The Harvard Medical School Center for Bioethics’ Surgical Ethics Working Group (SEWG) will offer a Virtual Surgical Ethics Conference over four weeks in September. Each week will feature a different topic that explores timely and controversial questions in surgery today.

This is Session 1 of a four-part virtual conference. This session discusses the risks of spreading animal pathogens into humans and under what circumstances are these risks low enough to proceed, unique problems in the protection of human research subjects because of unforeseen risks and benefits, and the ethical concerns regarding animal welfare protection in light of the use of genetically modified animals as an organ source. More information will be shared on the Harvard Surgical Ethics Conference webpage.