:00:00.000+08:00

VATICAN CITY, FEB. 12, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave at midday when he prayed the Angelus from the window of his study with several thousand people gathered in St. Peter's Square.

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

Yesterday, Feb. 11, feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, we observed the World Day of the Sick, which this year had its principal celebrations in Adelaide, Australia, including an international congress on the ever urgent subject of mental health. Illness is a typical feature of the human condition, to the point that it can become its realistic metaphor, as St. Augustine well expresses it in one of his prayers: "Have mercy on me, Lord! Look, I do not hide my wounds from you. You are the doctor, I am the patient; you are merciful, I miserable" ("Confessions," X, 39).

Christ is the true "doctor" of humanity, whom the heavenly Father has sent to the world to cure man, marked in body and spirit by sin and its consequences. Precisely in these Sundays, Mark's Gospel presents Jesus to us who, at the beginning of his public ministry, is completely dedicated to preaching and curing of the sick in the villages of Galilee.

The innumerable miraculous signs he effects with the sick confirm the "good news" of the Kingdom of God. Today's Gospel recounts the cure of a leper and expresses with great effectiveness the intensity of the relationship between God and man, summarized in a wonderful dialogue: "If you will, you can make me clean," says the leper. "I will; be clean," replies Jesus, touching him with his hand and freeing him from leprosy (Mark 1:40-42).

In this passage we see concentrated the whole history of salvation: This gesture of Jesus, who stretches out his hand and touches the sore-ridden body of the person who invokes him, manifests perfectly God's will to cure his fallen creature, restoring life to him "in abundance" (John 10:10), full, happy, eternal life. Christ is "the hand" of God stretched out to humanity so that it can be extricated from the shifting sands of sickness and death, to rise again by leaning on the firm rock of divine love (cf. Psalm 39:2-3).

I would like today to entrust to Mary, "Health of the Sick," especially those in all parts of the world, who not only suffer from lack of health, but also from loneliness, abject poverty and marginalization. I am also thinking in particular of all those who in hospitals or other centers take care of the sick and are dedicated to their cure. May the Holy Virgin help each one to find consolation in body and spirit, thanks to adequate health care and fraternal charity, which becomes concrete care in solidarity.

Fr Cantalamessa on the SICK

2006-02-10T12:09:00.000+08:00

Here is the commentary by Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher to the Pontifical Household, on the Gospel from this Sunday's liturgy.

* * *

5th Sunday of Ordinary Time (B)
Mark 1:29-39

He Cured Many Sick

The Gospel passage of this Sunday gives us a faithful report of a typical day of Jesus. When he left the synagogue, Jesus went first to Peter's house, where he cured his mother-in-law, who was in bed with a fever; in the afternoon, they took all the sick to him and he cured many, affected by different illnesses. In the morning, he rose while it was still dark and went to a solitary place to pray; then he left to preach the Kingdom to other towns.

From this account we deduce that Jesus' day consisted of a mixture of curing the sick, prayer and preaching of the Kingdom. Let us dedicate our reflection to the love of Jesus for the sick, also because in a few days, in the liturgical memorial of the Virgin of Lourdes, Feb. 11, the World Day of the Sick will be observed.

The social transformations of our century have changed profoundly the conditions of the sick. In many situations science gives reasonable hope of a cure, or at least prolongs in many the period of the illness' evolution in cases of incurable sicknesses. But sickness, as death, is not yet and will never be altogether defeated. It is part of the human condition. Christian faith can alleviate this condition and also give it meaning and value.

It is necessary to express two approaches: one for the sick themselves and another for those who look after them. Before Christ, sickness was considered closely linked to sin. In other words, people were convinced that sickness was also the consequence of some personal sin that had to be expiated.

With Jesus, this attitude changed somewhat. "He took our infirmities and bore our diseases" (Matthew 8:17). On the cross, he gave new meaning to human suffering, including sickness: It is no longer punishment, but redemption. Illness unites us to him; it sanctifies, refines the soul, prepares the day in which God will dry every tear and there will be no longer sickness, or weeping, or pain.

After the long hospitalization that followed the attack in St. Peter's Square, Pope John Paul II wrote a letter on suffering in which, among other things, he said: "To suffer means to become particularly susceptible, particularly open to the working of the salvific powers of God, offered to humanity in Christ" (cf. "Salvifici Doloris" No. 23). Sickness and suffering open between us and Jesus on the cross an altogether special channel of communication. The sick are not passive members of the Church, but the most active, most precious members. In God's eyes, one hour of their suffering, endured with patience, can be worth more than all the activities of the world, if they are done only for oneself.

Now a word for those who must look after the sick, at home or in health structures. The sick person certainly has need of care, of scientific competence, but he has even more need of hope. No medicine alleviates the sick person more than to hear the doctor say: "I have good hopes for you." When it is possible to do so without deception, hope must be given. Hope is the best "oxygen tent" for a sick person. The sick must not be left alone. One of the works of mercy is to visit the sick, and Jesus warned us that one of the points of the Last Judgment will be precisely this: "I was sick and you visited me. I was sick and you did not visit me" (Matthew 25:36,43).

Something we can all do for the sick is to pray. Almost all the sick of the Gospel were cured because some one presented them to Jesus and pleaded for them. The simplest prayer, which we can all make our own, is the one that the sisters Martha and Mary addressed to Jesus, in the circumstance of the sickness of their brother Lazarus: "Lord, he whom you love is ill" (John, 11:3).

From ZENIT

LIST OF MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS

2006-02-03T15:17:00.000+08:00

HONG KONG:
Guild of St.Luke,Ss.Cosmas & Damian (G.S.L.SS.C.D.H.K.)
Central Council of Laity, 1 Tai Shek Street, Sai Wan Ho, Hong Kong
Email: guildstluke@hkbn.net

INDIA:
Indian Federation of Medical Guilds (IFMG)
Hillway Clinic, Hilll & Dale, 4th floor, Hill Road, Bandra, Bombay 50
E mail: narantao@hotmail.com

FIAMC Bio-Medical Ethics Centre
St Pius X college, Aarey Road, Goregaon East, Mumbai 400063
Tel: =91 22 874 7310/ 873 5583
E mail: fbmecbio@bom3.vsnl.net.in

INDONESIA:
Indonesian Catholic Medical Community (ICMC)
Jalan Kramat VI/7
Jakarta 10430
Indonesia

JAPAN:
Japanese Catholic Medical Association (JCMA)
27-27 Yoyogi-4, Shibuyaku, Tokyo 151
Tel: 03-3374-2733 Fax: 03-33741565
E mail: info@j-cma.com or chinone@anet.ne.jp

KOREA:
Korean Federation of Catholic Medical Associations (KFCMA)
Catholic University Medical College, 505 Banpo-Dong, Seocho-ku, Seoul 137-701
Tel: +82-2-590 1320; +82-2-590 1342; Fax: +82-2-595 2241

MALAYSIA:
Catholic Doctors Association of Malaysia (CDAM)
c/o Assunta Hospital, Jalan Templer,46650 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
E mail: cdamail@yahoo.com

PAKISTAN:
Pakistan Catholic Medical Association
c/o Dr. Dolphy D’souza, M.D.
Medical Officer
St. Patricks High School
Sangster Rd.
Karachi 0328, Pakistan

PHILIPPINES:
Catholic Physician's Guild of the Phillipines (CPGP_
Ustmaa Office, Room 227, Medicine Building, San Martin de Porres, University of Santo Tomas, Espana, P.O.Box 3060, Manila 1008
Tel/Fax: 749 9786

SRI LANKA:
Guild of St-Luke, Saints Cosmas & Damien
c/o Dr Hilary W.M. Cooray(Hon. Secretary), 141 Vauxhall Street, Colombo 02, Sri Lanka.
Tel: 50 88 30 4186 Email: rohini12@sltnet.lk (Dr Fernandopulle,Master of Guild of St Luke)

SINGAPORE:
Catholic Medical Guild of Singapore (CMGS)
257 Selegie Road, # 02-281, Selegie Complex, Singapor 0718
Tel: +65 3384 235 Fax: =65 7371960

TAIWAN:
Catholic Physician's Association
c/o Cardinal Tien Hospital, 362 Chung Cheng Road, Hsintein, Taipeh Hsien. Taiwan

THAILAND:
Catholic Physician's Guild of Thailand (CPGT)
St. Louis Hospital, 215 South Sathom Road, Yanawa, Bangkok 10120
Tel: + 662 681 5420; FAx: + 662 681 5419
Email: riddhikrai@saintlouis.or.th

ASSOCIATE MEMBER:
Federation of Australian Catholic Medical Association
2A Unwin Crescent
Salter Point, Perth 6152
Australia

Statutes & Bye-laws of the AFCMA

2006-01-26T21:50:00.000+08:00

Statutes and By-Laws of

Asian Federation of Catholic

Medical Associations

ARTICLE 1. Office and Title

The Asian Regional Federation of the International Federation of Catholic Medical Associations (F.I.A.M.C.) is and organization of all Catholic Medical Associations in Asia known as the Asian Federation of Catholic Medical associations (A.F.C.M.A.).

The official language shall be English.

The registered office of the Federation shall be at such place as shall be determined by the General Council.

ARTICLE 2. Aims

To coordinate the efforts of Catholic Medical Associations in the study and spread of Christian principles throughout the medical profession in general.
To encourage the development of Catholic Medical Associations in all countries of Asia in order to assist the Catholic physician in his moral and spiritual development as well as in his technical advancement.
To take part in the general development of the medical profession and to promote health and social work in accordance with Christian principles.
To represent the views of the Asian Federation of Catholic Medical Associations to F.I.A.M.C., other appropriate bodies and at international meetings and congresses.
To study and report on the problems which confront the Catholic Medical professionals in Asia.

ARTICLE 3. Objects

The organization of periodic medical congresses.
The publication of reviews and bulletins of information.
The exchange of research workers, doctors and medical students between various countries.
Any other activity deemed useful for the above aims.

ARTICLE 4. The Seal

The seal of the Asian Federation of Catholic Medical Associations as designed and depicted on the cover of this document shall be the Seal of the Federation. It shall be in the custody of the Secretary General and shall be affixed by him to all documents that are required to be sealed.

ARTICLE 5. Members of Federation

All Catholic medical associations in the various countries of Asia affiliated to F.I.A.M.C. shall be entitled to be members of A.F.C.M.A.

ARTICLE 6. Pledge of Members

All members of the Federation as a condition of membership shall agree to accept, uphold and be governed by the Articles and By-laws of the Federation in force at the time of becoming members and any amendments or additions that may thereafter be made to them and shall further agree to abide by or accept the ruling and decision of the General Council of the Federation.

ARTICLE 7. General Council

The Governing Body of the Federation shall be the General Council, which shall consist of: -

Delegates from each member association with a right to vote.
The officers of the federation and members of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE 8. Meetings of General Council

Ordinary meetings of the General Council shall be held at least once in four years at such time and place as determined by the General Council.
Special meetings may be called by the Executive Committee if such is considered essential by providing at least three months notice in writing to all members.

ARTICLE 9. Duties and Powers of General Council

The General Council shall have the following powers: -

To elect the officers of the Federation i.e. the President, two Vice-Presidents, Secretary General/Treasurer and to appoint an Executive Committee.
To establish the necessary Standing and Ad Hoc Committees from time to time as time as may be considered necessary.

It shall make such by-laws and regulations, and revise them from time to time. It may perform such other acts not elsewhere excluded as shall make for the welfare, order and good government of this Federations. Any be-laws or regulation so made or nay revision there of shall become effective when adopted by a majority of the members present and voting at any properly constituted meeting of the General Council. It shall approve a record of receipts and expenditure of all funds prepared by the Secretary General/Treasurer and shall report to the member associations.

ARTICLE 10. Voting Privileges

Voting shall be restricted to official voting delegates from each member association with the casting vote of the President in case of a tie. Voting may be in person or by proxy. The number of votes allotted to member associations shall be in proportion to the number of members on their rolls as laid down in Article C of the By-laws.

ARTICLE 11. Non-voting Delegates and Observers.

Delegates from member associations without a right to vote may attend meetings of the General Council.
Any individual may be admitted to meetings of the General Council, as observers, if such attendance is approved by the General Council. Such observers shall not have a right to vote.

ARTICLE 12. Presiding Officer

The Presiding Officer of the General Council shall be the President in office since the last meeting of Council or, in his inability to preside, the 1^st. or 2^nd. Vice-President respectively. Should both Vice-Presidents also be absent, the immediate Past-President shall preside.

A quarum for the General Council shall be fifty per cent of voting members present, either in person or by proxy.

ARTICLE 13. Officers

The elected Officers of the Federation shall be the President, two Vice-Presidents, the Secretary General/Treasurer, all of whom shall hold office for a period of four years. Not more than two officers shall be from the same country with the exception of the Secretary General who may be from the same country as the President.

ARTICLE 14. Duties and Regulations Pertaining to Officers

The President shall be the chief officer of the Federation and shall preside at all meeting of the General Council. He shall act as Chairman of all meetings of the Executive Committee or may name the 1^st. Vice-President to act on his behalf or, if absent, the 2^nd. Vice-President.
Secretary General/Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping a record of all meetings of the Executive and the General Council and of all financial matters of the Federation. He shall be responsible to the Executive Committee and the General Council in all financial matters of the Federation. He shall be responsible to the Executive Committee and the General Council for the day-to-day administration of the Federation’s affairs in consultation with the President.

ARTICLE 15. Executive Committee

Composition

The Executive Committee shall be composed of the following member: -

The executive Officers of the Federation i.e. the President, two Vice-Presidents and the Secretary-General/Treasurer. These Officers shall be elected by the General Council.
One representative from each member Asian country. These representatives shall be active members of a member association and shall be elected by the General Council.
The Ecclesiastical Advisor shall be appointed by the Federation of Asia Bishop’s Conferences. His duty shall be to oversee the moral, religious and doctrinal views of the Federation and its members. He shall be an ex-officio member without a vote.
All past Presidents shall be designated Honorary Presidents and may attend Executive Committee meetings as unofficial members without a right to vote.

Duties of the Executive Committee:

The Executive Committee is the Administrative Body of the Federation and is commissioned to promote the Aims and Objects of the Federation.

It is empowered to implement such policy matters as have been decided by the General Council.

It may make recommendations in favor of any nominations for elective office.

It should preferably meet once a year. It may be called into special session as stated in ARTICLE G of the By-laws.

These and other functions which are defined in these Statutes and By-laws are the duties of the Executive Committee.

Nominations for Executive Officers of A.F.C.M.A.:

The President

Nominations for President may be made by any regular Member Association of the Federation for by the incumbent Executive Committee of the Federation. It is preferable that a candidate for the Presidency shall have served on the Executive Committee of A.F.C.M.A.

Two Vice-Presidents, Secretary-General/ Treasurer

Nomination for these officers shall be made from the floor during a general Council meeting at which elections shall occur.

Nominations shall be accepted only from delegates representing Regular Member Associations in good standing.

Election of the Executive Officers of A.F.C.M.A.

The President, two Vice-Presidents, Secretary-General/ Treasurer shall be elected by the General Council, each for a term of four years. These officers may not serve more than tow consecutive terms in each office.

Succession of Office in Case of Death or Resignation

In the event of death or resignation of the President, the 1^st. Vice-President shall become Acting President until the next regular election. In the event of death of any other principal officers, the Executive Committee shall choose an interim officer until the next election.

ARTICLE 16. The Regular and Associate members shall contribute and annual fee as proposed by the Executive Committee and approved by the General Council.

ARTICLE 17. All amendments to these Statutes and to the By-laws must be approved by the General Council by a majority of two-thirds of the members present or represented, provided that the proposed amendments shall have been submitted by the Secretary-General to all members in good standing six months before their consideration by the General Council.

ARTICLE 18. In event of the dissolution of the Federation, the funds that may be in existence shall be disposed according to the general purposes of the Federation, or submitted to the Holy See.

ARTICLE 19.A The original test of the Statutes and By-Laws is in English. Official translations into any other language may be made according to needs.

BY-LAWS

ARTICLE A. These By-Laws, like the statutes of the Asian Federation of Catholic Medical Associations (A.F.C.M.A.) of which they are an integral part, shall be approved by the General Council by a majority of two-thirds.

ARTICLE B. All requests for admission to regular membership in the Federation shall be submitted for examination by the Executive Committee. The request is to be accompanied by documentation which should include: -

The Statutes of the association.
Number of members in the association.
Recognition of ecclesiastical authority or a declaration of acceptance of the doctrine and moral precepts of the Catholic Church.

Recommendations for acceptance to regular membership shall be made by the Executive Committee to the General council after all requirements have been met.

ARTICLE C. Each Regular Member Association may be represented at the General Council by a delegation composed of the President of each association or his designee and up to three other delegates.

Regular Member Associations with less than 500 individual members on the rolls shall be antitled to one vote in the General Council, whereas those with 500 or more individual members, shall have two votes, In the case of countries having more than one Regular Member Association, the distribution of votes shall be determined by the General Council in relation to the number of members on the combined rolls of the member Associations and no more than two votes shall be assigned to any one country.

ARTICLE D. Each Associate Member organization may be represented at the General Council by the same apportionment of delegates as stated in ARTICLE C above, but without the right to vote.

ARTICLE E. A delegate of Regular Member Association may be represented by another delegate. One present member may vote a maximum of two proxy votes in addition to his own vote.

ARTICLE F. The meetings of the Executive Committee are presided over by the President of the Federation. The decisions of the Executive Committee shall be made by majority vote. Any member may represent an absent member and vote a proxy vote in addition to his own vote.

ARTICLE G. The Executive Committee of the Federation represents the continuation of the activities and policies formulated by the General Council. It shall meet at least once a year, and may be called into special session by the President or by petition of no less than three executive officers for the consideration of matters of urgency.

ARTICLE H. The President represents the Federation. He presides over the General Council and the Executive Committee. He directs the Federation according to the directives of the General Council. In case of absence, he is replaced by the 1st. Vice-President.

ARTICLE I. The 1st. Vice-President is the second ranking officer of A.F.C.M.A. he becomes the presiding officer of the Assembly and the Executive Committee in the absence of the President. Should the 1st. Vice-President be absent, the 2nd. Vice-President shall preside.

The 1st. Vice-President assumes the duties of the Presidency in the event of the death or resignation of the President as stated in ARTICLE 15(E) of the Statutes.

The Vice-Presidents may be assigned additional duties by the President or the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE J. The Secretary-General/ Treasurer directs the Secretariat of the Federation: he ensures communications with all Member Associations and all other organizations: he fulfills the legal formalities for the proper functioning of the Federation. He presents an annual report to the Executive Committee of which he is the Secretary.

ARTICLE K. The Secretary-General/ Treasurer administers the funds of the Federation. He makes an annual report to the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE L. The annual dues are assessed according to the number of members in each association as follows:

50 U.S. dollars for associations with less than 100 members.

100 U.S. dollars for associations with 100 or more members.

HISTORY OF THE AFCMA

2006-01-26T21:31:00.000+08:00

The Asian Federation of Catholic Medical Associations (AFCMA)

The Asian Federation of Catholic Medical Associations (AFCMA) is one of 4 Regional Organizations (Asia, America, Europe, and Africa) of the International Federation of Catholic Medical Associations (FIAMC)

Idea of forming the AFCMA was brought up at the 8th Congress of the FIAMC held in Brussel in 1958 among three Asian participants, Dr. Alimuring of Philippines, Dr. Anno of Japan, and Dr. Dung of Vietnam.

Aims of the AFCMA are :

to coordinate the efforts of Catholic Medical Associations in the study and spread of Christian principles throughout the medical profession in general.
to encourage the development of Catholic Medical Associations in all countries of Asia.
to take part in the general development of the medical profession and to promote health and social work in accordance with Christian principles
to represent the views of Asian Federation of Catholic Medical Association to FIAMC
to study and report on the problems which confront the Catholic medical professional in Asia

AFCMA Congress

History of the AFCMA Congresses: 1^st Congress in Manila (1960)

2^nd Congress in Saigon (1962)

3^rd Congress in Bombay (1964)

4^th Congress in Tokyo (1968)

5^th Congress in Bangkok (1972)

6^th Congress in Hong Kong (1976) (1976)

7^th Congress in Seoul (1980)

8^th Congress in Manila (1984)

9^th Congress in Nagasaki (1988)

10^th Congress in Bangkok (1992)

11^th Congress in Singapore (1996)

12^th Congress in Kuala Lumpur (2000)

13^th Congress in Taipei (2004)

*14^th Congress will be held in 2008 in Hong Kong

Duration of Congress: Usually 3-4 days
Program of Congress: Daily Masses, Keynote address, Memorial lectures,

Country presentations, Symposia/workshops,

Cultural night, Sight seeing, etc.

Scholarship funds have been collected and used to bring as many country members as possible from so-called 3^rd world Asian countries.

Officer Bearers of the AFCMA

(2004 - 2008)

President: Dr. Kwang-ho Meng, MD Korea

Vice-Presidents: Sr(Dr). Mary Ann Lou, MD Taiwan, R.O.C.

Dr. Buichi Ishijima, MD Japan

Dr. Peter Au Yeung, MD Hong Kong, China

Dr. Khin Yam Chong, MD Malaysia

Secretary General:Dr. Bum Soo Kim, MD Korea

Treasurers: Dr. Keonhyun Jo, MD Korea

Ecclesiastical Advisor:Rev. Hygino Henrigues, SJ Singapore

Committee Chairs:

Medical Mission Committee :; Dr. John Lee, MD (Singapore)

Bioethics Committee :Dr. Ian Snodgrass, MD (Singapore)

Regional Representatives for the FIAMC :Dr. John Lee, MD Singapore

Dr. Freddie Loh, MD Malaysia

Secretariat: AFCMA

c/o Department of Radiology,
The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine
505 Banpo-Dong, Socho-Ku, Seoul 137-701, Korea
Tel: 822-590-1584, E-mail: bumrad@catholic.ac.kr

List of AFCMA Member Organizations

The Guild of St. Luke,
SS. Cosmas & Damian

c/oH.K.Central Councilof
Catholic Laity

1 Tai Shek Street

Sai Wan Ho, Hong Kong

Indian Federation of Catholic Medical Guilds

Hillway Clinik, Hill & Dale 4^th fl.

Hill-road, Bandra

Mumbai-50, India

Indonesian Catholic Medical Community (ICMC)

Jalan Kramat VI/7

Jakarta 10430

Indonesia

Catholic Doctors Association of Malaysia

c/o Assunta Hospital, Jalan Templer,

46990 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

The Japan Catholic Medical Association

1-1-5-603, Hatagaya, Shibaya-ku

Tokyo 151-0072, Japan

The Catholic Medical Guild of Singapore

428A East Coast Rd

Singapore 1542

Rep. of Singapore

Catholic Physicians’ Guild of the Philippines

Rm 227 Medicine Building

University of Santo Tomas

Manila, Philippines 1008,

Pakistan Catholic Medical Association

c/o Dr. Dolphy D’souza, M.D.

Medical Officer

St. Patricks High School

Sangster Rd.

Karachi 0328, Pakistan

- Associate Member –

Federation of Australian Catholic

Medical Association

2A Unwin Crescent

Salter Point, Perth 6152

Australia

Catholic Physicians Association, ROC

c/o Cardinal Tien Hospital

362 Chung Cheng Rd.

Hsintein, Taipei Hsien

Taiwan, R.O.C.

The Catholic Physicians’ Guild of Thailand

122/6-7 Soi Narksuwa

Nonsi Rd, yannawa

Bangkok 10120

Thailand

Message form AFCMA Bioethics Committee

2006-01-17T08:20:00.000+08:00

Dear leaders in AFCMA,

There is a widening gap between civil law anct-the medical concept of ethics on the one hand and Catholic medical ethics on the other. In spite of a proliferation of clinical and research ethics committees, we have widespread and increasing contraception, abortion, manipulation and cannibalisation of embryos, a disordered sexuality and 9pandemic of AIDS. Without trivialising the Asian tsunami tragedy and the grief of those afflicted by it, this man-made medico-moral tsunami is surpassing it in horror and magnitude and engulfing the whole world. Underlying this flood of evil is an increasing willingness to do evil acts for medical, scientific and social goals. Evil acts are becoming good things to do when there are good reasons, and since no one does anything without a good reason this trend is opening the door to all evil actions, to the corruption of conscience and to the increasing inability to make moral choices. Without divine intervention, such a fundamental error can have no outcome but catastrophe. The holocaust began in the mind but mass killing in clinics and- laboratories is now part of mainstream life. In Evangelium Vitae 1995, Pope John Paul 11 characterised the bioethical deviation and the resulting disrespect for human life as the Culture of Death, warning that it is "expanding and has reached broad sectors of public opinion, a real network of complicity that reaches out to include international institutions, foundations and associations."

Catholic doctors need to restore and enhance the sense of belonging in the fecund family harmony of God, which is the source of Man's dignity and the meaning of health, and to beware the ruptured link between the Creator and the creature that secular humanism represents. Forearmed with this sense of being, they will then be able to resist more effectively the anti-life forces that are trying to establish an egoistic sterility and the destruction of the family, and thus to be leaders against the Culture of Death that is consuming the profession and the world. We must act. Faith without works is dead. If weCatholics do not practice our Catholic pro-life beliefs in public for fear of offending others, we are being not tolerant but cowardly. Silence favours the oppressor. Being Catholic only in private and remaining neutral or silent in public in the face of evil, or worse supporting it, is not an option for us. We must leave the upper room. If we are not part of the solution, we are part of the problem. Archbishop of Denver Charles J. Chaput put it this way, "if we believe in the sanctity of life we need to prove that by our actions, including our political choices. Anything less leads to the corruption of our integrity. Claiming that 'we don't want to impose our beliefs on society' is not merely politically convenient; it is morally incoherent and irresponsible."

Following the decision made at the 13th AFCMA EXCO meeting on 27th Nov 2004 and noting the final resolutions of the 13th AFC MA Congress in Taiwan, the recently formed Bioethics committee of AFCMA seeks to disseminate Church teaching on life issues, Catholic medical ethics and moral theology and to preserve our own integrity in a deteriorating world. The committee comprises moral theologians and a few doctors from different member countries. Perhaps the committee could draft a paper at quarterly intervals and issue a consensus view consistent with Church teaching after discussion with all of you over the e-mail, which you could then translate and disseminate to your own national doctors' groups. Increased communication among the like minded will help to overcome the sense of being overwhelmed, fearful and alone and thence to spread the truth, to experience Grace and to acknowledge our God in public. Your comments and suggestions are most welcome on how we could go about our task of inspiring and enabling Catholic doctors in our own individual societies to become more effective bearers of truth and more actively resist the Culture of Death. Or in the words of Pope John Paul 11, "to bear witness to the Gift of Life in our profession, committing ourselves to defending it from conception to its natural end, and respecting the dignity of every human being, especially the dignity of the weakest and the most in need."

( Prayer of the doctor.)

AFCMA Bioethics Committee

Feb 2005

NV COUNCIL NEWS

22nd World Congress of FIAMC( 11th to 14th May 2006)

2005-11-25T12:29:00.000+08:00

The FIAMC cordially invites you to take part in its 22nd World Congress
Dear colleagues,
The FIAMC cordially invites you to take part in its 22nd World
Congress, this time in the city of Barcelona (Spain). We encourage
you to take an active role in all the activities we have spent these
last months preparing for you. I hope that the lectures and talks
meet a high scientific standard and that the Missionary Medicine
Exhibition is truly representative of the immense work carried out by
the Church in favour of the sick.

Prof. Dr. Gian Luigi Gigli,
President of the FIAMC

Please visit the official website for more info: www.fiamcbarcelona2006.org

The Theme of the congress is: Catholic Physicians Globalization and Poverty

Message from AFCMA President

2005-11-25T12:20:00.000+08:00

+ Peace in Christ,

Dear Presidents of the national Catholic medical associations,

I hope that this message finds you all well.

It has been a year since we met in Taipei at the 13th AFCMA Congress.I once again thank Sr.(Dr.) Lou and her staff members for the wonderful scientific programs and warm hospitality.

At the Congress, as you may recall, we created two special Committees, Bioethics Committee and Medical Mission Committee, and asked Dr. Ian Snodgrass of Singapore, and Drs. John Lee of Singapore and Freddie Loh to take care the Committees. As you can find from our Federation website, http://www.afcma.blogspot.com/, these two Committees have already done some work and the immediate response to the Tsunami disaster in Indonesia is one good example of the Medical Mission Committee's work. Using this opportunity, I would like to thank Drs. John Lee and Freddie Loh once again for their hard work, and thank those member organizations that actively participated in Tsunami refief project.

Speaking of the Federation website, I must tell you that we owe so much to Dr. KY Chong, one of our three vice-presidents from Malaysia. I am sure that all of you will join me in thanking Dr. Chong for his personal sacrifice for the Federation website.

I am glad to tell you that I have been able to meet some of you in person during the last year.

In December last year, I visited Singapore to attend a meeting on medical education and had a pleasant meeting with Drs. Lee and Snodgrass, and in June this year I visited Bangkok for a WHO meeting and met with Dr. Akaraskul. In August, I once again visited Taiwan for a meeting of Catholic universities and colleges in Asia and met with Sr. Lou.In September, Dr. Kurniawan, the president of the Indonesian Catholic medical association visited Seoul for an international pediatrics meeting and we had breakfast together.

I will be going to Manila early next month for another WHO regional meeting, and I will certainly try to meet with Dr. Jocelyn, the president of the Catholic doctors association of Philippines.

Now, I have two announcements to make.

The first thing is about the 2006 World Congress of the International Federation of Catholic Medical Associations scheduled to be held on May 11-14, 2006 in Barcelona, Spain.

I know that it is quite costly for you to travel to Spain, but I do hope to meet you in Barcelona next year. I want you to visit the Congress website, www.fiamcbarcelona2006.org, and plan ahead to attend the Congress.

Secondly, I plan to publish an AFCMA Directory next year. This Directory will contain information on the national organization, and some statistics on population and country, Catholic church and church healthcare facilities and manpower. With regards to this project, I will send you a small survey form early next year.

God bless and best regards,

Kwang-ho Meng

President, AFCMA

Religious Belief & Health Benefits

2005-11-05T08:31:00.000+08:00

NEW YORK, OCT. 29, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Religious belief may not only be good for our spiritual health; it may also bring positive effects for the body. With certain regularity, studies appear on the scene indicating that prayer or regular participation in religious services can assist believers' health.

Not everyone agrees with such studies. Some researchers point to methodological failures in various studies that purport to show a correlation between religion and health benefits. Even the studies themselves warn that it is hard to pinpoint the precise relationship between the two.

Still, the number of reports showing positive effects is substantial. On June 9 the Web site Science and Theology News reported that Canadian and Israeli researchers found that religious practice may slow the progress of Alzheimer's disease.

"We learned that Alzheimer's patients with higher levels of spirituality or higher levels of religiosity may have a significantly slower progression of cognitive decline," said the author of the study, Dr. Yakir Kaufman, director of neurology at Sarah Herzog Memorial Hospital in Jerusalem.

The results were presented at the 2005 annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology. "This work is consistent with recent studies showing that prayer, spirituality or religiosity is correlated with better mental and physical health," commented Dr. Michael Rayel, chief of psychiatry at the Dr. G.B. Cross Memorial Hospital in Clarenville, Newfoundland.

The researchers assessed 68 people between ages 49 and 94. The data revealed that higher levels of religiosity and private religious practices were significantly correlated with slower rates of cognitive decline.

But whether spiritual activity slows Alzheimer's more effectively than other types of mental activity may be the "$64,000 question," cautioned University of Pennsylvania radiology professor Dr. Andrew Newberg. "One of the big questions ultimately becomes whether or not the researchers can differentiate the positive effects of spirituality from other activities."

At the same meeting another group of researchers, from the University of Chicago, reported that African- Americans who strongly believe in God were less likely to be depressed than nonbelievers, the Chicago Sun-Times reported April 14. In the same vein, Dr. Harold Koenig of Duke University's Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health, said that religion helps provide a sense of hope, peace and well-being, which in turn can reduce health-damaging stress hormones.

The Sun-Times article noted, however, that Dr. Richard Sloan of Columbia University cast doubt on the reports. He said that many studies on religion and health "contain significant methodological flaws that render their conclusions suspect."

Faith and medical schools

But the possibility of a positive effect is receiving greater attention by doctors. Two-thirds of the 125 medical schools in the United States now include courses on spirituality and faith, compared with just three in 1992, according to the Web site of the John Templeton Foundation.

The foundation is funding research into the area of spirituality and health. As well, it awards monetary prizes annually to U.S. medical schools in order to encourage the development, teaching and evaluation of courses that examine the integral role of faith and spirituality in patient care.

Some studies point to a general reduction in mortality risk for those who attend religious services at least weekly, the Wall Street Journal reported May 3. The studies have received little attention due to skepticism among scientists, the Journal noted.

But study of the issue led one skeptical expert, Lynda Powell, to change her mind. Powell, a professor of preventive medicine at Chicago's Rush University Medical Center and a non-churchgoer, was asked in 2001 by the National Institutes of Health to head a panel of three scientists to review the medical literature on the link between religion and health.

The panel did not find evidence that religion would help people once they are ill, concluded the report, published in the January 2003 journal American Psychologist.

But their examination of studies relating church attendance to health was different. The panel, according to the Wall Street Journal, reported that the studies showed a 25% lower mortality rate for those who attend religious services at least weekly. It seems that participation in services promotes a variety of behaviors with health benefits. These behaviors include meditation, participation in a social network, and adherence to a set of values that discourage things such as smoking and infidelity.

Praying for others

The issue of whether praying for the sick leads to improved health has been debated in past years. On July 15 the Washington Post reported that a study of more than 700 heart patients showed that those who had people praying for them from a distance, and without their knowledge, were no less likely to suffer a major complication, end up back in the hospital or die.

Some studies have argued that such prayers can have beneficial effects, but the Post noted that they have been criticized for methodological flaws.

The article reported on the Mantra II study, carried out by a team at the Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, headed by cardiologist Mitchell Krucoff. It involved 748 patients who underwent treatment for heart problems at nine hospitals around the country between 1999 and 2002.

Researchers asked 12 congregations of various Christian denominations, Jews, Muslims and Buddhists around the world to pray for some of the patients. Other patients were not prayed for (presumably). Neither the patients nor their doctors knew whether someone was praying for them. The patients were followed for six months, but the researchers found no difference between the groups.

Krucoff did say, however, that he did not want people to think the researchers were critical of prayer. "This study gives us a sense of where there might be therapeutic benefit that might be worth pursuing in future trials," he said.

Body and soul

The Catechism of the Catholic Church deals with the question of faith and bodily health, in the section on the anointing of the sick. In No. 1509 it observes that the Church has received the charge "Heal the sick!" (Matthew 10:8) from the Lord.

The Church complies with this injunction by taking care of the sick "as well as by accompanying them with her prayer of intercession." The text notes that the Church "believes in the life-giving presence of Christ, the physician of souls and bodies. This presence is particularly active through the sacraments, and in an altogether special way through the Eucharist, the bread that gives eternal life and that St. Paul suggests is connected with bodily health."

But in the preceding number the Catechism notes that "even the most intense prayers do not always obtain the healing of all illnesses." For this reason St. Paul states that we must learn from the Lord that "my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness," and that the sufferings to be endured can mean that "in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his Body, that is, the Church" (2 Corinthians 12:9; Colossians 1:24).

In fact, No. 1505 observes that Christ, during his public ministry, did not heal all the sick. And the physical healings he did carry out "announced a more radical healing: the victory over sin and death through his Passover." The Catechism then notes: "On the cross Christ took upon himself the whole weight of evil and took away the 'sin of the world,' of which illness is only a consequence."

The Catechism concludes: "By his passion and death on the cross Christ has given a new meaning to suffering: it can henceforth configure us to him and unite us with his redemptive Passion."

CONDOMS & the AIDS problem

2005-09-30T08:20:00.000+08:00

Abundant data exist to show the severe limitations of relying on condoms to solve the AIDS problem. A letter from Australian-based bioethicist Amin Abboud, published July 30 by the British Medical Journal, noted that any change in the Catholic Church's position on condoms would be detrimental for Africa.

According to Abboud, a statistical analysis of the situation in the continent shows that the greater the percentage of Catholics in any country, the lower the level of HIV. "If the Catholic Church is promoting a message about HIV in those countries," he added, "it seems to be working."

Data from the World Health Organization puts the figure for HIV infection in Swaziland 42.6% of the population. Only 5% of the population is Catholic. And in Botswana, where 37% of the adult population is HIV infected, only 4% of the population is Catholic. In Uganda, however, where 43% of the population is Catholic, the proportion of HIV infected adults is 4%.

Abboud commented that since the death of John Paul II there has been a "concerted campaign ... to attribute responsibility to him for the death of many Africans." But, he continued, "Such accusations must always be supported by solid data. None has been presented so far."

Recognition of the value of promoting abstinence, instead of just relying on condoms, came in a commentary published in The Lancet last Nov. 27. Written by a group of medical experts, and endorsed by a long list of health care experts, the article noted that when campaigns target young people who have not initiated sexual activity, "the first priority should be to encourage abstinence or delay of sexual onset, hence emphasizing risk avoidance as the best way to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections as well as unwanted pregnancy."

The article did support condom use, but also pointed out that even for those who have already engaged in sexual activity, "returning to abstinence or being mutually faithful with an uninfected partner are the most effective ways of avoiding infection." This goes even for adults: "When targeting sexually active adults, the first priority should be to promote mutual fidelity with an uninfected partner as the best way to assure avoidance of HIV infection," stated the article.

This argument is based on solid medical evidence, the authors pointed out: "The experience of countries where HIV has declined suggests that partner reduction is of central epidemiological importance in achieving large-scale HIV incidence reduction, both in generalized and more concentrated epidemics."

Oral Contraceptives & the Risk of Cancer

2005-09-18T15:55:00.000+08:00

The International Agency for Research on Cancer, the Lyon-based cancer research agency of the World Health Organization, in its press release of the 29th of July 2005, informed of the publication of a monograph on the possible carcinogenicity [of] combined estrogen-progestogen oral contraceptives and combined estrogen-progestogen menopausal therapy, based on the conclusions of an international ad hoc working group of 21 scientists from 8 countries.

Previously, combined oral contraceptives had been determined to be carcinogenic to humans, but only primary liver cancer was specifically implicated. The Working Group, after a thorough review of the published scientific evidence, concluded that combined oral contraceptives alter the risk of several common cancers in women.

Estrogen-progestogen oral contraceptives were classified in the Group 1 of carcinogenic agents. This category is used when there is sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in humans.

These conclusions are of enormous public health importance, since it is estimated that worldwide, more than 100 million women -- about 10% of all women of reproductive age -- currently use combined hormonal contraceptives. In addition, there has been widespread use of hormonal menopausal therapy: approximately 20 million women in developed countries.

For all these women, the message is that the use of oral contraceptives increases the risk of breast, cervix and liver cancer. On the contrary, the risks of endometrial and ovarian cancer are decreased in women who used combined oral contraceptives.

Regarding combined estrogen-progestogen menopausal therapy, WHO warns that it increases the risk of breast cancer and endometrial cancer (at least when progestogens are taken fewer than 10 days per month) and that there is not sufficient evidence to conclude that hormonal therapy has a protective effect at any cancer site.

The WHO experts call to a rigorous analysis to demonstrate what can be, at the end, the overall net public health outcome of the use of oral contraceptives. In addition, each woman who uses these products is now invited by WHO to discuss the overall risks and benefits with her doctor, taking into consideration her personal circumstances and family history of cancer and other diseases.

FIAMC invites all health care providers to attentively consider the results of the WHO study, which sheds new light on the prophetical value of Paul VI's "Humanae Vitae" and of John Paul II's "Evangelium Vitae" encyclicals, and encourages Catholic doctors to spread the methods for natural family planning also in Western affluent societies.

Gian Luigi Gigli, MD
President FIAMC

Non Disclosure of a fertility technique that resulted in Abnormal Foetus

2005-09-15T22:32:00.000+08:00

Pioneering Fertility Technique Resulted in Abnormal Fetuses
Team Failed to Disclose Genetic Disorder in Science Report

By Rick Weiss
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, May 18, 2001; Page A03

When doctors in New Jersey recently touted the success of an experimental treatment they had developed to help infertile women, they were prepared for the controversy that ensued. After all, the technique involves mixing an infertile woman's egg not only with her husband's sperm but also with parts of a younger woman's egg, creating children with three genetic parents -- a biological first.

The team emphasized that virtually all the maternal genes inherited by the children came from their true mothers. And happily, all the children born by the technique appear to be completely healthy, Jacques Cohen and his colleagues at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, N.J., reported.

But what Cohen and his colleagues did not mention in their recent scientific report is that the perfect record of healthy births was attained because they aborted a developing fetus that was found to have a rare genetic disorder. Moreover, another pregnancy achieved in the experiment ended in miscarriage and involved a fetus afflicted with the same rare disorder, called Turner's syndrome, in which an entire chromosome is mysteriously missing.

All told, two of the 17 fetuses created by the technique had Turner's syndrome, an incidence at least seven to eight times what experts deem normal.

Internal documents from Saint Barnabas explicitly acknowledge that the novel technique may be causing the problem, perhaps by enhancing the survival of flawed embryos that normally would not live beyond the first days or weeks of embryo development.

Yet, in their recent report, published in the March issue of the journal Human Reproduction, the researchers never mention Turner's syndrome and conclude there is "no reason" to believe that the technique is harmful to fetuses or babies. "Therefore," the team wrote, "we continue to perform these clinical procedures, albeit as an experimental protocol."

Cohen declined to be interviewed for this article, but public relations officials at Saint Barnabas said it's too soon to know if the link to Turner's syndrome is significant and emphasized that they have been open about the risks with women considering the technique.

"It was not a secret," Saint Barnabas spokeswoman Denise Pinney said.

Other experts agreed that the number of cases is still too small to know whether they represent a real trend or just random bad luck. But several fertility experts said that at a minimum the abnormalities should have been mentioned in the recent published report so that doctors and others would be aware of all the facts.

"The failure to disclose the losses is a problem," said John Buster, director of reproductive endocrinology and fertility at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, echoing others in the field. "If I'm going to be told that there were . . . normal births, I'd like to know the total database from which that's drawn."

Aside from the issues of safety and full disclosure, some ethicists expressed alarm that in the course of a private and unregulated fertility treatment, researchers had crossed a line that many had said should not be crossed, at least not until the implications are better understood: the first human genetic alterations capable of being passed down to future generations. Federal policy precludes such work by federally funded scientists, in part because if the changes lead to problems, they could afflict offspring for generations to come.

Responding to the work at Saint Barnabas, experts writing in the scientific journal Science are today calling for the creation of a public oversight process for research that causes inheritable genetic changes in people.

More generally, several ethicists said the case exemplifies how the fertility industry often rides the line between benevolent heroism in the service of infertile couples and fee-for-service experimentalism in which patients desperate to become pregnant are easily drawn to unproven and often expensive treatments.

The federal government does not support human embryo research, leaving fertility clinics as the only venue for such studies. Because the clinics are privately funded, they are exempt from the federal bureaucracy that oversees the safety of human subjects in research. Although the Food and Drug Administration claims to have some authority over fertility clinic research, it has never exercised that authority.

Jamie Grifo, a fertility doctor at New York University, defended Cohen. "To characterize this as a problem is totally unfair," he said. Cohen has discussed the cases of Turner's syndrome in scientific meetings, Grifo said. He noted that the cases are noted in a published summary of the proceedings of a 1999 fertility meeting in Australia.

Others, though, expressed surprise that the results remain unmentioned in any of the standard peer-reviewed articles the group has published, which doctors would typically look to for details of the experiment's outcome.

Suheil J. Muasher, medical director of the Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine's Northern Virginia/D.C. Center in Fairfax, has been using the Saint Barnabas technique. He said he had not been aware of the cases of Turner's syndrome until he learned of them from a reporter. The one birth he has achieved so far involved normal twins, he said.

Michael Tucker, an embryologist at the Shady Grove Fertility Center in Rockville, said Cohen never mentioned the problems to him in conversations the two had while Tucker was writing a recent review of the field for publication.

"In retrospect, the authors . . . could have been more cautious," said Helen Beard, managing editor of Human Reproduction, which published the recent article. Since then, she said, the journal has "tightened" its peer review process.

The consent document that prospective participants must sign before enrolling in the experiment mentions the Turner's cases. But the form says Turner's "commonly appears" in fetuses naturally. In fact, it is uncommon, occurring in an estimated 15 out of 1,000 conceptions and, because most of those spontaneously abort, only 1 in 2,500 births.

The Saint Barnabas technique calls for fluid from a young woman's egg to be injected into the egg of an infertile woman whose embryos have failed to develop properly with standard in vitro fertilization. Chromosomal genes, which influence a person's physical and mental traits, are not transferred. But a few tiny pieces of DNA called mitochondrial genes, which help cells produce energy, come along for the ride.

The March publication showed for the first time that some of that mitochondrial DNA is present in 1-year-olds born through the technique, settling the question of whether the extra genes persist after birth and are so securely in place that they are likely to be passed on to the children's offspring.

About 30 such babies are alive around the world and are to be monitored for years to watch for any problems that may arise from their novel genetic makeup. Jacob Levron, a scientist in Israel, said yesterday that all six that he helped create appear healthy.

Donations to the Tsunami Victims

2005-09-15T14:14:00.000+08:00

This is an update on the many donations that the AFCMA member countries have contributed to the Tsunami victims in Aceh and Sri Lanka.

CASH and other Donations:
1)Japan donated US $ 5,000
2) Korea donated US$3,000
3)Singapore managed to raise S$202,400 on behalf of FIAMC and AFCMA which was given to Perdhaki(the Indonesian Medical Catholic Associations) for purchaase of an ambulance in Aceh as well as to support mobile clinics in Nias and Aceh.
4) Singapore also raised S$10,000 worth of logistics (Masks, gloves, medicines) which were sent to Sri Lanka and Aceh.
5) Korea sent 6 shipments of medicine to Aceh
6) Malaysia sent a medical team to Aceh as well as 2 shipments of medicines and supplies and food to Aceh.The Catholic Doctors Association of Malaysia also remitted a sum of RM 10,181.00 to the Jesuit Refugee Service in Aceh.

There may have been other donations that I am not aware of and if I have inadvertently omitted these I apologise for the oversight and will be delighted to publish these as soon as I receive the info from you. Please contact me at: cdamail@yahoo.com if you wish to have your contributions published on this website.

Posted by Dr K Y Chong(Malaysia)

The Meaning of Suffering

2005-08-19T08:29:00.000+08:00

Pope Urges Doctors to Teach Meaning of Suffering.
In a Message to a Congress Held in PeruVATICAN CITY, JULY 18, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Pope Benedict XVI encouraged Catholic doctors to teach their patients the transcendent meaning of illness and suffering.In a message sent to a congress on "Sickness and Christian Life," which closed Sunday in Lima, Peru, the Pope urged doctors to support their patients "with an attitude of charity, teaching them to accept their human limitations and sickness, and encouraging them to offer their sufferings to the Lord, thus uniting themselves to Christ's redemptive sacrifice."Such an attitude "contributes to give a view of life firmly rooted in faith and nourished by contemplation of the Cross," the Holy Father said.Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragán, president of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers, opened the meeting last Friday. The congress was organized by the Life and Spirituality Institute and the Association of Catholic Doctors of Peru, and held in the auditorium of the National Institute of Neoplastic Illnesses.Vatican Radio reported that the cardinal stressed that "to approach the mystery of suffering, one cannot have 'weak thought' but 'strong thought,' which, without disdaining scientific knowledge, affirms in a meta-rational way the logic of the faith."SolidarityThe cardinal also explained that "all of us human beings are co-responsible" in the mystery of suffering.We can choose between living in "solidarity the illness generated by original sin" or living in solidarity "in obedience to God," he said."For the suffering of a person in time to acquire salvific meaning," it must be united "to the suffering of Christ and, in him, to the whole of humanity," added Cardinal Lozano.This is the victorious personal practice, which "enables one to face the mystery of suffering from the perspective of the Resurrection," he indicated.The cardinal continued: "The only way to decipher the enigma of pain and suffering is the way of love -- a love that is capable of transforming nothing into full reality. It is the profound solidarity of victorious love which resurrects, within loving solidarity, the worst suffering that kills. It is victory over death. …"Christ gives the answer to the problem of suffering: He responds to the one who offers him all his willingness and compassion; his presence is effective; he helps, gives and gives himself."

EUTHANASIA - A VIEWPOINT FROM MALAYSIA

2005-08-19T08:22:00.000+08:00

Following is an extract of an article quoting Fr Clarence Dass's views on EUTHANASIA that appeared in THE SUN (20th June 2005)

Catholic priest and moral theologian, Rev Clarence Devadass: "Life is sacred. Life originates from God and only God determines when life comes to an end. We do not decide when a person should die.

"The normal reaction to suffering and pain is to find ways to end it so the patient starts thinking, why not just die and not suffer. People in pain may not be in the right frame of mind to make requests to die. Furthermore, suffering is part of life, much as you want to avoid it.

"There is the argument focused on the quality of life today and many of us have forgotten the sanctity of life.

"Some people say if a person is old and sick, or disabled, they are worthless but who determines the worth of a person's life? What makes you think that a person with one arm less has a lower quality of life? For that person, that is the fullness of his life. Each of us has our own defects but God loves us just the same.

"Can people say you are old and sick and worthless so we might as well just kill you? We cannot be playing God. Medicine is there to help people. It is a gift from God. It is God working through science and technologies. They are instruments of God's healing, an aid to society not a hindrance. If the prognosis is bad and treatment is of no help, we may say 'No' to extra-ordinary treatment like those in advanced stages of cancer because you will only be prolonging the agony. Nevertheless, basic nutrition and hydration must be provided and cannot be withheld or withdrawn.

"'What about costs?' people ask. Well, society should not wash away its responsibility over an individual in a society. Society is responsible to an individual as much as an individual is responsible to society. Healthcare costs are escalating and the state has to provide for the well-being of its citizens. So it has to help people who cannot afford healthcare. If not then there is something wrong with the system.
"People sometimes call it mercy-killing, but how can you kill somebody out of mercy or love? It is a contradiction in itself. It does not make sense. Life is sacred and this applies in all circumstances. It is absolute. The problem is, people are seen in terms of their usefulness. We look at youth or the usefulness of a person to society as a measure of a person. Only if you are of any use to society will it take care of you. If you burden me and are of no use to me, you can die. That seems to be the trend today. Fortunately, still has a strong sense of God and religion. So it is hoped that cases like Terri Schiavo's do not happen in Malaysia. Thank God euthanasia is not allowed in Malaysia.

UMBILICAL CORD STEM CELLS ARE CURING PATIENTS

2005-08-19T08:14:00.000+08:00

ROME, JULY 27, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Rome's Gemelli Polyclinic works with
an international network to make umbilical cord stem cells available to
patients with acute leukemia, thalassemia, lymphomas and congenital
immune-deficiencies.

The clinic runs a bank for umbilical cords, and any patient, from
anywhere in the world, who is genetically compatible with one of the units
of blood of the umbilical cords stored, can receive a unit of blood from
the umbilical cord for transplant purposes.

An international network to identify donors has been operative since
1995, thanks to a computer file which has data on marrow and placenta
blood donors worldwide.

The bank's activities are coordinated by professor Giuseppe Leone,
director of the Institute of Hematology of the Catholic University of Rome,
and professor Salvatore Mancuso, director of the Department for the
Protection of Woman and Nascent Life.

In this interview with ZENIT, Leone and Mancuso discuss the present
state of stem cell research.

Q: What is your response to those who say that using embryonic stem
cells, and not those from the umbilical cord, is the answer for illnesses
such as leukemia, or of the blood in general?

Leone: First of all, let's speak from a clinical point of view: Cells
from embryos have never been used and they have certainly not
demonstrated therapeutic capacities.

On the contrary, adult stem cells, and those of the umbilical cord,
have demonstrated their validity in marrow transplants, for example, in
the case of patients with thalassemia, or children with leukemia. At
present, there is no patient who has been cured with embryonic stem cells.
This must be clarified.

To those who say that ethics removes a "possibility" of cure, one
should say that at most it removes a "hope." But if we want to speak of
hope, then we can experiment with animal embryos. Once we have studied
animal embryos we will be able to say something on the subject, we will
have understood a bit more. I do not see any reason why at present human
embryos should be used. Ethical problems to one side, animals must be
studied first.

Q: Are women told about the possibility of donating the umbilical cord
to one of these banks?

Mancuso: Increasingly. When they come to give birth in our department,
they request that the blood of the umbilical cord be donated because of
the spirit of solidarity that is increasingly spreading. However, not
all umbilical cords can be collected and kept for donation, as there are
certain minimum requirements on the family history of both spouses.

It is necessary that the pregnancy come to its termination, as there is
a whole series of counter-indications. We can collect for donations
between 30-35% of the umbilical cords from births that take place in our
department. But much of the blood collected from umbilical cords is
useful for research.

At present, there is great interest in research, not only in our
department, but also in hematology, cardiology and neurology, as adult stem
cells have an extraordinary versatility and, in fact, are restorative.

Q: How long can these cells be stored?

Mancuso: I would dare to say that they can be stored for an infinite
amount of time. Today there are cells that have been stored for 30 years
and that, to a large extent, maintain their capacity to be used. At
present, the scientific community in several research centers is seeking
to store and multiply them in vitro, as the amount of stem cells that
can be collected from a cord are not that many.

Leone: They have been used, above all, to patients with acute leukemia,
thalassemia, lymphomas, or congenital immune-deficiencies. These
sicknesses are benefiting at present the transplant of stem cells from the
umbilical cord. Research, obviously, tries to go further. The blood of
the cord can give us hope for other pathologies. Now there are hopes for
heart disease.

Q: When you say that sicknesses "are benefiting," what do you mean?

Leone: In the case of acute leukemia, there is a certain number of
patients that are cured, in the case of thalassemia, the percentage is
higher. In the case of immune-deficiencies, 70-80% are cured. In the case
of leukemia, it is 35-40%. We are talking, that is, of cures.

Same Sex Marriage- A psychiatrist's viewpoint

2005-07-22T10:43:00.000+08:00

Same-Sex "Marriage" and Mental Health
Interview With Dr. Rick Fitzgibbons of Catholic Medical Association
WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, Pennsylvania, JULY 20, 2005 (Zenit.org).- A recent meeting of the American Psychiatric Association calling for the legalization of same-sex marriage shows a political agenda that disregards scientific data, says a psychiatrist. Dr. Rick Fitzgibbons was a major contributor to "Homosexuality and Hope," an essay by the Catholic Medical Association, and co-author of "Helping Clients Forgive: An Empirical Guide for Resolving Anger and Restoring Hope" (American Psychological Association Books, 2000). Fitzgibbons shared his views with ZENIT about the APA's definition of same-sex marriage as a mental health "need" for the stability of the partners and the children they adopt. Q: Is the opinion of the APA on same-sex unions and adoption consistent with the research on the medical and psychiatric difficulties in those with same-sex attractions and on the developmental needs of children? Fitzgibbons: No. The APA has chosen to ignore the significant medical research which has documented serious psychiatric and medical illnesses associated with those same-sex attractions and behaviors. This research and that on the needs of children for a father and a mother have been reviewed in several important recent papers from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and the University of Utah School of Medicine. The peer-reviewed literature demonstrates that an inability to maintain committed relationships and rampant promiscuity are the norm in the homosexual lifestyle. To illustrate this, one recent study in Amsterdam, by Xiridou, demonstrated that 86% of the new cases of AIDS came from those in committed relationships, and that those in casual relationships averaged between 16-28 sexual partners per year. Q: What else does the research show in regards to psychiatric and medical health risks for those living the homosexual lifestyle? Fitzgibbons: Well-designed research studies have shown that many psychiatric disorders are far more prevalent, three to five times, in teen-agers and adults with same-sex attraction [SSA]. These include major depression, suicidal ideation and attempts, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, conduct disorder, low self-esteem in males and sexual promiscuity with an inability to maintain committed relationships. It is important to note that "homophobia" is not the cause of these disorders, as many of these studies were done in cultures in which homosexuality is widely accepted. Another recent study has shown that a high percentage, 32%, of males with SSA have been abused by other males with SSA. In addition, those with SSA have a shortened life expectancy. The sexual practices in the lifestyle, particularly sodomy, are associated with numerous serious medical illnesses. All this research was ignored by the APA. Q: What do the social and medical perspectives of scientific research indicate about the needs of a child for a father and a mother? Fitzgibbons: Dr. Reekers and Dr. Byrd's summary of some of the vast literature on child development demonstrates the vital importance of a father and a mother for the developmental needs of a child. In effect, the social science research supports the recent statement of the Vatican that to deliberately deprive a child of a father or a mother through adoption by those in the homosexual lifestyle would inflict severe harm onto those children. The APA's statement ignores the vast scholarship on the needs of children such as Henry Biller's "Fathers and Families: Paternal Factors in Child Development," which includes a bibliography of almost 1,000 separate articles or books on the positive effects of fathers on children. These studies were not done as part of a political campaign, but as serious scholarship to increase our knowledge of child development. The literature on the needs of a child for a mother is even more extensive, and was equally ignored. Q: If the opinion of the APA in support of same-sex unions and adoption is not based on medical, psychiatric and social science research, then what do you think it is based upon? Fitzgibbons: I believe that the decision is an ideological and a political one, not one based in medical science or on the protection of the health of adults or of children. The unscientific position of the APA brings to mind the warning of Pope Benedict XVI in regards to the dictatorship of relativism in the West. In my professional experience as a psychiatrist with expertise on the nature and treatment of excessive anger, the APA's decision is strongly influenced by a long standing bias toward Judeo-Christian and, particularly, Catholic morality. The recent legal recognition of same sex unions by Canada and Spain which is not based on medical science or on the well-being of adults and children is another illustration of this bias. This bias has led to the experience of not a small number of Catholics with mental health professionals in which their faith and morality have been blamed for either their emotional struggles or those in their child, or in which attempts were made to change their moral code in regard to sexuality. Q: What advice would you give to other psychiatrists, psychologists and counselors, faced with this ideological trend in their fields? Fitzgibbons: A number of colleagues have told me that they plan to leave the APA because of its abandonment of medical science and its caving in to an ideological and political agenda. Personally, in this struggle I have been encouraged by, and have encouraged some of my colleagues, with the words of John Paul II, "Prayer joined to sacrifice constitutes the most powerful force in human history." Catholic mental health professionals need to trust that the Lord will act to protect the sacrament of marriage, but we need to do our part. Also, regardless of the APA's unscientific statement, doctors have a responsibility to inform their patients of the dangers of the homosexual lifestyle. In his study "The Health Risks of Gay Sex," an internist and colleague, Dr. John R. Diggs Jr., wrote, "As a physician, it is my duty to assess behaviors for their impact on health and well-being. When something is beneficial, such as exercise, good nutrition or adequate sleep, it is my duty to recommend it. Likewise, when something is harmful, such as smoking, overeating, alcohol or drug abuse, it is my duty to discourage it. As a physician, it is my duty to inform patients of the health risks of homosexual sex, and to discourage them from indulging in harmful behaviors." Q: What advice would you offer Catholic parents in regard to the attempt to redefine marriage and establish same-sex civil unions and adoption? Fitzgibbons: Catholic parents today need an understanding of homosexuality in view of both the attempts to redefine marriage and of the crisis in the Church. This knowledge is available in the updated brochure of the Catholic Medical Association, and at the Web site of the National Association for Research and Treatment of Homosexuality. Contrary to the media and professional organizations' political propaganda, same-sex attractions are not genetically determined and are preventable and treatable. Parents would be helped by reading Pope Benedict's recent statement on marriage and civil unions when he headed the Congregation for Doctrine and Faith. He wrote, "The marital union of man and woman has been elevated by Christ to the dignity of a sacrament. The Church teaches that Christian marriage is an efficacious sign of the covenant between Christ and the Church." Other excellent family resources which can help parents present to their children the beauty of God's plan for marriage and for human sexuality are "The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality," from the Pontifical Council for the Family; "Humanae Vitae"; "Love and Responsibility"; John Paul II's "Theology of the Body"; and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. In response to the recent APA statement, Catholic parents need to monitor more carefully their children's education, because many educators will now intensify their present efforts to initiate required curriculum on homosexuality from grades 1-12. These programs fail to present the truth about the homosexual lifestyle, including the inability to maintain commitment, the rampant promiscuity, the medical and psychiatric illnesses and damage done to children who are denied their right to a father and a mother. Instead, these biased efforts attempt to falsely portray homosexuality as a healthy alternative lifestyle. Parents should request that the truth be presented to their children. Many of these educational programs attempt to mask their true goals by the use of names such as diversity, tolerance or "no name-calling weeks" when, in fact, they attempt to undermine the Church's teaching on marriage, human sexuality and, now child-rearing. Catholics should also act in the political arena to influence elected officials to learn the truth about homosexuality and to support the basic unit of society upon which the well-being of a society is founded, the family, based on a marriage between a man and a woman.

NIAS hospital- a proposal by Dr John Lee, AFCMA

2005-06-07T08:42:00.000+08:00

Dear All,

FIAMC has developed a project with PERDHAKI to provide relief to Aceh and Nias. Nias in addition to being affected by the Tsunami was devastated by an earthquake on Easter Monday. During the course of discussion we have establish that there is a need to develop a hospital in Nias. We need to proceed on to the next level from here and there is a need to involve a few relevant parties in the discussions. This would include Prof Gian Luigi Gigli (President FIAMC) Dr Francois Blin (Hon Secretary FIAMC)Prof Kwang-ho Meng (President AFCMA) Dr Simon Castellvi (Spain) Dr Robert Walley (Matercare International) Dr Freddie Loh (Co-chair Missions AFCMA) Dr Kurniawan , Dr Albert Hendarta and Dr Widjo (Indonesian Catholic Doctors' Community) Dr Sally Ho and Dr Joseph Ong (Singapore) The people involved in this information group are concerned Catholic doctors who have indicated a desire to help in any project to relieve the sufferings of the vctims of Tsunami.

The proposal at the moment is to develop a hospital suitable for the needs of the people of NIAS. Dr Felix Kunawan will drive the project as he has been involved full time in the Tsunami relief and has the resources and local knowledge. We have negotiated with the diocese of Gunong Sitoli/Nias for the diocese to donate the land. This is important not only financially but because it signifies a commitment of the diocese to the project. Dr Felix has indentified a religious congregation FSGM Sister Congregation who will administer the hhospital and see to the recruitment of scarce medical personnel. FIAMC will help to coordinate the project and where necessary bring in foreign expertise. This is a massive project which will require the assistance of everyone.

As a necessary first step, Dr Felix will develop a project proposal which would include a simple need analysis (eg population served) and rough costing. He will also sign a MOU with the diocese of Gunong Sitoli/Nias agreeing to the donation of the land for a hospital. As we are all members of FIAMC I would suggest that the MOU be between FIAMC and diocese of Gunong Sitoli/Nias.

Rob, Felix has asked if you will agree to go to Nias and design the hospital layout which will include a maternity and children wing. (I am sorry that we have no funds for that at the moment. Can only promise free lodging in Singapore and maybe Indonesia if Felix can arrange it) We will also need some architectural and civil engineer input to ensure that the building is sound and able to withstand future earthquakes. If there is no suggestion of capable and willing individuals, I will source from Singapore. Experts from Indonesia will be better as they are more familiar with the culture and local conditions. I agree with Felix that the hospital should not be too big and sophisticated. However it must have the capability to perform surgery like Caesarean, appendisectomies, fracture reductions etc.

Any comments or suggestions from anybody?

Thank you for your interest in helping. God bless,
John Lee

The Vatican's View on CLONING

2005-06-07T08:36:00.000+08:00

Vatican Official Urges Halt to Cloning TechniqueBishop Sgreccia Responds to Reports From England and Korea VATICAN CITY, MAY 24, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Reports of "therapeutic" cloning of embryos in England and South Korea highlight the need for international organizations and political authorities to halt this practice, says a Vatican official.Bishop Elio Sgreccia, president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, sounded that warning Saturday on Vatican Radio.Echoing a report in The Times newspaper the day before, Vatican Radio explained that a team at Newcastle University, headed by Alison Murdoch and Miodrag Stojkovic, created three blastocysts, namely, the clones of human embryos in the first stage.Last year, the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority of Great Britain authorized the university's team to work on "therapeutic" cloning.The British scientists worked on 36 ovules donated by 11 women who underwent treatment for in vitro fertilization. The nucleus of each ovule was replaced by a skin stem cell. The ovules were then subjected to an electric discharge to initiate the growth process."Custom-made"From 10 ovules, the researchers were able to create three blastocysts. The attempt to extract stem cells had not yet been successful as clones had not lived for more than five days. According to the researchers, the experiment was carried out to prove that ovules taken from women who have undergone treatment for in vitro fertilization are adequate to produce clones.The news from Newcastle paralleled that of another research group of the University of Seoul and the University of Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania, directed by Woo Suk Hwang.The research was published online on "Science-Express." Adult skin stem cells were extracted from 11 individuals -- men and women -- affected by various illnesses. Eleven human embryos were obtained from this.At the blastocyst stage, the embryos were then destroyed to obtain "custom-made" stem cells. The objective is to transplant them to the 11 patients, theoretically to replace their sick cells, such as in the case of diabetes, reported the Italian episcopate's newspaper Avvenire.Compared to a previous experiment, in this test the technique continues to be "the nuclear transference of somatic cells." The 11 stem groups were obtained from transferring the genetic material of the patients' skin cells into the ovules of the donor women. The ovules are deprived of their original nucleus.The novelty this time is that, having obtained the human embryos, once their cells were extracted, the embryos were destroyed, noted Avvenire.5 days of lifeThe newspaper continued: "The procedure of cloning by transfer of the nucleus of a somatic cell into a little ovule deprived of its own nucleus is identical to that which could lead to the birth of a child if the embryo were transferred to the uterus of a woman capable of carrying the pregnancy to its term."Instead, the embryo generated by nuclear cloning is cultivated only up to 5 days of life. ... On this point, the one conceived artificially -- similar in everything to an embryo originated by fertilization, as studies on animals show -- is destroyed to extract a number of cells from its interior -- embryonic stem cells."Without these cells the embryo "cannot live and develop," the Italian newspaper said.For his part, Bishop Sgreccia observed: "What they have done is something that the U.N. declared illicit some time ago and with great firmness. … Sadly it is only a declaration of principle."Commenting on the cloning of human embryos in Great Britain and Korea, the prelate added: "It seems that from the scientific point of view it is but the repetition and multiplication of a type of cloning carried out on man, to which flippancy and indifference are added.""I read a headline that stated: 'Is It a Hope or an Exaggeration?'" he said. "There are those who say that financial incentives underpin it all. The laboratories that make the greatest impact probably attract more funding for research."ManipulationThe Vatican official emphasized that "from the moral point of view, we well know that so-called therapeutic cloning by nucleus transfer is but a procedure -- the most artificial one imaginable -- to give life to a human being without roots even in the paternal and maternal gametes."It is "agamic and asexual fertilization, 'driven' only by the pride of reproducing a being in order to manipulate it, because afterward it is killed and eliminated," he said."Therefore, there is not only the transgression of reproducing artificially, but also the suppression and manipulation, perhaps even the commercialization, of the product," noted Bishop Sgreccia."It must be emphasized that here we see transgressed the meaning of the rights of man," he said. "Hence, an ever more robust awareness is needed, on the part of both international organizations as well as political authorities, to put an end to this, which is a bad sign of moral decay in the scientific terrain" and thus "also offends science." ZE05052420

Beyond the Terri Schiavo Case

2005-06-01T08:01:00.000+08:00

Following is an extract from Zenit on Vegetative states, hydration and nutrition:-

LONDON, MAY 28, 2005 (Zenit.org).- During their visit to Rome last week Terri Schiavo's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, thanked the Pope and Vatican officials for the Church's help in their attempts to keep their daughter from being starved to death.

The withdrawal of food and water that led to Schiavo's death in Florida last March 31 was condemned in a statement by Vatican spokesman Joaquín Navarro Valls. In a declaration issued the day of her death Navarro Valls described the event as "an arbitrary hastening of death." He also expressed the hope that the experience would lead public opinion to a greater awareness of human dignity and to improved legal protections for life.

The Schiavo case is by no means an isolated instance. Shortly afterward the Telegraph newspaper in British reported April 17 on an 81-year-old widow from the American state of Georgia, Mae Magouirk. In spite of having drawn up a living will she was deprived of food and water for 10 days after being admitted to hospital for heart problems, which, according to the Telegraph, were considered treatable by doctors.

The widow was not comatose or even in a so-called vegetative state. But a problem arose when her granddaughter, named in the living will as her guardian, decided that Magouirk was "ready to go home with Jesus." Her life was saved when other members of the family successfully took legal action to restore nourishment.

Last week the issue of withdrawal of food and water also came up in Britain, with what the Guardian newspaper described May 16 as "one of the most important right-to-life appeals to come before the English courts in recent years."

The case involves Leslie Burke, who suffers from a progressive degenerative disease. He fears that in the future, once his situation has deteriorated, doctors will decide to stop feeding him. Burke won a high court ruling last July, which declared the guidelines by the General Medical Council to doctors on the withholding of life-prolonging treatment were unlawful in some aspects.

Who decides?

The General Medical Council is now appealing the ruling and last week both sides presented their arguments before three appeals court judges. According to Burke's attorney, Richard Gordon, the issue was about "who decides," the BBC reported May 18. In the original case Burke argued that the General Medical Council advice, which gives doctors in cases such as his the final say on what treatment to give a patient in the final stages, was an infringement of his human rights.

In his ruling last year Justice James Lawrence Munby agreed with Burke, saying that if a patient is competent -- or, if incompetent, has made an advance request for treatment -- doctors have a duty to provide artificial nutrition or hydration.

A lawyer for Patricia Hewitt, the British health secretary, told the appeal court that the National Health Service should not have to give life-prolonging treatment to every patient who requests it "because that would mean a crippling waste of resources," reported the Times newspaper May 19. The Health Department is supporting the appeal against last year's ruling.

The government's position was criticized by Derrick Wilson, reported the Times. Wilson has a son who for the last eight years is in a "vegetative state" and he has refused to give doctors permission to end his life.

"I think this is the thin end of the wedge for euthanasia -- not only for people like Duncan but for people like me who are just getting old," he said. "It stinks of euthanasia, the government backing something like this. It's very distressing."

Last year's judgment does, however, have some defects, noted the Catholic bishops' conference of England and Wales. A note released May 17 by the Catholic Communications Network explained that the bishops are intervening in the appeal because they are concerned that by elevating the principle of patient autonomy to the level of an absolute, there could be "potentially dangerous implications for assisted suicide and euthanasia."

The declaration did stress, however, that the bishops are not opposed to Burke's attempts to ensure he will continue to receive nourishment.

Patients deprived of food and water die first of thirst, and this is not a pleasant experience, noted Dr. David Stevens, executive director of the Christian Medical Association in the United States.

On March 23, in the context of the Schiavo case, Stevens rejected claims made by some that dying in these circumstances is not painful. Based on his 13 years of work in Africa, where he saw many die of dehydration, Stevens criticized the "so-called experts" who have not seen someone die in this manner. "Contrary to those that try to paint a picture of a gentle process, death by dehydration is a cruel, inhumane and often agonizing death," he said.

22nd World Congress of FIAMC

2005-05-27T08:40:00.000+08:00

The 22nd World Congress of FIAMC will be held in Barcelona, Spain from 11th to 14th May 2006. Please try to keep this date free if you are interested.
The cost of registration will be 300Euro per person but we are trying to arrange for some free scholarships and 15 reduced registration fees for those delegates from countries with financial constraints. However you need to apply to the council(Prof K H Meng or Dr John Lee) for the reductions . Please be on the look out for further information or you can also log on to the official website which is: www.fiamcbarcelona2006.org

Litany to the Holy Spirit

2005-04-29T23:08:00.000+08:00

Sister Mary Ann Lou from Taiwan has sent us this prayer for the Holy Father. Say it daily until Pentecost:

LITANY TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

Lord, have mercy on us! Lord, have mercy on us!

Christ, have mercy on us! Christ, have mercy on us!

Lord, have mercy on us! Lord, have mercy on us!

Christ, hear us! Christ, hear us!

Christ, graciously hear us! Christ, graciously hear us!

Heavenly Father, have mercy on us!

Son and Redeemer,

Holy Spirit,

Blessed Trinity, one God,

Holy Spirit, Love of the Father and the Son

Holy Spirit, Happiness of the Father and the Son

Holy Spirit, Cause of the mystery of the Incarnation,

Holy Spirit, Divine Spouse of the Immaculate Virgin Mary,

Holy Spirit, Crown of the redemptive work of Jesus,

Holy Spirit, Guide of Holy Mother the Church

Holy Spirit, Guardian of the Holy Father's teachings,

Holy Spirit, Sun of Divine grace,

Holy Spirit, Dispenser of divine virtues and gifts,

Holy Spirit, Spirit of our understanding and knowledge,

Holy Spirit, Spirit of wisdom and good counsel,

Holy Spirit, Spirit of piety and reverential fear,

Holy Spirit, Spirit of courage and fortitude,

Holy Spirit, Source of all virtues,

Holy Spirit, Master of perfection,

Holy Spirit, Joy of the angels,

Holy Spirit, Hope of the patriarchs,

Holy Spirit, Inspiration of the prophets,

Holy Spirit, Teacher of the apostles,

Holy Spirit, Strength of martyrs,

Holy Spirit, Strength of confessors of the faith,

Holy Spirit, Chastity of virgins,

Holy Spirit, Pledge of the unity of all Saints,

Holy Spirit, Forgiver of sins,

Holy Spirit, Risen Life of all humanity,

Holy Spirit, Light and Joy of eternal life,

Be merciful! Have mercy on us, Holy Spirit!

Be merciful��Hear us, Holy Spirit!

From all error of faith, Save us, Holy Spirit!

From all sins,

From the spirit of pride,

From the spirit of uncleanness,

From the Spirit of hatefulness,

From the spirit of falsehood and pretense,

From the neglect of your inspirations,

From the resisting of recognized truth,

From the pride of taking your mercy for granted,

From the fear of losing divine mercy,

From obstinancy and the lack of repentance,

From sudden and unhappy death,

From eternal damnation,

We poor sinners, We beseech you, hear us!

We ask you to support the Holy Father and all Bishops, As they govern the Church;

We ask you to send holy priests to the Church;

We ask you to sanctify all holy orders and members of the Church;

We ask you to bless the work of all Catholic catechists and teachers,

We ask you to powerfully protect the Catholic missions,

We ask you to guide back to Christ's fold, all who have wandered far from him;

We ask you to keep away sadness and doubt;

We ask you to preserve the unity of the Church

We ask you to direct all our thoughts and desires towards heaven;

We ask you to keep us all in your Love;

We ask you to receive us all into everlasting happiness;

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Spare us, O, Lord!

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Hear us, O, Lord!

Lamb of God, you take away, the sins of the world, have mercy on us!

Send us your Spirit, and we will be renewed,

and you will renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray, Holy Spirit of God, whom the Lord had promised to his Church and whom he graciously sent to us on the day of Pentecost: be the constant welcome Guest of our hearts! Protect and increase in us your graces; kindle the fire of the hidden divine virtues in our hearts!

Adorn us, your temples, with your sevenfold gifts; allow the spirit of your Love to radiate to our brothers and sisters. Help us to build the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ through prayer, through the witness of our lives and our apostolate.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you and the Father, forever and ever Amen

The Case of Terri Schiavo

2005-04-20T14:27:00.000+08:00

In view of the continuing controversy over the case of Terri Schiavo, the ethicists of The National Catholic Bioethics Center would like to reiterate their firm conviction that food and water should be provided for all patients who suffer PVS unless it fails to sustain life or causes suffering. We make this judgment based on the Catholic moral tradition, on the 1992 statement of the Pro-Life Secretariat of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops dealing with hydration and nutrition for patients in PVS, on years of consideration of comparable cases and in view of Pope John Paul II’s March 2004 allocution on life sustaining measures for patients in a persistent vegetative state. In general, the provision of nutrition and hydration to the patient in PVS is proportionate and morally obligatory. Removal of food and water is permissible only when they no longer attain the ends for which they are provided.

If you need more info, please check the National Catholic Bioethics Center at : www.ncbcenter.org

Tsunami Relief-A message from Dr John Lee

2005-04-01T11:00:00.000+08:00

Dear Friends of AFCMA,

I wish all of you and your loved ones the peace and joy of the Risen Lord. It seems rather a coincidence that on the day following the two most important celebrations in the Christian calender, the celebrations are cut short by disaster affecting our brothers and sisters in a few countries in Asia in particular Indonesia.

In the wake of the Tsunami disaster, I was overwhelmed by the Christian generosity from people all over the world who responded in whatever way they can to help the victims of the disaster. There are too many examples of heroic sacrifice to mention. However the Malaysians who reached out to help victims in other countries despite the fact that they were also affected is particularly inspiring. The Missions Committee of AFCMA led by myself and co-chaired by Freddie Loh together with Gian Luigi were busy responding to the disaster in many ways. We were in constant contact with our brethen in the affected countries to see how we can help in terms of medical relief and logistics.

For many reasons it would be impossible for foreign aid agencies and NGOs to be involved in sustainable long term reconstruction projects without the involvement of the locals. I am pleased to announced that we have finalised a project together with PERDHAKI (a Catholic healthcare association in Indonesia) to bring primary healthcare to communities in Aceh along the coastal regions many of which have not received any aid. To date we have secured commitment for approximately US$127,000 to fund the project. There might be need of help from all of you in the future for specific projects in Aceh.

I was shocked last night to learn of the devastation caused by a new earthquake especially to the island of Nias (a predominantly Christian community off the west coast of Aceh). However I am impressed at the speed at which PERDHAKI has responded to the situation. Today they have sent a medical team to Nias by helicopter and plan to send another team from Jakarta soon. We will continue to keep in touch with PERDHAKI and our friends in the Indonesian Catholic Doctors community to see how we can assist them.

In the meantime I urge those countries who have yet to respond to our invitation to nominate a member to sit on the mission committee to help us coordinate our relief efforts.

In His Service,

John Lee

UN Declaration against Human Cloning

2005-02-22T08:30:00.000+08:00

UN Adopts Pro-Life Declaration Against Human Cloning

In a monumental victory for the pro-life movement, the UN today adopted a declaration condemning human cloning. The UN called on Member States to adopt urgent legislation outlawing all cloning practices "as they are incompatible with human dignity and the protection of human life."
"This is a powerful message to the world that this morally questionable procedure is outside the bounds of acceptable experimentation," said Austin Ruse, president of the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute, one of the main NGOs involved in the negotiation. "By adopting this declaration, the international community is united in condemning all human cloning as exploitative and unethical. This should encourage similar bans in legislatures around the world including in the US Senate," said Ruse. The declaration also marks the end of three years of UN deadlock over human cloning.

Countries were divided mainly over whether to protect "human life" or
the "human being." Costa Rica, Uganda, the United States and others who
sought to ban all forms of human cloning, supported "human life."
Countries including Belgium, Singapore and the United Kingdom, who wanted
to ban only cloning that would result in born human beings, insisted on
protecting the "human being," which according to some international legal
documents would protect only those already born.

The declaration also calls on countries to "prevent the exploitation
of women." Cloning requires harvesting eggs from women, and delegates from
developing countries feared their women being turned into inexpensive "egg
farms." The declaration calls on wealthier nations to direct attention and
funding to pressing medical issues such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and
malaria. It also condemns all applications of any genetic engineering
techniques that threaten human dignity.

The declaration sets an international ethical standard that sends a
clear signal to countries that encourage human cloning. For instance, in
the United Kingdom, two "licenses" for research cloning have been issued.
The first is currently subject to a legal challenge on the basis that the
cloning "license" is unlawful and unnecessary. It is due to be heard in
the High Court shortly. Cloning opponents in the United Kingdom welcomed
the UN's resolution and look forward to Member States fulfilling their
international obligations.

BIOETHICS

2005-02-15T11:13:00.000+08:00

Dear leaders in AFCMA,

1. There is a widening gap between civil law and the
medical concept of ethics on the one hand and Catholic
medical ethics on the other.

2. In spite of a proliferation of clinical and
research ethics committees, we have widespread and
increasing contraception, abortion, manipulation and
cannibalisation of embryos, a disordered sexuality and
a pandemic of AIDS. Without trivialising the Asian
tsunami tragedy and the grief of those afflicted by
it, this man-made medico-moral tsunami is surpassing
it in horror and magnitude and engulfing the whole
world.

3. Underlying this flood of evil is an increasing
willingness to do evil acts for medical, scientific
and social goals. Evil acts are becoming good things
to do when there are good reasons, and since no one
does anything without a good reason this trend is
opening the door to all evil actions, to the
corruption of conscience and to the increasing
inability to make moral choices. Without divine
intervention, such a fundamental error can have no
outcome but catastrophe.

4. The holocaust began in the mind but mass killing in
clinics and laboratories is now part of mainstream
life. In Evangelium Vitae 1995, Pope John Paul II
characterised the bioethical deviation and the
resulting disrespect for human life as the Culture of
Death, warning that it is "expanding and has reached
broad sectors of public opinion, a real network of
complicity that reaches out to include international
institutions, foundations and associations."

5. Catholic doctors need to restore and enhance the
sense of belonging in the fecund family harmony of
God, which is the source of Man's dignity and the
meaning of health, and to beware the ruptured link
between the Creator and the creature that secular
humanism represents.

6. Forearmed with this sense of being, they will then
be able to resist more effectively the anti-life
forces that are trying to establish an egoistic
sterility and the destruction of the family, and thus
to be leaders against the Culture of Death that is
consuming the profession and the world.

7. We must act. Faith without works is dead. If we
Catholics do not practice our Catholic pro-life
beliefs in public for fear of offending others, we are
being not tolerant but cowardly. Silence favours the
oppressor. Being Catholic only in private and
remaining neutral or silent in public in the face of
evil, or worse supporting it, is not an option for us.
We must leave the upper room. If we are not part of
the solution, we are part of the problem.

8. Archbishop of Denver Charles J. Chaput put it this
way, "If we believe in the sanctity of life we need to
prove that by our actions, including our political
choices. Anything less leads to the corruption of our
integrity. Claiming that 'we don't want to impose our
beliefs on society' is not merely politically
convenient; it is morally incoherent and
irresponsible."

9. Following the decision made at the 13th AFCMA EXCO
meeting on 27th Nov 2004 and noting the final
resolutions of the 13th AFCMA Congress in Taiwan, the
recently formed Bioethics committee of AFCMA seeks to
disseminate Church teaching on life issues, Catholic
medical ethics and moral theology and to preserve our
own integrity in a deteriorating world. The committee
comprises moral theologians and a few doctors from
different member countries.

10. Perhaps the committee could draft a paper at
quarterly intervals and issue a consensus view
consistent with Church teaching after discussion with
all of you over the e-mail, which you could then
translate and disseminate to your own national
doctors' groups.

11. Increased communication among the like minded will
help to overcome the sense of being overwhelmed,
fearful and alone and thence to spread the truth, to
experience Grace and to acknowledge our God in public.

12. Your comments and suggestions are most welcome on
how we could go about our task of inspiring and
enabling Catholic doctors in our own individual
societies to become more effective bearers of truth
and more actively resist the Culture of Death.

13. Or in the words of Pope John Paul II, "to bear
witness to the Gift of Life in our profession,
committing ourselves to defending it from conception
to its natural end, and respecting the dignity of
every human being, especially the dignity of the
weakest and the most in need." (Prayer of the doctor.)

Posted by Dr Ian Snodgrass, AFCMA Bioethics Committee

LIST OF MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS

2005-02-10T11:43:00.000+08:00

This is a list of member associations' Email and postal addresses. The list is incomplete and I will welcome any updates from members viewing this site. Please email any changes and additions to : cdamail@yahoo.com

HONG KONG:
Guild of St.Luke,Ss.Cosmas & Damian (G.S.L.SS.C.D.H.K.)
Central Council of Laity, 1 Tai Shek Street, Sai Wan Ho, Hong Kong
Email: guildstluke@hkbn.net

INDIA:
Indian Federation of Medical Guilds (IFMG)
Hillway Clinic, Hilll & Dale, 4th floor, Hill Road, Bandra, Bombay 50
E mail: narantao@hotmail.com

FIAMC Bio-Medical Ethics Centre
St Pius X college, Aarey Road, Goregaon East, Mumbai 400063
Tel: =91 22 874 7310/ 873 5583
E mail: fbmecbio@bom3.vsnl.net.in

JAPAN:
Japanese Catholic Medical Association (JCMA)
27-27 Yoyogi-4, Shibuyaku, Tokyo 151
Tel: 03-3374-2733 Fax: 03-33741565
E mail: info@j-cma.com or chinone@anet.ne.jp

KOREA:
Korean Federation of Catholic Medical Associations (KFCMA)
Catholic University Medical College, 505 Banpo-Dong, Seocho-ku, Seoul 137-701
Tel: +82-2-590 1320; +82-2-590 1342; Fax: +82-2-595 2241

MALAYSIA:
Catholic Doctors Association of Malaysia (CDAM)
c/o Assunta Hospital, Jalan Templer,46650 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
E mail: cdamail@yahoo.com

PHILIPPINES:
Catholic Physician's Guild of the Phillipines (CPGP_
Ustmaa Office, Room 227, Medicine Building, San Martin de Porres, University of Santo Tomas, Espana, P.O.Box 3060, Manila 1008
Tel/Fax: 749 9786

SRI LANKA:
Guild of St-Luke, Saints Cosmas & Damien
c/o Dr Hilary W.M. Cooray(Hon. Secretary), 141 Vauxhall Street, Colombo 02, Sri Lanka.
Tel: 50 88 30 4186 Email: rohini12@sltnet.lk (Dr Fernandopulle,Master of Guild of St Luke)

SINGAPORE:
Catholic Medical Guild of Singapore (CMGS)
257 Selegie Road, # 02-281, Selegie Complex, Singapor 0718
Tel: +65 3384 235 Fax: =65 7371960

TAIWAN:
Catholic Physician's Association
c/o Cardinal Tien Hospital, 362 Chung Cheng Road, Hsintein, Taipeh Hsien. Taiwan

THAILAND:
Catholic Physician's Guild of Thailand (CPGT)
St. Louis Hospital, 215 South Sathom Road, Yanawa, Bangkok 10120
Tel: + 662 681 5420; FAx: + 662 681 5419
Email: riddhikrai@saintlouis.or.th

The Condoms Debate - An interview with Cardinal Lozano

2005-02-08T10:14:00.000+08:00

In this interview with ZENIT, the president of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers articulates -- from the fullness of its perspective -- the Church's pastoral proposal to prevent and combat AIDS. Q: There is the impression in the media that the only message the Church can give today is whether or not condoms may be used. Is this so? Cardinal Lozano: Let's expand the topic. We, especially in this Pontifical council, have the obligation to combat AIDS, because the Pope appointed us to address the emerging sicknesses pastorally. The question we face is how can we, from this dicastery, address the pastoral care of AIDS? The answer is with the Commandments. In particular, this challenge affects two specific Commandments: one is the fifth, "Thou shalt not kill," which is an unfolding of the first two: to love God and to love one's neighbor. The other is the sixth Commandment, "Thou shalt not commit adultery." By the commandment "Thou shalt not kill" we are obliged not to kill anyone but at the same time, not to let ourselves be killed, that is, to protect our life. So much so, that it is a traditional doctrine of the Church, which has never changed, that to defend one's own innocent life, one can even kill an aggressor. If the aggressor has the Ebola virus, flu, or AIDS and wants to kill me, I must defend myself. If he wants to kill me with AIDS, I must defend myself form AIDS. How do I defend myself? With the most appropriate means. I must decide. If it is a club, with a club. If it is a pistol, with a pistol. And with a condom? Yes, if it is effective in defending me, in this case of unjust aggression. Q: What do you suggest for the prevention of AIDS? Cardinal Lozano: We must see what ways there are to contract AIDS. There are three: blood, maternal-filial transmission and sex. In regard to blood, we say: "Be careful with transfusions! Be careful with drug needles!" In regard to maternal-filial transmission, we say: "Mothers, be careful about transmission to the children!" Thank God there are already very effective pills. "Be careful with the birth itself! Be careful when it comes to nursing the children, as it can be very dangerous!" In the third place is sex, for which the remedy is abstinence and faithfulness. Why? Because the Sixth Commandment is the most sublime expression of love that God has given us. And it means vital love and life is total giving. Which means that sex between man and woman exacts that nothing is left over for a third. Therefore, to really live out one's sexuality, one must do so only in a marriage that is one and permanent for life. To defend the preciousness of sex, God gave an absolute Commandment, enunciated in a negative way: "Thou shalt not commit adultery." He did not say, "Do not have sexual relations." Sexual relations are precisely the greatest expression of human love, which is fulfilled in marriage. Celibacy is still greater, but it is about divine love. By keeping these two Commandments --"Thou shalt not kill" and "Thou shalt not commit adultery," life is protected. How do we defend ourselves from AIDS? By protecting life, in its sexual excellence and from its vicious aggression. If we are opposed to its vicious aggression, if we don't break that finest of crystals that is sex, we do not get AIDS. Q: So the Church does not give recipes, but proclaims the Ten Commandments? Cardinal Lozano: Let us be clear that in that sense, we are talking about the essence of Christianity, as it is about loving God above all things, and one's neighbor as oneself. What matters is abstinence, faithfulness and "Thou shalt not kill."

CONTRIBUTIONS to our website

2005-02-05T23:48:00.000+08:00

Our website has just been launched and we need contributions from members. Please let us have articles of interst and email them to afcmamail@yahoo.com with your name. Your cooperation will be most appreciated. Please let us know if you wish to link your association's website to the AFCMA website.

WHERE WAS GOD?

2005-01-28T13:56:00.000+08:00

ROME, JAN. 20, 2005 (Zenit.org).- There are at least three lessons to be learned from the tsunami, says the latest issue of the review Civiltà Cattolica.The lessons are: the precariousness of human beings, the need for solidarity and the need for conversion.In the end, these three lessons spring from the answer to the question, "And where is God in all this?" says the article in an editorial.Drafts of the biweekly review are reviewed by the Vatican Secretariat of State before publication."First of all, it must be said that to see divine punishment in natural disasters, because of men's sins, is an error, which puts God, as revealed by Jesus in the Gospel, into question," the editorial states."God is a Father who takes care providentially of all his children, who forgives their sins; in particular, he takes care of the poor, of the little ones, and does not abandon those who suffer," it continues."His Providence consists in the fact that God can draw good for man even from the most painful and tragic situations in which disastrous events of nature place him, as well as from his wickedness and lack of wisdom," the editorial states."The way in which this takes place is a great mystery for us, but precisely because God is good we must think that he would not permit these painful and tragic events if he was not able and did not have the intention to bring good out of evil for men," it continues. "In his paternal tenderness, God was close to each one of those children and saved them in his Kingdom."This consideration leads the review to point out three lessons for contemporary people.First, this tragedy "should remind us of the condition of precariousness in which man's life develops on earth."This fact, the article suggests, should lead one to avoid the temptation planned by "the proud sense of omnipotence that some cultivate in today's world, certain that man, with the impressive powers of scientific progress, will be able to defeat the forces of evil that can put an end to his well-being, health and life."Second, the Asian tragedy "must be a call to solidarity," suggests the review. "The real problem of the countries hit by the tsunami is that of reconstruction.""Unfortunately," it laments, "science and technology do not move in this direction.""Suffice it to think of the enormous sums of money that might serve to give food and education to millions of people who die of hunger and to cure sicknesses, such as AIDS, which runs the risk of destroying a continent like Africa, and that, however, are wasted by the search for and construction of ever more terrible and deadly weapons as if the already existing immense arsenals of nuclear arms, which can destroy the planet many times over, were not sufficient."Third, says the review, the tsunami is a call to "conversion," the article explains, quoting Jesus, in Luke 13:4-5, in his response to news of the deadly accident of the tower of Siloam.
ZENIT is an International News Agency. To receive ZENIT News Services by e-mail, FREE Subscription at:https://www.zenit.org/english/subscribe.html

An Appeal for an AMBULANCE for ACEH from the President of Catholic Doctors Association in Indonesia

2005-01-28T11:43:00.000+08:00

Dr Felix Gunawan, the president of Perdhaki( Indonesian Catholic Doctors Association) has sent this Email to the AFCMA :
"Here is some information on Perdhaki's action in helping the tsunami victims in Aceh: Up till now we had dispatched 10 medical doctors, 15 nurses, 1 sanitarian and 1 psychologist to Banda Aceh, West coast and East coast of Aceh.
We have set up Coordination offices in Banda Aceh and Medan. Their function is to arrange the place of work (location of health posts that need our help) for our medical teams sent from Jakarta, to distribute medical teams to health posts and to pick them back. If you want to support our actions, you may support the transportation for our teams, from Jakarta to Medan or Banda Aceh, and from Medan/Banda Aceh to the health posts, either in the city of Banda Aceh, in the West coast or in East coast of Aceh. The support can be in the form of money (to buy plan ticket, to rent boat, to rent car) or support us with simple ambulance car (can be purchased in Jakarta andsent to Medan/Banda Aceh). We are planning to continue our relief work until 6 months. Our regional office in Medan, can continue the work after the 6 month period finish, with development program (provide training to the local health personnels).Thank you very much for your kind attention."
Sincerely yours, Dr Felix Gunawan

Posted by Dr K Y Chong, Malaysia (Please Email your queries to Dr Gunawan at perdhaki@cbn.net.id)

TSUNAMI DISATER IN ACEH

2005-01-27T17:11:00.000+08:00

TSUNAMI DISASTER IN ACEH-A report from Dr Andrew Choo

The Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami on 26th december2004, not only destroyed cities, resorts and villages resulting in more than 200,000 deaths (the exact number may not be known) but also stimulated a global rescue and relief response that the world is witnessing for perhaps the first time.

The Catholic Doctors Association of Malaysia responded in its own way by sending the President, Dr Andrew Choo on a surveillance trip. He accompanied Fr Paul Dass and left for Medan on 5th January 2005 with a load of 370 Kg of medicine and other medical essentials for which they would like to thank the St Vincent de Paul Society of Malaysia.

Here is an account of Dr Andrew Choo’s report:
“ Arriving at Medan the same morning, we were delayed for 2 days due to air traffic congestion and were unable to proceed to Aceh by air. However, we decide to rent a car with a local driver and traveled overland in a journey which took 12 hours. We left Medan at 10am and arrived at the (Jesuit Refugee Service)JRS centre in Aceh at midnight on 7th January 2005.

We were able to tour the devastated areas with a guide the next day. There was total destruction as far inland as 2 kms in certain areas. Most of the destroyed areas were still inaccessible. Only the roads had been cleared for traffic and rescue workers were still recovering bodies from the muddy areas and were bringing them to dug out areas for mass burial.

At that time (14th day after the tsunami) we were told that about 5000 people were still unaccounted for.

The power of the giant waves were so great that it destroyed everything in its path. One solid concrete building with 2 big rooms, kitchen, toilets and hall was pushed 60metres from its original foundation to rest on half of the road. The extent of destruction had to be seen to be believed.

With more than 400,000 people displaced, needing shelter, food and water in a situation where the local government and services had collapsed, it was chaotic to say the least.

These people were put in schools, mosques and whatever shelters available.

In such a chaotic situation, it was fortunate that the TNI(military) , the only organization on hand in the area that has personnel, equipment, skill and capability was able to provide immediate assistance to the victims of the disaster. Looting was quickly brought under control. It seemed some people removing jewellery from the dead bodies were shot.

Aceh was in a desolate state. The streets were deserted at night. People were seen clearing their premises of mud and debris brought in by the giant waves.This is a slow process since heavy machinery is not readily available except those from the military. The restoration of Aceh back to normal in the business centre will take a month or two.

The rehabilitation of the refugees to the state where they can be on their own will take anything up to 2 years.

In the meantime, the global NGOs are playing a vital role to treat the injured, provide food and shelter, bury the corpses, build facilities for drinking water and sanitation to prevemt outbreak of infectious diseases.

From what we have seen, food, medicine and clothing are ample in Aceh. What is more important immediately is cash. The refugees need cash to put themselves free from total dependence on camp provisions. The sooner this can be done the sooner they can be on the road to stand on their own.

The road to recovery will be slow as Aceh is facing civil emergency rule and the role of the Indonesian military is very strong. Thousands of Acehnese have died in the conflict between the army and the Gerakan Aceh Movement (GAM) This political conflict will continue to impede not only recovery but also long term progress for Aceh. There is as yet no sign of any reconciliatory move.

As we have said earlier rebuilding will take a long time. The Catholic Doctors will continue to monitor the situation there. We will respond should there be a need for our presence. We are happy that we have established networking with the JRS and also Perdhaki (the Catholic Doctors in Indonesia).

We would like to express our thanks to JRS both in Medan and Aceh for making our trip comfortable.

ACEH- A report from Fr Dass (JRS)

2005-01-17T17:38:00.000+08:00

Dr Andrew Choo(Catholic Doctors Association of Malaysia) and Fr Dass ,Jesuit Refugee Service(JRS), have just returned to Malaysia from their recent trip to Aceh to assess the Tsunami Situation first hand. They left for Medan on 5th January 2005 and have just returned a few days ago. Following is a brief report on the current situation based on our discussion with them:
1) The problem in Aceh is still chaotic and the logistics problem has yet to be fully sorted out. Aid and supplies are still stuck in the airports in Medan, Subang(KL), Bangkok and Jakarta. The German medical team still has a mobile operating theatre stuck in Bangkok
2) Transport to Banda Aceh is still limited. Flights from Medan to Banda Aceh are fully booked. Dr Choo and Fr Paul waited 2 days in Medan and could not get a flight and instead they hired a van and brought their supplies by road, a journey that took them 12 hours.
3) Banda Aceh is full of Aid Agencies and many medical teams from all over the world. The main problem is getting these teams to the severely affected areas which is the West Coast. Most of the severely injured have been airlifted to Medan or Jakarta. Dr Choo ran a mobile clinic one morning. He saw about 60 patients but only 2 of them were actual tsunami survivors.
4) The severely affected areas are the West Coast of Aceh Province which is still inaccessible by road. Only recently has aid been able to reach the 2 largest coastal towns of west Aceh which is Calang and Meulaboh. Even then these 2 towns are only accessible via helicopters, light aircraft or via a road from the southern part of Sumatra. A return boat ride from Banda Aceh to the coastal villages on the west coast may take 5 to 7 days. The villages along the western seashore of Aceh have mostly disappeared. The survivors are now living in their relatives’ houses, public spaces or temporary shelters. There are many public buildings destroyed, including schools, hospitals markets and government offices. Nobody knows when the infrastructure can be rebuilt and repaired. It appears that they are in dire need engineers and others to repair roads, bridges and provide proper sanitation and safe water supplies.
5) It would be useful to have proper contacts with a local agency who know the local people and the geography in Aceh. It was fortunate that Dr Choo and Fr Dass were with the JRS in Aceh. There were some French and German doctors who also had to seek the help of the JRS office in Aceh. The JRS have been working in Aceh since June 2001. Over the years they have played a significant role in assisting the displaced persons in Aceh. Their present goal now is to respond to the needs of the Tsunami and earthquake victims, especially in remote areas in order to help the people restore their lives. Their current activities are directed towards improving things like health and sanitation, education, trauma healing, supporting local NGOs and restoring normal life. They have appealed for aid and donations can be sent to: Account Name: Yayasan JRS Indonesia, Account Number: 0372 197 101, Bank Name: Bank Central Asia_Sudirman Yogyakarta, Address of Bank: Jl. Sudirman, Yogyakart, Indonesia, Swift Code: CENAIDJA

Posted By Dr K Y Chong, Malaysia

Tsunami Update#2 from Dr Albert Hendarta, Bandung

2005-01-17T16:55:00.000+08:00

Dear All,

Another update : the death victims in Aceh and North Sumatra have reach to more than 106.000, 12.000 disappear, around 500.000 are living in refuge camps.

This information below are the activities of Perdhaki in Aceh and north Sumatera. As you all have known that the catholic doctors join the effort of Perdhaki in helping the victims:

PERDHAKI’S ACTION
IN RESPONDING TSUNAMI

1.      December 26, 2004 (Sunday)
Afternoon : Perdhaki Regional Office of Sibolga informed Perdhaki central office that Nias island was strucked by tsunami and need help. Ms Asina and Dr Wonga were appointed to take action to help Nias.
2.      December 27, 2004 (Monday)
Perdhaki central office contacted Perdhaki Sibolga-Nias, asking more information about the Nias and inquiry about the assistance needed. Perdhaki Nias (Sr Clara) was asked to take quick action and was allowed to purchased the needed medicines in Gunung Sitoli (capital city of Nias). Further assistance will be sent by perdhaki central office.
3.      December 28 to December 30, 2004 (Tuesday toThursday)
a. Perdhaki central office seeked information from Regional Office in Medan, concerning the action that will be taken for Aceh.
b.Since there is no Perdhaki’s infrastructure in Aceh, Perdhaki Medan inquiry Diocese of Medan about the action for Aceh.
c. Perdhaki central office supported Bishop Conference for medical supplies for action in Aceh.
d.Perdhaki central office mobilized the first medical team, consist of 2 doctors, 3 nurses and 1 sanitarian. They were coming from Boromeus hospital (Bandung), Desa Putera health centre (Jakarta) and Perdhaki central office. Perdhaki central office also mobilized the medical supplies to be used by the team in the field.
4.      December 31,2004 (Friday)
a. The first medical team was briefed in Perdhaki office.
b.Some medical supplies was sent to Bishop conference to be sent to Medan by Hercules flight and then to Banda Aceh.
5.      January 1, 2005 (Saturday)
a. The first medical team arrived in Medan
b.The medical team met with Dr Felix Tarigan (Perdhaki Medan), the diocese of Medan
c. The team directly go to Banda Aceh, for giving emergency medical treatment to the victims in the disaster area.
6.      January 2, 2005 (Sunday)
a. Dr Felix submitted the name of 2 persons (one doctor and one nurse) who will become the second team to go to the East coast.
b.The medical team fly to Aceh by Hercules flight from Medan
7.      January 3, 2005 (Monday)
The medical team informed central Perdhaki that there were sufficient doctors and medical supplies in Banda Aceh, so the team will go to outside Banda Aceh, possibly to Lhoh Sumawe
8.      January 4, 2005 (Tuesday)
a. The medical team informed central office that they decided to split the team into 2 teams: One team (consist of one doctor and one nurse) stay in Banda Aceh and one other team went to west coast (consist of 4 persons).
b.Since the diocese of Medan didn’t have post in west coast, the team joint with other NGOs to go to West Coast (Leugen and Patik) by boat.
c. The team planned to stay in west coast for about 4 days.
d.The team informed central office that there were still many dead bodies laying along the coast and seems so far no medical assistant available.
e. The second team will be dispatched as soon as possible to help them.
9.      January 5, 2005 (Wednesday)
a. The second team (consist of one doctor and one nurse) was brifed in Perdhaki office
b.Bishop conference informed Perdhaki central office that they will receive 10 clinic’s equipment for west coast and asking Perdhaki whether could supply medical team.
c. Bishop conference also asking Perdhaki for doctors for providing medical service to the refugees in Medan (under diocese of Medan)
d.Perdhaki made tentative planning for dispatching further medical teams to west coast (the third, fourth, fifth and sixth).

1. January 6, 2005 (Thursday)
    Perdhaki plan to set up POSKO (Coordinating Post) in Banda Aceh by rent the house for three months and recruit 2 doctors and 2 administrators (recording and reporting) also for three months as coordinating post.

2. January 7, Friday
The first team in Banda Aceh confirmed that they can find the house to be rent, 2 doctors confirmed they can support the disaster for three months. The team in Banda Aceh will recruit 2 administrator.

3. January 10, Monday
The third team, fly to Banda Aceh, consists of 2 doctors and 2 nurses from Atma Jaya Hospital, Jakarta.
They will stay until January 24.

4. January 13, Thursday
dr. Felix Gunawan (Executive Director of Perdhaki) fly to Banda Aceh and one doctor who will stay for three months.

Others:
Perdhaki's support for disaster in:
1. Nabire (Papua) : Medicine through Perdhaki Region of Jayapura
2. Alor (East Nusa Tenggara): Medicine through Perdhaki Region of Kupang.

Dear All, Perdhaki really need your support for short term and long term program. You can contact Perdhaki central office in Jakarta, Jl Kramat VI / 7, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia. Phone: 62-21-3140455, 3909245, Fax; 62-21-31926044. Email: perdhaki@cbn.net.id, perdhaki@perdhaki.org . Contact Person: Dr Felix Gunawan, Perdhaki Executive Director, and Irene Kusuma.

With best regards,

Albert Hendarta
West Java Catholic Doctor Community
Perdhaki Central Board.

A message from Fr Dass(JRS) in Aceh

2005-01-10T17:27:00.000+08:00

Fr Dass from the Jesuit Refugee Service(JRS) is presently in Aceh with the Medical team led by Dr Andrew Choo from the Catholic Doctors Association of Malaysia. He has this to say regarding the Tsunami Disaster in Aceh:
“I have been in Banda Aceh for a day now and 2 days in Medan. I spent today moving around and looking at the devastated areas and the camps of the displaced people. The extent of the devastation is true to news reports; the tsunami had reached, in some places, to 8 miles inland, reducing everything to rubble. Local volunteers are still looking for more bodies for mass burial and corpses in body bags lie along road sides awaiting collection. At the same time, Banda Aceh is overflowing with aid workers and stockpiles of food and medicine are bottlenecked at airports and ports in Banda Aceh, Medan, Jakarta and even Bangkok & Kuala Lumpur.
The problem is not with material aid but with logistics and distribution.
Over the last 5 years there has been an overt military conflict going on in Aceh. A year ago all international and most national NGO’s were asked by the military to leave Aceh. JRS was one of the very few groups that remained and maintained a presence. This is because JRS is both international and national. As national, it is local as well, because a good number of its staff are themselves Acehnese. Moreover, and more importantly, JRS has over the years established trust with the local community. It has successfully maintained a apolitical position. When the tsunami struck and huge international agencies took over the action, small local NGOs and civil society groups could not find a place to figure in that larger scheme of things. They were too under sourced and under funded to be able to do very much but it is they who are the locals and the ones who know the geography of the land, the reach of the disaster, the people now and later. Anyhow they have decided to band together and form a group of local NGOs and have approached the JRS to act as a bridge between them and others, especially the international NGOS. Since then the JRS office has been their base and they have been working with the JRS, particularly in accessing the more remote areas around the west Coast of Aceh that has been neglected by the media and aid agencies.
I feel that we,from the outside, should help to build the local groups up. They in turn can later help their own. We help them so that they can contribute to, and even take the lead in building up their society with a sense of ownership and dignity. We do this through our trust in their connection with the JRS.
I would suggest 3 phase of help to them: the immediate, the intermediate and the long term.
In the immediate term, all material aid-food, clothing and medicine- that is being channeled to Aceh through JRS be placed in the hands of these local NGOs fro action and distribution. JRS has to depend on them to distribute the supplies because JRS itself is overstretched in its work of connection and coordination. We also enable them to function more effectively on their own. This would mean helping them, to set up their own coordination and support facilities. The long term commitment would be established after a mutual evaluation of needs and aims among ourselves JRS and the local NGOs.This could take place 6 months from now.
In conclusion the crux of my suggestion is that we help the local Acehnese NGOs to build themselves up. This is a real need on the ground, both in the immediate crisis and beyond. This will allow our aid to have a greater meaning as this people struggle to get up once again and rebuild themselves and their society”

Update on Tsunami Situation in Aceh

2005-01-08T08:57:00.000+08:00

A Message from Dr Albert Hendarta, Bandung, Indonesia:
This is my update: The official figures of the death in Indonesia up to yesterday are: more than 94.000. We believe that this will increase as facts are more open, especially from the isolated area, which is now being accessible for the rescue team.

A paediatrician from West java Catholic Doctor will follow the 2 doctors and 2 nurses from St Borromeus Hospital who are now in Banda Aceh, they will join into the Perdhaki team, who are now in different areas in Aceh.

So many donations from different parts of Indonesia and of the world are pouring to Aceh, with all the complications. So, isn't it better that we concentrate on the longer term reconstruction programs? And be more specific e.g. rebuild the churches in Nias Island, or rebuild the destroyd/vanish hospitals? This is just an idea.

Tsunami Disaster-An Update on the Malaysian Medical Team in Medan/Aceh

2005-01-07T09:02:00.000+08:00

Dr Andrew Choo and his medical team have arrived safely in Medan yesterday together with 38 boxes of medical supplies and aid for the unfortunate victims of the tsunami disaster in Sumatra. Thanks to the staff of Air Asia our supplies were cleared through customs without hassle. The supplies have now reached the office of JRS(Jesuit Refugee Service) in Medan and now the real work shall begin. Kindly pray for the safety of our team. You may log on to our website for regular update on our mission in Aceh.

Posted by Dr K Y Chong, Malaysia

Update on Tsunami Situation in SRI LANKA

2005-01-04T11:04:00.000+08:00

Fr. Derrick Mendis reports after his visit to Galle on 29th December 2004.
“I left for Galle in the Provincial's van with three friends and relief supplies. The journey was a veritable nightmare, since I have never in my life of 68 years seen such large-scale devastation. Often, we had to crawl at a snail's pace due to traffic congestion. Many lorries and vans loaded with foodstuffs, drinking-water and clothes were wending their way to the affected areas, distributing supplies to the hundreds of displaced persons lining the roadside.
The roads had been hurriedly cleared of lamp posts, debris and rubble to make room for the traffic. Bulldozers were still at work in some areas. Signboards indicate the location of makeshift refugee camps set up in various temples, churches and schools. Many houses had been completely swept away; many were roofless with crumpled walls. On both sides of the road were broken beams, rafters, tiles, furniture, mattresses, pillows and household equipment. Vehicles, even lorries and busses had been smashed and some had turned turtle. Concrete electric and telephone posts had fallen, bent and broken. Railway lines were twisted and broken like those of a toy train-set. Fibre glass and wooden trawlers, boats and outrigger canoes had capsized or washed inland, many damaged beyond repair. Fishing nets were dangling from trees and strewn all over. Naturally, the worst affected areas were those closest to the sea, and the people who suffered the greatest loss, were the fisher folk. I was astounded at the destructive power and force of a tidal wave.
The displaced people had a look of rude shock and hopeless despair written on their faces. Many were rummaging through the debris, trying to salvage anything usable or perhaps searching for their valuables. I wonder whether they will ever get over the tragic trauma that hit them suddenly like a bolt from the blues, on the fateful morning of 26th December.
My heart bled when I saw the terrible destruction in my hometown, Moratuwa, and my beloved Balapitiya where I first worked as a priest. A tidal wave of grief and anguish engulfed me and left me emotionally shattered.
At a conservative estimate, it will take eight to ten years and heavy inputs of capital, to reconstruct the damaged infra-structure (roads, bridges, culverts, railways, electricity and water-service), to re-settle and rehabilitate the displaced persons, in short, to restore the situation to what it was before 26th December.” (Courtesy: update news of Jesuits from Srilanka December 30th , 2004)
JRS Srilanka acknowledges with gratitude every contribution made by the JRS/International Office Rome towards the relief operations.
P.S. Amalraj SJ
Regional Director
JRS/South Asia

TSUNAMI DISASTER- A MESSAGE FROM PROF.K H MENG

2005-01-04T10:59:00.000+08:00

Dear Presidents of the AFCMA national organizations,

It is really sad to see that, as time goes on, the Tsunami victims are increasing in numbers and the survivors are getting infected with various infectious diseases.
Fortunately, our Federation has taken a lead in helping the people in those affected areas through the Medical Mission Committee of the Federation.
As we have witnessed, Dr. John Lee of Singapore, the Chair of the Committee and several others including Dr. Freddie Loh of Malaysia have been in front in this important mission.
We truly thank them for their hard work and sacrifices.
Singapore and Malaysia have already been collecting medicine and money to help the people in Aceh, Indonesia and Sri Lanka and I understand that they even organized a medical team to send to some devastated areas.
According to John Lee, what is critically needed in those areas at the moment are clean water and medical supplies and he suggests that we donate money to buy those things they need.
John Lee also suggests that the main thing that needs to be done is to accumulate funds collected to FIAMC to establish the relevance of FIAMC as an effective international family of Catholic doctors which participates in disaster relief and I agree with him.
This time, in that sense, I would like to propose that the national organizations of our Asian Federation collect some money and send them to FIAMC.

To send any money you are able to collect to FIAMC (Asia Emergency), by means of cheques (payable to: FIAMC, The Vatican City) or by money order payable to the bank account of FIAMC at:BANCA DI ROMAfiliale di UdineVia Vittorio Veneto n. 34,33100 Udine, ItalyCAB 3002, ABI 12300,account no. 65335832.

MEDICAL TEAM for RELIEF WORK IN ACEH

2005-01-03T17:48:00.000+08:00

The recent earthquake and tsunami in Aceh and parts of Northern Sumatra has caused widespread damage and has created unprecedented turmoil and hardship for the unfortunate people there. We the members of the Catholic Doctors Association of Malaysia are one of the closest neighbour to Sumatra and we also speak the same language. We have decided to send a medical team to Banda Aceh and nearby Medan where there is now a refugee centre.

Our medical team headed by our president, Dr Andrew Choo will be leaving for Banda Aceh on Thursday 6 Jan 2005. We will be working with the Jesuit Refugee Service(JRS) in Aceh. Rev. Fr Paul Das from the Church of St Francis Xavier in Petaling Jaya(PJ), Selangor, Malaysia will be going with us. Fr Paul is currently with JRS in KL& PJ and he will be coordinating our relief efforts with his counterpart in Aceh. Dr Choo will be able to give us a clearer picture of their needs in a few days.

We plan to have a few medical teams working in rotation to relieve Dr Choo who will be there for 10 days. Each team will stay for for between 7 to 10 days and we need volunteer doctors, nurses and aid in the form of antibiotics, vaccines, anti diarrhoe medication, ORS etc. Cash donations will be most welcomed as we may need to be there for more than a month and will incurr a lot of expenses.

You may send your donations to "CATHOLIC DOCTOR'S ASSOCIATION OF MALAYSIA" , c/o Assunta Hospital, Jalan Templer, 46990 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia, together with your full name, address, Email or Fax number. Receipts will be issued for all donations.

For further information please contact Dr Assunta Davadass at +6012 3070204 or Dr Anthonysamy at +603 42572875 or Email us at: afcmamail@yahoo.com

Posted by Dr K Y Chong(Malaysia)

Highlights of 13th AFCMA Congress

2004-11-30T21:35:00.000+08:00

At the recently concluded 13th AFCMA Congress which was held in Taipeh, from 25th to 27th Nov 2004, , Dr CK Chang and Sister TE Arlene presented a paper on NaPro(Natural Procreation) Technology which is acceptable to people of all faiths. This new technology was developed at the Pope Paul VI Institute in Oregan, USA. NaPro involves systematic charting of a women's cycle and combines the Creighton Model System with other medical approaches in order to achieve sucess rates of up to 80% in the treatment of infertility. It can also evaluate and treat chronic vaginal discharge, premenstrual syndrome, post partum depression, preterm labour and others.