Should Sick People Be Paid to Risk Their Lives?

The dilemma concerning whether or not sick patients should be paid for medical research is raised in a solution proposed by two health policy experts. They argue that if drugs are already moderately effective, patients have no reason to risk their lives for drugs that may be better. However, rules exist which limit patients to only receiving stipends of certain values, and these rules are enforced to prevent people from risking their lives deliberately for cash. People who volunteer in medical research of this sort are always informed of the circumstances and the benefits which may result from the experiment.

Should there be monetary rewards for participants in life-risking experiments? Why or why not? Do the benefits of the experiments outweigh the risks for the patients?

Why Not Artificial Wombs?

This article talks about past experiments in using the wombs of animals for other species. Artificial wombs are on the horizon–or should scientists stick to using other organisms' wombs? There is thought that artificial wombs would relieve mothers of the burden of carrying their children. If so, the question of, "what does it mean to be a mother?" pops into place. With artificial wombs, fetus would be developed externally and might become things rather than people.

Should there be artificial wombs? Why or why not? Why would people want to use them?

The National Endowment for the Humanities

The National Endowment for the Humanities has awarded The Hastings Center a challenge grant to support an endowment for a major new humanities research program. The $425,000 grant, to be matched by at least $1.275 million raised from private sources, will begin The Hastings Center Humanities Research Initiative, which aims to expand the Center’s core commitment to humanities-based scholarship in bioethics and to provide leadership in this area. This initiative will  provide financing of a Senior Humanities Research Scholar Chair who will pursue research in bioethics and the humanities and advance the humanities work of fellow people at Hastings. The Chair will also create and direct a Humanities Scholar-in-Residence Program.

Do you think its right for a research program to get this much money, than feeding the poor and hungry, or donating it to food banks?

Medical examiner gives unclaimed bodies to science

For November:

A medical examiner's office in Chicago set a two-week deadline for bodies to be claimed at the morgue, or risk their being donated for medical research. People claim that the time frame is short, but in response, people have argued that holding bodies for longer than two weeks becomes really complicated, which include identification, investigation, embalming, etc.


Do you agree with this policy? If someone doesn't claim a corpse in two weeks, it will be donated to science?

US mothers participate in clinical trials to make ends meet

This article is about how some mothers in the United States are participating in clinical trials to help their financial needs or make some extra cash. These clinical trials have helped most of these mothers secure themselves some health check-ups, free medication that is needed, and money. From this testing, some mothers have found diseases, like breast cancer, HIV, and hepatitis, which was good and the clinic would provide medication or medical attention to help them with their problems. However, with them being tested on by many drugs or medication, they can also have side effects on their bodies. Examples of negative side effects could be brain damage, heart problems, nausea, etc.

If you were a mother, would you do this to help lift your financial problems off your shoulders, but risk your life for your children and family?

German ethicists can’t agree on humanized animals

The German Ethics Council (Deutscher Ethikrat) has recommended that researchers be allowed to insert human genes into mice in a major report on human-animal mixtures. But special permission will be needed to insert human genes into apes. Some practices should be banned, it says: introducing animal material into human germlines, producing human sperm or eggs in an animal, and implanting animal embryos into humans.

However, on the highly controversial creation of cybrids (or chimeras), or growing embryos by inserting the nucleus of a human cell into an animal egg, the Council failed to reach a consensus. No German laws appear to cover the procedure, which some researchers hope to use to produce embryonic stem cell lines. Thirteen members of the council recommended that scientists should be allowed to do it; 11 were opposed.

Basically, should it be allowed for scientists to insert human genes into mice to humanize them?

Students' Meningitis Shots Should Be Required

People ages 15-24 are at high risk to get meningitis. Many people are scared at the thought of getting it and many are in fear of getting the vaccine. In 23 states, it is required for college freshman to get the meningitis vaccine. Every year, 3000 people get the disease.

Do you believe meningitis vaccines should be a requirement? Do you believe it is ethical mandate vaccinations or should it be one's choice to get the vaccine or not?

At What Price, Immortality

Transhumanism has become very common in the world. To be a transhumanist means to encourage the development of technologies that would prolong one's lifespan to perhaps more than one hundred years more than the average life expectancy. Transhumanism is a movement in which individuals are implanting the idea that technology should advance in order to help with this process of expanding one's physical, intellectual, and psychological capacities. The flaw behind this movement? Transhumanists believe there is no essence of nature that should be respected or preserved; that nature itself is entirely flawed. We, as humans, should (the transhumanists believe) are already going into the path in creating regenerative medicine to a post-human future for all, which means becoming what Margaret Somerville calls "techno-sapiens." However, we would no longer be human. We might lose ourselves in the process and become "machines" of the future. Transhumanists argue post-humans will be more ethical and moral than present humans, the wars and conflict will cease, and so on. If immortality would become such a major "trend" in society, what chances will there be for later generations to take on as the present generations are still alive?

Although feared by many, what role does death play in the human life cycle? Is it an important one?
If you had the chance, would you like to become a "techno-sapien"?

Senators Question Deals to Block Generic Lipitor

US Senators have asked the drug maker Pfizer and five other health companies to detail their agreements to block prescriptions of generic versions of the cholesterol drug Lipitor and sell only the Pfizer brand-name version. Doing this is an effect from the ending on the Lipitor patent and now the senators wish to have the government regulate the drug to promote the general welfare. Although by selling one generic brand of drugs, it would make a less competitive market which would stimulate profit and be more available to public access. However, it is feared that this can cause a monopoly on the lipitor market and cause Medicare, and other healthcare programs to reply on Pfizer corporation where they must pay their prices.

Is it a mistake to allow government regulation over such a drug? do the drugs pose as a danger to society?

Publicly Insured

This article dealt with doctors refusing to make appointments to publicly insured child patients. Two out of three publicly insured child patients were refused an appointment while only eleven percent of privately insured child patients were refused. Publicly insured patients who were given an appointment also had to wait an average of forty two days compared to privately insured patients who waited an average of twenty two days for an appointment.

Is it against "doctor code" to deny a patient treatment and/or attention based on whether or not they are privately insured?

Turn on, tune in and get better?

This article is about scientists finding new uses for hallucinogens and street drugs for study of legitimate therapeutic uses, such as helping patients deal with post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction, chronic pain, depression and even terminal illness. They believe these agents have the potential to help patients with post-traumatic stress disorder, drug or alcohol addiction, unremitting pain or depression, and the existential anxiety of terminal illness. In their next incarnation, these drugs may help the psychologically wounded tune in to their darkest feelings and memories and turn therapy sessions into heightened opportunities to learn and heal. Researchers explored the usefulness of hallucinogenic agents as an adjunct to psychotherapy in the 1950s and '60s. But allegations that hallucinogens were used in government-funded "mind control" efforts, freewheeling experimentation by proponents like Dr. Timothy Leary and the drugs' appeal to a generation in revolt quashed legitimate research for decade. The thaw has been slow in coming. In 2008, Griffiths co-wrote a report in the Journal of Psychopharmacology comparing psilocybin with a placebo for people dealing with incurable diseases. Psilocybin resulted in "mystical experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance," according to the study, the first since 1972 to explore a hallucinogen's therapeutic value.

The question is--
Is it worth it to use hallucinogens and street drugs, for legitimate therapeutic uses? Does it really benefit and help society as a whole?

A Chinese practice ...without consent, say what?

In China, there is a practice of transplanting organs of the deceased, executed prisoners. However there is a twist, they were not informed (while still alive) of what doctors and others may do to their bodies. This strips people of their basic human rights.

Questions to consider:
- Sound familiar?
- Although this is considered a "barbaric practice," the practice is not wasting such life-saving organs. Is that still wrong?

The Case for Enhancing People

This article talks about inevitable enhancements in the near future as science marches on. However, the type of enhancements are a huge concern, as the reasons behind getting such a leg up on other people aren’t very virtious in most regards. But today, we currently enjoy a longer life span and better health (in general) than we did in the past. Would that be considered that bad of an enchancement?

Should there be enhancements? If so, what kind and why? If not, why?

Medicare to Pay for Obesity Counseling

In addition to providing the elderly with low-cost health insurance coverage, Medicare will now pay for obesity screening and intensive behavioral counseling. This has been set up to combat obesity in persons aged 65 or older. While some people are pleased about this, many experts in medical fields say that this program won't come through with many benefits, critiquing that if these types of people are obese when they reach old age, there will be little hope for them to break this habit.

Should Medicare be allowed to cover additional costs even though it is running out of money to support those aged 65 and over?

Cancer drug 'scalpers' corner US market

This article is about companies who buy drugs that are in short supply that are used to treat cancer patients. Then the companies that have bought the treatments that are in low supply resell it from prices that may be 650 to 4000 percent over the usual cost. In turn, hospitals that buy these products will have to pay more that they should and also charge the patient more for the treatment. The vendors act as a middleman and hike up the prices because of scarcity. In the end if the patient cannot afford the treatment, the debt will have to be covered by the hospital.

Why is it that law enforccement is not taking action to stop the reselling of the products that are extremely overpriced.

Custody of obese children!

In this article a eight year old kid who is two hundred pounds was taken away from his house because he was obese Cuyahoga County officials felt that his obesity put him at risk. The question that came up was would it be more beneficial for kids to leave their house for foster care so that they can try to be more healthy or just stay in the same household knowing that the kid may be at risk for the rest of their lives? Arthur Caplan, a professor of bioethics and medical ethics at the University of Pennsylvania says that there could be possibility of a intervention for the kid to be able to eat more healthy in the future.

Does the media portray a bad image to children about what they should eat?
Are parents the ones that need to take responsibility in what their child eats?
Should obease children be brought into foster care to help better their diets so that they can be able to change their diet in the future.

New brain vaccine aims to turn fatal disease into chronic ones.

In this article scientists are trying to change brain tumors, or brain cancer, from a fatal killer to a manageable disease. Today the five year survival rate for brain cancer is 1%, the University of Miami and nine other institutes are trying to end the tumor’s fatal reputation through clinical experiments. The new vaccine is given quickly after a patient’s diagnosis with glioblastomas. Chemotherapy, radiation and other treatments are then stopped. Glioblastomas are the most devastating tumor and account for 30 percent of all brain tumors. So far the clinical vaccine is in Phase I of the trial with 10 patients, with hope to soon move onto Phase II, which with more patients could hopefully result in the FDA approval.

Do you think cancer patients should shop treatments to thy this experimental vaccine?

New Hope of a Cure of H.I.V.

In this article, a man that received a bone marrow transplant was cured of HIV and has been living well for the past four years. The patients immune system was replaced by a donor's. The donor was among the one percent of Northern Europeans who are naturally resistant to the infection. After witnessing the experiment, scientists tried to modify other immune cells to make them resistant to HIV. As previously incurable diseases slowly become curable, humanities weaknesses are becoming fewer and fewer. Are weakness and disease things that make us human? Is it ethical to eliminate all of humanities weaknesses?

Bionic contact lens 'to project emails before eyes'

Yes, it is actually being tested. Technology is so advanced that this is a possibility to have in our society in the very near future. As close they think they may be, there could be some key factors that they will have to work out before they sold these. This quite impressive. But, is this too advanced for our world? DO you think technology is taking over our world slowly but surely?

Read this article for more details and let me know what you think?

An Artificial Pancreas Could Cure Diabetes

Doctors and Scientists at the University of Virginia are trying to develop a Artificial Pancreas that could ultimately be the cure for Type-1 diabetes. The artificial pancreas will produce insulin and mimics the glucose regulation function of a regular pancreas. Patients who participated in the trials say that it brings some "normalcy" back to their lives and they do not have to worry about the diabetes. Diabetes is becoming more common every day and can be a very serious disease if not properly taken care of and can result in loss of vision, amputation of limbs and even death. Diabetes is a serious disease and the "Artificial Pancreas" will certainly make a big difference and help those with Type-1 Diabetes. The US FDA still has not approved the device and has set up guidelines that need to be meet by the device's inventors.

Should the F.D.A. approve the Artificial Pancreas? Why or Why not?