July 25, 2011
More states crack down on late-term abortions
nspired by a contentious Nebraska law, abortion opponents in five other states have won passage of measures banning virtually all abortions after five months of pregnancy. (Boston Globe)
Monthly Archives: July 2011
July 25, 2011
THIRTY embryos created for every baby born by IVF… and thousands are thrown away
More than 30 human embryos are created for every successful birth by IVF, official figures have revealed. (Daily Mail)
July 25, 2011
150 human animal hybrids grown in UK labs: Embryos have been produced secretively for the past three years
Scientists have created more than 150 human-animal embryos in British laboratories. The hybrids have been produced secretively over the past three years by researchers looking into possible cures for a wide range of diseases. (Daily Mail)
July 25, 2011
Scientific Advances on Contraceptive for Men
Steve Owens had always left birth control to his wife, who took the pill. After all, male methods were vasectomy, which he did not want, and condoms, which he described as: “Well, condoms are condoms.” (New York Times)
July 25, 2011
Better Protection Of Human Subjects Involved In Research Proposed By HHS, USA
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is proposing some new regulations aimed at improving the safety for human subjects in scientific experiments. (Medical News Today)
July 22, 2011
Going into hospital far riskier than flying: WHO
Millions of people die each year from medical errors and infections linked to health care and going into hospital is far riskier than flying, the World Health Organization said on Thursday. (Reuters)
July 22, 2011
Regulations Proposed for Animal-Human Chimeras
The increasingly sophisticated blending of different species to create chimeras is pushing biology into a new ethical dimension. Last year, scientists used new stem-cell technologies to create a mouse with a functioning pancreas composed entirely of rat cells. So might … Read More
July 22, 2011
Where Do (Some) Babies Come From? In Washington, a New Law Bans Anonymous Sperm and Egg Donors
Traditionally, the identities of egg and sperm donors have been tightly guarded secrets, numbers with no names attached, making it difficult for their biological offspring to ever make contact. (TIME)
July 21, 2011
Pediatrics group issues policy on sex abuse by doctors; parents can ask for chaperoned exams
The nation’s largest pediatricians’ group has issued its first policy on protecting children from sexual abuse by doctors, citing a recent Delaware case and urging medical facilities to screen employees for previous abuse. (Washington Post)
July 21, 2011
Disease Charities Bargain for New Drug Profits
Early next year, a drug for cystic fibrosis is expected to come before the US Food and Drug Administration for approval. It is a moment that the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) will have waited 12 years and invested US$75 million … Read More
July 21, 2011
New report says health officials not on track to eradicate polio by the end of 2012
The world is not on track to wipe out polio by the end of 2012, a group of independent health experts warned Wednesday. (Washington Post)
July 21, 2011
Sperm Donor’s 24 Kids Never Told About Fatal Illness
Rebecca Blackwell and her 15-year-old son Tyler were curious about his sperm donor father, whose identity had been anonymous since the moment of conception. Through good detective work, they were eventually able to find “John” three years ago. (ABC News)
July 21, 2011
Method To Create Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Improved
University of Minnesota Medical School researchers have developed a new strategy to improve the development of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS). (Medical News Today)
July 20, 2011
Doctors want the right to refuse to treat patients, British study says
The next generation of doctors believe they should have the right to refuse to treat certain patients based on personal, moral and religious beliefs. A survey of more than 700 British medical students found nearly half felt they should be … Read More
July 20, 2011
Young Breast Cancer Patients Fight to Stay Fertile After Chemotherapy
Carly Byrd’s worst fear isn’t dying from the cancer that has claimed both her breasts and invaded her immune system; it’s that the treatment she needs to live might crush her dreams of having children. (ABC News)
July 20, 2011
GAO urges tighter antibiotic resistance checks
The federal government should step up monitoring of antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance to help stem overuse of the drugs, which is rendering them ineffective, says a report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office. (American Medical News)
July 20, 2011
Informed-Consent Documents Should Be Shortened, Simplified
An in-depth review of consent forms provided to volunteers for HIV/AIDS research in the United States and abroad about study procedures, risks and benefits has found that the forms were extremely long and used wording that may have been complex … Read More
July 20, 2011
E. Coli Genetic Code Manipulated by Harvard Biologists in Research Effort
Biologists have replaced parts of the E. coli bacterium DNA using a new process that hits many targets at once, a feat that may enable scientists to significantly alter or re-engineer genetic material. (Bloomberg)
July 20, 2011
Contraceptive coverage for all, health experts say
Millions of women stand to gain free access to a broad menu of birth control methods, thanks to a recommendation issued Tuesday by health experts advising the government. (Seattle Times)
July 20, 2011
New Issue of Bioethics is Now Available
Bioethics (Volume 25, Issue 6, July 2011) is now available on-line and by subscription only. Articles include: “The New Military Medical Ethics: Legacies of the Gulf Wars and the War on Terror” by Steven H. Miles, available on-line. “The Ethics … Read More
July 19, 2011
Small Steps: How Hospitals Save More Preemie Lives
Hospitals are changing how they care for premature infants amid growing evidence that some longtime practices, intended to keep the most vulnerable babies alive, may increase risks of serious and potentially deadly complications. (Wall Street Journal)
July 19, 2011
A Vaccine May Shield Boys Too
Snapshots of two clean-cut teenagers, a boy and a girl, stare out from a newspaper advertisement for the vaccine Gardasil. “Boys can be affected by HPV disease too,†says the bold headline. The ad urges parents to protect “both your … Read More
July 19, 2011
Tailor-Made Genome
One goal of synthetic biology is to design organisms that generate biomedically-, agriculturally-, or industrially-useful proteins, often incorporating novel amino acids into their sequences—a process that has thus far proven slow and difficult. (Scientist)
July 19, 2011
GPs told to keep list of terminally ill patients
Guidelines published by the National Council for Palliative Care and the National End of Life Care Programme state that family doctors should take action to make sure the choices of the terminally ill are met. (Telegraph)
July 19, 2011
Stark warning on fertility for older women
An academic journal article states that “IVF cannot compensate for delays in childbearing†because of the biological effects of ageing. (Telegraph)
