Sarah's Daughters explores health ethics - May 14,15

Monday, May 11, 2009

A play written by heatlh ethicist Dr. Jeff Nisker about the experience of a young Jewish woman whose mother and grandmother died from breast cancer at a young age will be presented May 14 and 15.

Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Education are co-sponsoring the two-night performance at the McManus Theatre (at the Grand Theatre) in London. The play is part of the "Engaging Reflection" conference but is open to the public. For Tickets, call 519-672-8800 or visit www.grandtheatre.com.

Sarah's Daughters is a play about the young woman's family and her community, exploring the fear with which the woman lives: fear for herself, and fear for her daughters. The play brings out ethical issues inherent to genetic testing for cancer genes and indeed, the genes of all adult-onset inherited conditions.

Sarah's Daughters will be performed by actor Martha Zimmerman and cellist Alyssa Wright. Nisker, professor in the Departments of Obsetrics and Gynecology and Oncology and Coordinator of Health Ethics and Humanities at Schulich, will be available for audience discussion following the performance.