Episode 230: Anne O’Meara of the Healthcare Advocacy and Leadership Organization (HALO) (March 10, 2022)

In this episode of The Open Door, panelists Jim Hanink and Mario Ramos-Reyes explore a dynamic pro-life group, the Healthcare Advocacy and Leadership Organization (HALO). Our welcome guest is its executive director, Anne O’Meara. In our view, she and her collaborators are indeed heroes. They are front line workers who repeatedly challenge today’s “throw-away” society. We asked her the following questions. (March 9, 2022) 1. Anne, if we may, could you tell us a bit about yourself? How did you come to be the director of HALO? 2. How did HALO itself come about? Why a new advocacy organization in health care? Please share your Mission Statement. 3. What are the chief ethical issues that you address? 4. What practices and policies do you advocate for the sick and those nearing the end of their lives? 5. What sort of questions do you respond to most often? 6. Can you share some particular stories of your work in patient advocacy? 7. What gives you the strength to challenge the culture of death? 8. Are there resources that you can offer individuals and groups who would like to collaborate with you? 9. Are you an ecumenical organization? 10. How do you recruit and guide patient advocates?