bioethics.net News Update - Bioethics

The DSM and industry

Tue, 06 May 2008 11:23:33 EDT

An analysis by a watchdog group reports that more than half of the experts overseeing the next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders have ties to drug industry.

Who should be left to die in a disaster?

Tue, 06 May 2008 12:08:28 EDT

A task force report in the journal Chest offers a set of recommendations. Among the no-treat suggestions: the very old and those with severe chronic disease. One expert called the report a political and legal "minefield."

Praying parents charged

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:38:24 EDT

The parents of a Wisconsin child who prayed while the child died from diabetic complications have been charged with reckless homicide. The parents regarded their daughter's condition as "a test of faith" and a "spiritual attack."

Med college group: no more industry gifts

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:33:04 EDT

The Association of American Medical Colleges has proposed banning free food, gifts, travel and ghost-writing from drug and device makers.

Gene therapy used to treat blindness

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 10:46:16 EDT

Doctors reported in NEJM that they were able to improve light sensitivity and vision in patients with a very rare condition. There's hope the approach could also be used for more common disorders, such as macular degeneration.

"Untouchable" woman dies after being denied treatment

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:23:01 EDT

An Indian woman died after giving birth when several doctors refused to touch her or provide treatment because of her caste status.

Employer suspends 39 for lying about smoking

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:58:59 EDT

The suspended workers at a Whirlpool factory had signed insurance forms claiming they didn't use tobacco. Their jobs are now in jeopardy after they were caught smoking or chewing on company property.

Do LVADs present new ethical questions?

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:55:58 EDT

Left ventricular assist devices can help people with heart failure hang on for a transplant or just improve quality of life. But what happens when the patient wants to turn it off? Some bioethicists say the devices should be treated like ventilators, while others say LVADs represent an entirely new class of device.

Hunger a "silent tsunami"

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:14:57 EDT

The UN says rising food prices have pushed 100 million people more deeply into hunger. UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown called hunger a "moral challenge."

What should count for moral character?

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 11:44:09 EDT

The Massachusetts Medical Society is objecting to a proposed rule from the state board of medicine that would allow disciplinary action for doctors if they are found to lack "good moral character" because of behavior outside the practice of medicine.

Yale student's abortion art was faked

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:18:19 EDT

Word that the senior's art project used tissue from her own abortions sparked outrage on and off campus. The work is now being described as "creative fiction."

Formula could aid preemie decisions

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:39:59 EDT

The formula is based on a study published in NEJM that looked at which factors contribute to the success of very premature babies. About 40,000 of these babies are born each year in the US.

Weighing in for your paycheck

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:42:04 EDT

With health plan costs continuing to rise, employers are using carrots -- and sticks -- to prompt employees into adopting healthier behavior.

Major in philosophy gaining popularity

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:47:33 EDT

Students say they're attracted by the opportunity to hone critical thinking skills and examine modern questions about society and technology.

Doctor: lethal injection protocol not fit for dogs, cats

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:19:19 EDT

Testifying in a case challenging Ohio's method for executing prisoners, Dr. Mark Heath -- an anesthesiologist at Columbia -- said the state's current protocol creates a number of opportunities for error. He said the procedure wouldn't even measure up to veterinary standards.