October 25, 2006
End of Life Care
Palliative care physician Frank Brennan describes one family’s goodbyes as a ceremony of immeasurable grace.
Monthly Archives: October 2006
October 25, 2006
Exit International: The True Face of the Assisted Suicide Movement
The old Hemlock Society was batty, but at least it was truthful–in its name (after a poison) and its goals; the right to choose the time, manner, and method of death. Hemlock has changed its name and put on a … Read More
October 25, 2006
IVF experts advise limits on embryo transfers
Medical groups representing U.S. fertility experts, alarmed by rising numbers of multiple births, on Tuesday advised limiting the number of embryos implanted in women undergoing in-vitro fertilization. (Reuters)
October 25, 2006
No Wonder African-Americans Aren’t Big Assisted Suicide Fans
We often hear the “choice” word thrown about in assisted suicide advocacy. But there is another “C-word” that needs more discussion: Context. Assisted suicide in the USA would be implemented amidst profound inequalities regarding access to quality care. This story … Read More
October 25, 2006
Hospital Panel OKs Face Transplants
An ethics panel Wednesday approved a London hospital’s plan to carry out what could be the world’s first full-face transplant, but no candidates for the surgery have yet been selected, a spokesman said. (AP)
October 25, 2006
Female Genome Map May Help Fight Disease, Comprehensive Genetic Testing Could Reveal Blueprint For Most Common Diseases
Personalized medicine through genetic testing is the way of the future. (CBS)
October 25, 2006
Chinese get genetic tests to determine disease risk
According to China’s first and only genetic testing clinic at the No.1 hospital affiliated with Zhejiang University School of Medicine, more than 300 Chinese have had their DNA sampled at the center since it opened last October. (Xinhua)
October 25, 2006
Limbaugh says actor Fox exaggerating his disease as stem cell issue churns
Rush Limbaugh has accused actor Michael J. Fox of exaggerating the physical effects of his Parkinson’s disease in political ads urging viewers to vote for Democrats in next month’s election. (USA TODAY)
October 24, 2006
Fox “Responds” to Medication Accusation
Except he doesn’t. In this story, he says his pills are working well, for which we are all glad. He definitely doesn’t say whether or not he stopped taking his medication before shooting the deceptive ads. A doctor says his … Read More
October 24, 2006
PETA is Bad For Your Health
PETA and Cancer Research Center for Consumer Freedom, an industry supported non profit, has this truthful ad up that skewers the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) for impeding cancer and other medical research. The fact is we … Read More
October 24, 2006
Support for Amendment 2 Dropping!
“Sure” support for Amendment 2, which would legalize human cloning in Missouri, has dropped below 50% for the first time. In a Survey USA poll, sure support is down in less than 2 weeks from 57% to 45%. Sure no … Read More
October 24, 2006
Fox Doesn’t Take Meds Before Testifying
Well, it seems pretty clear to me now that Fox did not take his medications so as to appear more “sympathetic” in his deceptive television ads about human cloning and embryonic stem cell research. He has used this strategy before. … Read More
October 24, 2006
Missourians: Don’t be Bought, Don’t be Fooled–Vote NO on Amendment 2
Response Ad to Michael J. Fox Don’t be bought, don’t be fooled,” actor Jim Caviezel, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jeff Suppan, and other celebrities warn Missouri voters, as they explain why voters in MO should reject Amendment 2.
October 24, 2006
Messages in the Media
Michael Cook, editor of MercatorNet, examines TV ads that are focused on stem cells. Everyone expects political commercials to oversimplify things, but American commercials dealing with stem cell research make mere oversimplification look like a PhD dissertation. Well worth reading, … Read More
October 24, 2006
Stretching bone marrow stem cells pushes them towards becoming blood vessel
When stretched, a type of adult stem cell taken from bone marrow can be nudged towards becoming the type of tissue found in blood vessels, according to a new study by bioengineers at the University of California, Berkeley. (Physorg.com)
October 24, 2006
Free healthcare for Comoros villages
The rock-strewn village of Mnoungou, nestling on the slopes of Grande Comore’s colossal active volcano, Mount Kathala, is taking part in an experiment to test a new form of health insurance, which could serve as a model for other poor … Read More
October 24, 2006
Pennsylvania: Stem cell treatment helps former police officer
Doctors used former police officer Mike Baxter’s own stem cells to reverse some of the damage done to his body by scleroderma, an illness that causes extra collagen production, making skin hard and, for some, damaging internal organs. (MSNBC)
October 24, 2006
Fox Off His Medication To Tape Ads?
It appears that Michael J. Fox went off his medications before shooting his deceptive ads against Senator Jim Talent and other politicians. I don’t think this is deceptive in that Fox wasn’t faking his symptoms, only showing how he would … Read More
October 24, 2006
Michael J. Fox Records TV Ad for Cardin
Appearing grimly unsteady from his long bout with Parkinson’s disease, actor Michael J. Fox is inserting his halting voice into the campaign for the U.S. Senate in a new television commercial about the importance of stem cell research. (Washington Post)
October 24, 2006
A sobering setback in stem-cell research
The progress of science is paved with stories of high hopes and heartbreaks. But in a busy lab at the University of Rochester the two extremes have met in one dazzling yet devastating experiment. (globeandmail.com)
October 24, 2006
Op-Ed: When It Pays More to Do A Test Than an Exam
One of the problems with our medical system is the bias to pay doctors more for performing a test or procedure than for using our heads to make a diagnosis or manage a disease. (Wall Street Journal)
October 24, 2006
Op-Ed: Ignoring the failures of alternative medicine
Call it swimming against the tide of alternative medicine. It is a futile effort costing taxpayers tens of millions of dollars a year.MSNBC)
October 24, 2006
Hwang: What a Guy
So, disgraced charlatan, would-be human cloner Hwang Wu-suk, who burned through more than 2000 eggs (some unethically procured), resulting in no cloned embryos or cloned embryonic stem cell lines, and who lied cruelly to the world before justly crashing and … Read More
October 23, 2006
Show Me The Definitions
In just a matter of days, citizens in the “Show-Me†state of Missouri will be going to the polls like the rest of the nation to cast their votes for various candidates, but that is not all. Missourians also have … Read More
October 23, 2006
Are We Getting Accurate Information about Embryonic Stem Cell Research?
One blogger thinks not.
