Picoult explores ethical dilemmas

By KATE PRASSE
Reporter

Often children dream about becoming famous. It is not very often that those dreams become reality. But for Jodi Picoult, hard work and a thirst for adventure has led to many great chapters in her life.

On Tuesday night, Creighton University Medical Center’s Center for Health Policy & Ethics presented the 17th Annual Women & Health Lecture. A crowd of nearly 700 people gathered in Lauritzen Gardens to hear Picoult discuss three of her well-known novels.

The Creighton mission to be ethical and strive for social justice was a major issue addressed in Picoult’s lecture, as ethical topics often serve as the foundation for her books.

At the heart of the lecture was Picoult’s book “My Sister’s Keeper,” which tackles the controversial topic of genetic planning. The character Kate Fitzgerald suffers from Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia. Kate’s parents decide to create a perfect genetic match so she can have a chance to live. But how much should Anna, the genetic match, have to sacrifice for her sister?

Picoult said her inspiration for the story came from a family whom Picoult described as “very normal, despite their situation.”

“I wanted people to think about it on a personal level — in the level of a family,” she said.

Some people did just that. Nurse Becky Lehn from Alegent Health recently found herself making difficult ethical decisions for her elderly parents. Lehn said she was able to relate to Picoult’s novels because of the challenging choices she had to make for her loved ones.

She said Picoult’s novel made her think, “What would I do if I were in that situation?”

Picoult said she asks herself the same question when she begins to write her books.

“Usually the things I write about are the things I don’t have answers to,” Picoult said. “If I keep thinking about it, then I know I can write a book.”

The moral and ethical dilemmas that were presented attracted students, nurses, health professionals and book-club members alike.

Susan Lorkovic, chief clinical information officer for Alegent Health, attended the event because of the medical ethics behind “My Sister’s Keeper.”

“I heard about the books, and I was intrigued,” Lorkovic said.

Although Picoult’s novel is fiction, she said there is truth behind the pages.

“Research is such an important part of my books that I spend more time researching than writing,” Picoult said.

Picoult has observed open-heart surgery, lived with the Amish, gone ghost hunting and even spent time in jail.

Her books have been best-sellers and have received numerous awards.

The lecture ended with a book signing.

The Center for Health Policy and Ethics announced a speaker for next year’s 18th Annual Women & Health Lecture. The presentation, “Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith,” will feature author Anne Lamott on September 17, 2007. The location has not yet been decided.