27 NOV 2025 ROUND TABLE “PALLIATIVE CARE IN THE SERVICE OF PATIENT DIGNITY” HELD IN ZADAR

Organized by the HKLD, the Archdiocese of Zadar, the Theological and Catechetic Department of the University of Zadar and the Catholic Faculty of Theology of the University of Split, a round table on the topic “Palliative Care in the Service of Patient Dignity” was held on November 17, 2025, at the Rector’s Palace in Zadar.

The round table brought together five eminent experts and scientists who, each from their own perspective and experience, spoke about the contemporary challenges faced by palliative care in Croatia, both from the medical and spiritual-moral dimensions.

Prim. dr. sc. Julijana Franinović Marković, dr. med., a neurologist who has been working in palliative care in the Istrian County for over 20 years, spoke about palliative care in Croatia between paliphobia and palilalia. Prim. Marković is also the newly appointed director of the public health institution for palliative care, the Hospice of the Blessed Miroslav Bulešić, which was initiated by the Diocese of Poreč and Pula in cooperation with the City of Pula and the Istrian County.

Dr. Vitomir Višić, MD, a specialist in psychiatry, head of the Department of Dementia, Elderly Psychiatry and Palliative Care of Mentally Ill Patients at the Ugljan Psychiatric Hospital, presented his own experiences from ten years of work in palliative care with mentally ill patients and announced the imminent opening of a hospice in Zadar.

Mirko Ljubas, bacc. physioth. from the Priska Med Polyclinic in Split, spoke about physical therapy as a tool in preserving the mobility of palliative patients, which represents an additional challenge in palliative care, especially for terminal and immobile patients.

Doc. dr. sc. Damir Šehić , pastor and guardian of the Shrine of St. Simeon in Zadar and a teacher from the Theological and Catechetic Department of the University of Zadar, spoke about the moral judgment of dysthanasia, while prof. dr. sc. don Ivan Bodrožić , dean of the Catholic Faculty of Theology of the University of Split and spiritual director of the HKLD spoke about the importance of moral theology and sacramental care as components of comprehensive care for palliative patients.

All lectures aroused great interest and the presentations were followed by a constructive discussion in which a large number of participants participated. After the round table, Don Damir Šehić organized a tour of the Shrine of St. Simeon, in which they were introduced to the history of the Shrine by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sc. Zdenko Dundović , professor of history at the Theological and Catechetic Department of the University of Zadar. On that occasion, Don Damir presented the president of the HKLD, Prof. Rok Čivljak, with a statue of St. Simon with Jesus for the office of the HKLD headquarters in Zagreb. The next day, on the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Homeland War and the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Vukovar and Škabrnja, members of the HKLD with their president Rok Čivljak participated in the mass celebration in Škabrnja led by the Archbishop of Zadar, Mons. Milan Zgrablić , and in the commemoration and procession for the victims of Škabrnja and the Homeland War. You can read the report from Škabrnja here .

Rok Čivljak

ANNOUNCEMENTS

THE CROATIAN CATHOLIC MEDICAL SOCIETY (HKLD) IS A CATHOLIC PROFESSIONAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION THAT BRINGS TOGETHER DOCTORS OF MEDICINE, DOCTORS OF DENTAL MEDICINE, MASTERS OF PHARMACY, MASTERS OF MEDICAL BIOCHEMISTRY AND OTHER HIGHLY EDUCATED HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS. READ MORE…

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