May 4, 2007
This story demonstrates the great potential of biotechnology, but being a congenital party pooper, I am also compelled to use it as a nagging moment. From the story: Scientists have discovered a strand of DNA that dramatically raises the risk … Read More
May 3, 2007
The new eugenics forges ahead with a new “home” test soon to be available to determine an embryo’s gender at 6 weeks development. (Ultrasound permits gender identification at about 20 weeks.) Why the need to know the sex–this isn’t about … Read More
May 3, 2007
The NHS in the UK uses a committee of bioethicists and others to advise it about ethical policies, known as the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, a.k.a., NICE. Well NICE isn’t. In my view, it is dominated by … Read More
May 3, 2007
My sources tell me that the following states require life-sustaining treatment to continue pending transfer if a hospital determines that the desired treatment is “futile” or “inappropriate,” or “non-beneficial: Alabama, Florida, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, … Read More
May 2, 2007
I consider the Texas fight over Futile Care Theory to be one of the most important bioethical matters of the year. This is why I was so profoundly disappointed when the Texas Catholic Bishops and the Texas Catholic Conference supported … Read More
May 2, 2007
Adult stem cell research continues apace. This PR press release touts an Australian company’s gaining FDA approval to conduct human experiments in treating heart disease with adult stem cells. It’s a “Phase 2 Trial,” meaning it tests efficacy as well … Read More
May 1, 2007
This is pretty inexcusable: As readers of SHS know, Texas is in the midst of a political battle to amend the futile care law to prevent patients, such as Andrea Clark, from being denied wanted life-sustaining treatment. Currently the law … Read More
May 1, 2007
In this edition of Brave New Bioethics, I deconstruct the growing eugenic trend to cull embryos for gene defects, including those that could cause a propensity to adult onset disease. Check it out.
April 30, 2007
Aldous Huxley was one powerful prophet. Back in 1932, in Brave New World, he warned us that in the future, rather than experience true emotions, humanity would instead opt for the feel good drug soma. (“Was and will make me … Read More
April 27, 2007
One of the arguments made in favor of human cloning research, is that we need to be able to make cloned human embryonic stem cells in order to study disease processes. Frankly, this is the best argument for permitting cloning, … Read More
April 26, 2007
My partially tongue in cheek headline is in reaction to a story–yet again from Brave New Britain–of embryo screening employed to prevent a child from being born who might contract adult onset cancer–in this case, of the breast. Look how … Read More
April 26, 2007
This poll, published by the Michigan Catholic Conference, asked 500 likely voters in Michigan, their views on human cloning. The results were an overwhelming repudiation of cloning human life. Not so fast, some might say. It is, after all, a … Read More
April 25, 2007
Bone marrow stem cells have apparently been helping to repair injuries in horses for some time. They are about to be tried in humans now. From the Reuters story in the Washington Post (good for it): Stem cell therapy may … Read More
April 24, 2007
This strong editorial written by mainstream bioethicist Jonathan Moreno and colleagues at the well-funded and very left-leaning think tank, Center for American Progress, call for the overturning of President Bush’s funding restrictions, giving several reasons for their call. The authors … Read More
April 24, 2007
The Development Concepts and Doctrine Center, an independent think tank within the UK Department of Defense, has issued a paper predicting the challenges of the future. It is wide ranging, dealing with climate change, anti-Americanism in the context of a … Read More
April 22, 2007
The Swiss assisted suicide group that calls itself Dignitas–which helps kill you for a fee–has agreed to assist the suicide of a man who became quadriplegic in a hate crime. The man is depressed and wants to die–which ironically, would … Read More
April 22, 2007
Assisted suicide advocates like to use that sound bite of all sound bites: “Choice.” But there are three other “C-words” I like to focus on too: Context, consequences, and compassion–in the true root meaning of that wonderful word, which means … Read More
April 21, 2007
Two men needed kidneys. Their respective wives matched the other. Deal struck: Wife one gives a kidney to husband two, and wife two gives a kidney to husband one. We’ve discussed this kind of organ bartering before. I just hope … Read More
April 19, 2007
There are many proposals to overcome the organ shortage. One well-meaning but misguided suggestion is “presumed consent,” under which each of us would be presumed to want our organs donated unless we explicitly direct otherwise. In other words, rather than … Read More
April 19, 2007
Belgium legalized euthanasia a few years ago, and has already descended into infanticide. Now euthanasia proponents in the parliament want to legally force hospitals to carry out euthanasia in their facilities even if the patient’s own doctor refuses. From the … Read More
April 19, 2007
Baby Emilio Gonzales will continue to receive life-sustaining treatment, at least until May 8, as the hearing to obtain a permanent injunction against the imposition of a futile care withdrawal of treatment has been postponed.
April 19, 2007
Given the heat and extent of the public debate, it is tempting to view cloning and stem cell research as the be all and end all of biotechnology. But so much is happening that is not deeply ethically contentious. (Yes, … Read More
April 18, 2007
Back at the first of the year, I peered into my obviously on-the-fritz crystal ball and predicted that Justice Kennedy would reverse his earlier position and vote to strike down the federal partial birth (intact dilation and extraction, or D … Read More
April 18, 2007
This is really a bad idea: A Missouri legislator named Dr. Rob Schaaf wants the state to stop buying and distributing important vaccines that are crucial to maintaining the health of children because they were derived from the cells of … Read More
April 18, 2007
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine is again having trouble. It’s president and chief scientific officer, Zach Hall, has resigned for health reasons, while at the same time, its head consultant on funding construction projects has also quit. Beyond these … Read More
