Hot Topics: Pediatrics

Blog Posts (19)

February 14, 2014

LIBERTY AND WHERE NOSES BEGIN--AN OPEN LETTER TO: The ACLU of Rhode Island Concerning Mandating Flu Vaccinations for Very Young Children Entering Daycare and Kindergarden

From: Arthur Caplan and Dorit Reiss

SUBJECT: requiring the vaccination of children and workers in daycare and pre-K against the flu

In recent testimony submitted to the Public Health Department of Rhode Island, a representative of the Rhode Island ACLU spoke against the requirement to vaccinate Rhode Island’s children age six months to 5 years of age against the flu in order to enter daycare or pre-kindergarten.…

December 10, 2013

When Parents Disagree With the Doctor

by Craig Klugman, PhD

“You are considered sane until you disagree with the doctor” is an old adage in clinical ethics circles.…

September 24, 2013

How Young is Too Young: Bariatric Surgery in Toddlers

by Craig Klugman, Ph.D.

The Oxford American Dictionary defines the term “outrageous” as “shockingly bad or excessive.” Case in point, a recent publication in the International Journal of Surgery Case Reports about a two-and-a-half year old boy in Saudi Arabia who two years ago underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG).…

September 15, 2013

DNA and Newborn Screening

by Craig Klugman, Ph.D.

The National Institutes of Health wants to know the DNA of our babies.  The government is not looking to diagnose babies and help them live better lives.…

June 6, 2013

Lung Transplants and the Bandwagon Bioethics

by Craig Klugman, Ph.D.

In case you have not heard, the big bioethics story this week comes out of Philadelphia where a 10-year-old girl with cystic fibrosis is in need of a lung transplant to survive.…

April 15, 2013

Medical Futility Policy Transparency

Thaddeus Mason Pope, J.D., Ph.D.

Faith Smith was born with Trisomy 18.  She was also diagnosed with a hole in her heart.  An initial consultation with Faith’s cardiologist determined that her heart problem could be fixed.  But after learning that the Faith also had Trisomy 18, the cardiologist advised Faith’s parents that nothing should be done.…

March 28, 2012

Dukan Diet Doctor Proposal May Be Extreme, But Isn't Entirely Wrong

A controversial diet guru in France, Dr. Pierre Dukan, has raised a lot of eyebrows and ire for proposing that all high-school students in France, in order to graduate, pass a weight exam.…

July 13, 2011

Is Child Obesity A Form of Child Abuse?

As Art Caplan states in his most recent MSNBC column, childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions. Whether the result of the food industry, food marketing to children, or lifestyle choices, children (as well as their parents) are getting fat at an alarming rate.…

May 20, 2011

Should Ronald McDonald Be Fired?

Public health advocates are waging a war, not against McDonald’s or the fast food industry per se, but against a much easier target: Ronald McDonald.…

December 8, 2010

How Far We Have Come (and Have Not): Children, Sex, and Gender

In 1965, two twin boys were born, Brian and Bruce. At six months, one of them began to have trouble with urination and had a circumcision which was unfortunately incorrectly performed, leaving his genitalia non-functional.…

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Published Articles (1)

AJOB Primary Research: Volume 4 Issue 2 - Apr 2013

What Constitutes the Best Interest of a Child? Views of Parents, Children, and Physicians in a Pediatric Oncology Setting Martine C. de Vries, Dorine Bresters, Gertjan J. L. Kaspers, Mirjam Houtlosser, Jan M. Wit, Dirk P. Engberts & Evert van Leeuwen

News (48)

March 5, 2014 2:51 pm

Childhood secondhand smoke exposure damages arteries

Exposure to second-hand smoke in childhood causes irreversible damage to children’s arteries – increasing their risk of heart attacks or strokes when they grow up, according to a large international study published on Wednesday.

March 3, 2014 4:20 pm

Smoking tied to changes in the structure of teen brains

Young smokers who have smoked more cigarettes have clear differences in their brains compared to lighter smokers, according to a new study.

February 26, 2014 12:54 pm

New APA autism guidelines 'reduce diagnosis by more than 30%'

New autism guidelines could leave thousands of children who have developmental delays without autism diagnosis, meaning they will miss out on social services, educational support and medical benefits.

February 26, 2014 12:51 pm

Obesity Drops Among Young Children in U.S., Report Says

The obesity rate among 2- to 5-year-olds dropped by almost half in the U.S. over the past decade, according to a report suggesting a new wave of Americans may avoid the risks of heart disease and diabetes linked to being severely overweight.

February 25, 2014 3:14 pm

Autism-friendly travel now officially aboard Royal Caribbean cruises

Following guidelines set by Autism of the Seas, the cruise line has now incorporated new youth programs, trained daycare staff and specialized meals that cater to autism-sensitive dietary restrictions like gluten or dairy-free options.

February 19, 2014 2:15 pm

New York State to Limit Use of Solitary Confinement

New York State has agreed to sweeping changes that would curtail the widespread use of solitary confinement to punish prison infractions, according to court papers filed on Wednesday.

January 22, 2014 1:05 pm

The death of a loved one in childhood 'affects adult mental health'

A new study published in the British Medical Journal finds a small but significant increase in psychosis risk for people who suffer the loss of a family member in childhood.

November 11, 2013 6:47 pm

Exercise During Pregnancy Can Boost Your Baby’s Brain

For women who are pregnant, as little as 20 minutes of exercise three times per week can advance a newborn’s brain activity, according to a new study.

November 5, 2013 5:21 pm

Childhood Music Lessons May Offer Lifelong Benefits

Older adults who took music lessons during childhood seem to have a faster brain response to speech than those who never played an instrument, according to the results of a new, small study.

November 5, 2013 5:19 pm

Fast-food experts analyze 5,427 kids' meals -- only 33 are healthful

A new report on fast food for kids and teens praises McDonald’s for reducing French fry portions and adding apple slices to all Happy Meals. But overall, the fast-food industry has a long way to go, researchers say.

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