A Neurologist's Reflections on Human Dignity and Suffering | Dr. Paul LaPenna

Apr 7, 2025

Dr. Paul LaPenna, a neurologist and professor in South Carolina, dives into the profound relationship between healthcare, suffering, and human dignity. He discusses virtues essential in medical ethics, emphasizing compassion and self-sacrificial love when treating patients. LaPenna explores how suffering can be transformative, fostering spiritual growth and resilience. He also highlights the importance of integrating faith into healthcare, advocating for support and compassion for marginalized individuals, especially in challenging times.

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Intro

00:00 • 2min

Virtues in Medical Ethics and Compassion

02:00 • 16min

Human Dignity and Compassion in Healthcare

18:06 • 28min

The Role of Suffering in Spiritual Growth

45:42 • 8min

The Integration of Faith and Compassion in Human Dignity

54:10 • 3min

Dr. Paul LaPenna reflects on the integration of ancient virtues, Christian ethics, and self-sacrificial love in medical practice, emphasizing human dignity and compassionate care.

This lecture was given on February 4th, 2025, at University of South Carolina.

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About the Speaker:

Dr. Paul LaPenna is a neurologist in Greenville, SC and is a Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Carolinas Campus. Dr. LaPenna completed his neurology residency at Indiana University School of Medicine. His skill set is focused on treatment of neurological emergencies and performing and interpreting electrophysiological studies of the brain and peripheral nervous system. He is currently the Director of Stroke at Bon Secours Mercy Health in Greenville, SC.

As an Associate Professor of Neurology, Dr. LaPenna has won numerous teaching awards, including Clinical Medicine Professor of the Neuroscience Curriculum from 2019-2022. For the 2020-2021 academic year, Dr. LaPenna was awarded Preceptor of the Year. For his care towards patients, he was elected to the Arnold P. Gold Humanism Honor Society in 2016.

Dr. LaPenna has an interest in the relationship between science and faith—in particular, the relationship between neuroscience and the soul, neuroscience and free will, and the overreaching claims of science. In addition, Dr. LaPenna speaks on the problem of suffering and the dignity of the human person. Saint Thomas Aquinas has been a major influence in Dr. LaPenna’s intellectual and faith journey.

This project/publication was made possible through the support of Grant 63391 from the John Templeton Foundation. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation.

Keywords: Ancient Virtues, Aristotle, Christian Ethics, Compassionate Care, Human Dignity in Medicine, Plato, Saint Basil the Great, Saint Francis of Assisi, Self-Sacrificial Love, The Good Samaritan