Jazz and Medical Ethics: Reflections from an Imperfect Art

As a distinctively original African-American art form, jazz was born out of contexts marred by racial and gender oppression and economic exploitation. Many of the motifs of this genre of music can serve as guiding metaphors for the ethical life. This talk explores the relationship of jazz, understood as more than music, to the moral practice of medicine for equitable clinical care and the promotion of health justice. Patrick T. Smith, PhD focuses his teaching and research in the areas of moral philosophy, bioethics, religious social ethics, health inequities, and end-of-life care. He currently serves as president elect of the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities.