October 29, 2012
France: Lawmakers pass bill to pay for abortions
France’s lower house voted Friday to fully reimburse all abortions and to make contraception free for minors. (Associated Press)
Monthly Archives: October 2012
October 29, 2012
Physician-assisted suicide remains illegal in Canada
In Canada the practice remains illegal — even though many say it continues to take place. One in five of the two dozens physician interviewed for this story say they’ve provided, or know colleagues who have provided, some form of … Read More
October 29, 2012
Probe into use of ‘death pathway’ by NHS
The NHS is coordinating a probe into the Liverpool Care Pathway after concerns were raised over its misuse. (Telegraph)
October 26, 2012
DNA swap technology almost ready for fertility clinic
Researchers say that technology to shuffle genetic material between unfertilized eggs is ready to make healthy babies. The technique could allow parents to minimize the risk of a range of diseases related to defects in the energy-producing cell organelles known … Read More
October 26, 2012
Assisted suicide goes to vote in Massachusetts
Two states, Oregon and Washington, have legalized physician-assisted suicide through voter-approved ballot initiatives. Massachusetts will become the third if voters approve the so-called Death With Dignity ballot question. The measure would let terminally ill patients with six months or less … Read More
October 26, 2012
The consequences of machine intelligence
If machines are capable of doing almost any work humans can do, what will humans do? (The Atlantic)
October 26, 2012
Hacking the President’s DNA
While no use of an advanced, genetically targeted bio-weapon has been reported, the authors of this piece—including an expert in genetics and microbiology (Andrew Hessel) and one in global security and law enforcement (Marc Goodman)—are convinced we are drawing close … Read More
October 26, 2012
ISSCR selects Cell Press to publish ‘Stem Cell Reports’
Cell Press is delighted to announce that it has been chosen by the International Society for Stem Cell Research, ISSCR, to publish its new Open Access journal ‘Stem Cell Reports‘. (News Medical)
October 26, 2012
IVF toddler to put up for adoption because of ‘narcissistic’ parents
An Italian toddler conceived through IVF is to be put up for adoption because her elderly parents are too narcissistic and negligent to care for her, an appeals court has ruled. (The Telegraph)
October 26, 2012
Physician-assisted suicide is not progressive
“Right to die” is just a slogan. No civil right to commit suicide exists in any social compact. (The Atlantic)
October 26, 2012
Court’s split decision provides little clarity on surrogacy
On Wednesday the New Jersey Supreme Court deadlocked over how to handle the wife’s plea to be named the mother of the child that she and her husband are raising, ending a lengthy legal battle while providing little new clarity. … Read More
October 25, 2012
A New Issue of The New England Journal of Medicine is now avaialble.
The New England Journal of Medicine (Vol. 367 Number 17 October 25, 2012) is now available in print and online. Of special interest is the article Talking with Patients about Dying by T.J. Smith and D.L. Longo “Self-deception is a valuable … Read More
October 25, 2012
Ethicist: Fixing genes using cloning technique is worth the ethical risk
And while I, too, worry about where genetically engineering eggs might lead, I think doing so to find cures is ethically noble. Those nations that say no to any form of germline engineering, including the U.S., should revisit those policies … Read More
October 25, 2012
Three-person IVF trial ‘success’
The findings in Nature magazine show healthy-looking embryos can be created from a mix of three adult donors. (BBC)
October 25, 2012
Study: Cancer patients overestimate value of chemo
Most patients getting chemotherapy for incurable lung or colon cancers mistakenly believe that the treatment can cure them rather than just buy them some more time or ease their symptoms, a major study suggests. Researchers say doctors either are not … Read More
October 25, 2012
Life-saving DNA test overlooked in rise of colon cancer
Genetic testing is becoming cheaper and more widespread, promising to usher in a revolution in cancer treatment. Yet, long-standing DNA tests are often overlooked for reasons including doctors’ ignorance and financial incentives discouraging companies from marketing them. (Businessweek)
October 24, 2012
A new issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association is now available.
Journal of the American Medical Association (Vol. 308 Number 16 October 24, 2012) is now available online and in print. Â Articles of note include: Choosing Wisely: Â Low-Value Services, Utilization, and Patient Cost Sharing by Kevin G. Volpp, MD, PhD; George … Read More
October 24, 2012
Reproductive tourism: Paying women in poor countries to bear our babies is rife with ethical problems
By some accounts, the Indian ART industry is worth $500 million to $2.3 billion. In their upcoming paper, “Ethical concerns for maternal surrogacy and reproductive tourism†in the Journal of Medical Ethics, Professor Raywat Deonandan of the Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences … Read More
October 24, 2012
Feeling the force of cancer
The discovery of specific breast cancer “fingerprints” was made using breakthrough nanotechnology known as ARTIDIS. (Medical Xpress)
October 24, 2012
Genetics may help explain placebo effect, researchers say
A patient’s genetic makeup may explain the “placebo effect,†in which people perceive that a fake treatment makes them feel better, according to a study that may help researchers design better clinical trials. (Businessweek)
October 24, 2012
Why can’t we just give, and let live?
IT GIVES the gift of life and makes sound economic sense, yet organ transplantation in Europe is approaching crisis-point as waiting lists rise and traditional sources for obtaining organs dry up. (Irish Times)
October 24, 2012
Hyderbrad to host conference in medical tourism
Eight countries, including the US and Britain, will take part in the Indian medical tourism conference here next month. Indian Medical Tourism Conference and Alliance 2012 (IMTCA 2012), an international conference dedicated to promoting medical tourism in India, will be … Read More
October 24, 2012
Medical students want more ethics training
Almost two-thirds of medical students and residents feel that there is a need for more ethics training during their curricula and training programs, respectively, show results of a survey undertaken at a US medical school. (News Medical)
October 24, 2012
Jury mulls liberal bias claim at Iowa law school
Closed-door deliberations began after jurors heard closing arguments in the case of Teresa Wagner, who is hoping to score a victory for conservatives who claim they have long been passed over for jobs and promotions at some colleges because of … Read More
October 23, 2012
FTC: Companies should limit facial recognition in some cases
Web companies using facial recognition technology should avoid identifying anonymous images of consumers to someone who could not otherwise identify them, unless the companies have the consumers’ consent, a U.S. Federal Trade Commission report said. (PC World)
