November 9, 2009
The House passed its health care bill late Saturday night by a 220-215 vote, with 39 Democrats in opposition and one Republican supporting it. Senate approval is considered less certain due to opposition by all Republicans and some moderate Democrats. … Read More
November 9, 2009
Among the thousands of Americans with leukemia and other serious health conditions who are on waiting lists for bone marrow donations, there are some who are willing — and can afford — to pay for the marrow that could save … Read More
November 9, 2009
The Irish Council for Bioethics (ICB) has launched its report entitled “Biometrics: Enhancing Security or Invading Privacy?” The report advises that these technologies, though powerful, must be used appropriately to avoid resentment and paranoia among users. (Tech Central)
November 9, 2009
Parliament will soon vote on a private member’s bill to legalize euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, subject to safeguards. And the Quebec College of Physicians has just endorsed euthanasia in some circumstances and is calling for Criminal Code amendments to protect … Read More
November 9, 2009
Nanoparticles can damage DNA even in cells that are not directly exposed to them, according to an in vitro study published online today (November 5) in Nature Nanotechnology — raising further questions about the safety of nanomaterials used in clinical … Read More
November 6, 2009
Efforts to require flu shots for health workers in order to protect vulnerable patients are being abandoned by some major health systems because of legal challenges and vaccine shortages. Requiring flu shots is an exception in the health care industry, … Read More
November 6, 2009
A new national biobanking initiative is to be established after the Dutch government awarded €22.5m funding for the Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Infrastructure Netherlands (BBMRI-NL), a network including several academic and other research bodies. The initiative is intended to integrate … Read More
November 6, 2009
Britain is using genetic tests on some African asylum seekers in an effort to catch those who are lying about their nationality, drawing criticism from scientists and provoking outrage from rights groups. (The Associated Press)
November 6, 2009
Q: Does end-of-life care prolong life or does it prolong suffering? Should it be a part of health-care reform? (Washington Post)
November 5, 2009
The two men were accused of mediating between people willing to sell organs and those awaiting transplants, and of arranging to have the operations done abroad, police superintendent Gilad Bahat told public radio. (Khaleej Times Online)
November 5, 2009
Traditionally, treatment for severe second-degree burns consists of adding insult to injury: cutting a swath of skin from another site on the same patient in order to graft it over the burn. The process works, but causes more pain for … Read More
November 5, 2009
A telemedicine system based on a modified version of the Bluetooth wireless protocol can transfer patient data, such as medical images from patient to the healthcare provider’s mobile device for patient assessment almost four times as fast as conventional Bluetooth … Read More
November 5, 2009
Nearly a third of Americans who die are in the hospital at the time and their last treatments cost the U.S. economy $20 billion, according to a report released on Wednesday. (Reuters)
November 5, 2009
The same genes that are chemically altered during normal cell differentiation, as well as when normal cells become cancer cells, are also changed in stem cells that scientists derive from adult cells, according to new research from Johns Hopkins and … Read More
November 5, 2009
Several gene-synthesis companies yesterday finalized a code of conduct that outlines how to screen orders for synthetic DNA that could be used for terrorist activities. (Nature News)
November 5, 2009
Scientists in Belgium have successfully differentiated human embryonic stem cells (hESC) into major cell types of lung epithelial tissue using a convenient air-liquid interface. The technique, published in BioMed Central’s open access journal Respiratory Research, could provide an alternative to … Read More
November 4, 2009
A U.S. District Court judge ruled Monday that a gene patent lawsuit filed against the Patent and Trademark Office could move forward. At issue are patents exclusively licensed by Myriad Genetics for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Mutations of the … Read More
November 4, 2009
A new European initiative has formed for the purpose of promoting the use of diagnostics for personalised medicine. The European Personalised Medicine Diagnostics Association (EPEMED) is a non-profit venture that hopes to recruit commercial and academic research bodies and patient … Read More
November 4, 2009
The state Supreme Court will decide if a law raising burden of proof in emergency care lawsuits is constitutional. Doctors say reversal would hurt access. (American Medical News)
November 4, 2009
A 64-year-old woman with recurrent major depression has been seeing a community psychiatrist for about a year. She has had a moderately good response to an antidepressant and monthly supportive therapy. At her most recent visit, the patient was visibly … Read More
November 4, 2009
In the first half of this year, the drug giant Eli Lilly paid 3,971 doctors and other medical professionals an average of about $11,230 each. The payments were for participating in an average of 12 speaking or consulting engagements during … Read More
November 4, 2009
Philosophy & Public Affairs (Volume 37, Issue 4, Fall 2009) is now available by subscription only. Articles Include: “The Normative Insignificance of Neuroscience” by Selim Berker, 293-329. “Neuroscience and Moral Reasoning: A Note on Recent Research” by F.M. Kamm, 330-345. … Read More
November 4, 2009
Journal of Applied Philosophy (Volume 26, Issue 4, November 2009) is now available by subscription only. Articles Include: “Disability, Minority, and Difference” by Elizabeth Barnes, 337-355. “Understanding Expertise” by Michael Luntley, 356-370. “The Origination of a Human Being: A Reply … Read More
November 3, 2009
A family from Cheshire have become the first in the country to have tissue from their baby’s umbilical cord frozen as a health-insurance in case they become sick. (Mail Online)
November 3, 2009
The international assisted-suicide movement has many faces. America’s “Dr. Death,” Jack Kevorkian, probably comes most readily to mind. The activist groups, Compassion & Choices and Final Exit Network, are also well known. Then there is Australia’s “Dr. Death,” Philip Nitschke, … Read More
