The Power of Art and Aesthetics in Palliative Care: An Ethical and Humanistic Approach
February 26 @ 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
📍 Focolare Meeting Point (Via del Carmine, 3; near Piazza Venezia)
On February 26, 2025, the Seminar St André Center on Ethics of End-of-Life Care will host an inspiring conference at on “The Role of Art and Aesthetics in the Care of Terminally Ill”. This event will explore how art, music, and creative expression can serve as fundamental tools in strengthening empathy, care, and compassion in palliative care from a bioethical perspective.
The keynote speech at 17:30 by Prof. Alberto Garcia GĂłmez (Dean of the Faculty of Bioethics and Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights, established at Pontifical Atheneum Regina Apostolorum and UniversitĂ Europe di Roma, will connect these concepts to the fundamental principles of the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights (UNESCO, 2005), emphasizing the importance of respect for human dignity, equity in healthcare, and patient autonomy.
The event will highlight real-world cases such as the Healing Arts Program at Mount Sinai Hospital” and the “Threshold Choir initiative”, which have demonstrated how music and art can alleviate pain, reduce anxiety, and improve the quality of life for terminal patients. Additionally, bioaesthetic guidelines will be presented, offering concrete strategies to integrate beauty and artistic expression into care environments and education.
This conference is aimed at healthcare professionals, caregivers, teachers and artists, and anyone committed to humanizing palliative care. It will be a unique opportunity to reflect on how art can serve as an ethical expression of respect, compassion, and admiration for life in all its stages.
Program:
15:30-16:00 Welcome
16:00-17:00 Round of introductions
17:00-17:30 Coffee break
17:30-18:00 Opening Keynote Lecture: Alberto Garcia Gomez: “The Role of Art and Aesthetics in the Care of Terminally Ill”.
18:00-18:30 Discussion
Further information: