An exploration of secular and religious bioethics methodologies is the theme of a conference to be presented by Samford University's Cumberland School of Law Monday (MARCH 14) in the moot courtroom of Robinson law building.

The program, free and open to the public, is sponsored by Cumberland's Center for Biotechnology, Law and Ethics, and the Cumberland Law Review. It will begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 4 p.m.

Panel discussions will focus on three different bioethical dilemmas: alternative reproductive technologies, death and dying-The Terri Schiavo Case, and children as research subjects-Grimes v. Kennedy Krieger Institute.

In each session, persons of different bioethical perspectives, both secular and religious, will discuss a dilemma and explain their conclusions.

Program participants are: Janet Dolgin, professor of bioethics and family law, Hofstra Law School; L. Jack Nelson III, professor of torts and health law, Cumberland; Larry I. Palmer, holder of the endowed chair in urban health policy, University of Louisville; Lois L. Shepherd, professor of health-care law and bioethics, Florida State University College of Law; and David Smolin, professor of family law and constitutional law and director of the Center for Biotechnology, Law and Ethics at Cumberland.

The conference is approved for 4.5 hours of Continuing Legal Education credit for attorneys. For information, call the Cumberland CLE office at (205) 726-2391.