Portland, Ore., Nov 6, 2005 / 22:00 pm
A Portland urologist and surgeon has been named the new president of the 1,000-member Catholic Medical Association (CMA).
Dr. Tom Pitre received his medical degree from the State University of New York in Brooklyn in 1970. He has served as president of the Oregon Urological Society, president of the Good Samaritan Hospital medical staff and as a delegate to the Oregon Medical Association.
“We physicians need to educate ourselves about the issues and about the teachings of the Church so we can apply them,” said Pitre in reference to the multiple ethical issues in the medical practice, such as embryonic stem-cell research, abortion, cloning and euthanasia, according to a report by journalist Ed Langlois. The CMA seeks to educate doctors on these matters in light of Catholic teaching.
“Even in Catholic medical schools, students don’t get taught this stuff,” said Pitre, a 60-year-old parishioner of St. Mary Cathedral.