First US Conviction for Organ-Trafficking

An Israeli man has been convicted in the first proven case of organ-trafficking in the United States. Levy Izhak Rosenbaum admitted to a court in New Jersey that he had brokered three illegal kidney transplants after payments of $120,000 or more. He admitted to FBI officers that he had done more than just three deals over a few years. He also confessed to how he convinced donors to deceive American hospitals. "A black market in human organs is not only a grave threat to public health, it reserves lifesaving treatment for those who can best afford it at the expense of those who cannot," said New Jersey's US Attorney, Paul Fishman. "We will not tolerate such an affront to human dignity."


What is the issue with organ-trafficking? Why do you think people try to sell human organs to other people?

Daughter will receive transplant of her mother’s womb

Melinda Arnold, after many years of wanting to be a mother, is set to receive a transplant of her mother's womb. This is the first operation of its kind in Australia. Mrs Arnold was born without a womb but with ovaries that produce eggs, and she and her husband unsuccessfully tried to use her mother, Denise Allen, as a surrogate. Attempts at adoption also failed. 

Should someone concieve baby if the womb is not theirs? Is there any moral issues concering this topic? Should doctors have any say in doing these surgeries?

Freedom Rights For Teachers Being Threatened?

Recently, a teacher has been put in the spotlight because of her inappropriate anti-gay comments on Facebook. Ms.Knox as well as another teacher who posted an inappropriate picture mocking on of his special-ed students are being attacked by the media and enraged parents who are pushing the new anti bullying legislation passed in New Jersey.

Is it okay for a legislation to limit the words of a teacher? If so, would that be going against our right to freedom of speech?

Stem-cell find breathes new life into lung repair

There have been new stem cells researched that would cure people with damaged lungs, whether it be from smoking or people with asthma. It was first tested on mice and it worked. It is very similar to the H1N1 vaccine. The real question is can it be trusted? One scientist says that it has great potential to help a lot of people. But, if this was made, would it give people an excuse to smoke? That is a potential risk, but like I said it would help people with asthma and most likely help to make their lives easier

Doctors to Sue Over New Kansas Abortion Clinic Rules

Recently, Kansas has imposed new rules in terms of performing abortions. Abortion, which is not illegal in Kansas, must be done with a specific set of drugs and equipment under the new law. This law, which has already been challenged to eliminate the specific room size part, still needs to be changed in the opinion of three doctors, who are challenging the new law. They believe that some of the restrictions under the new law are medically unnecessary and can harm the process of giving an abortion.

Should abortion be a state controlled issue, or should abortion clinics be privately ran and mandated?

Would you like to see abortion clinics eliminated all together?

Making Sense of Life Regardless of Beliefs or Religion

This is a press release for Jesuit Fr. Robert Spitzer's book of philosophy. It offers a look at such standards in Ten Universal Principles: A Brief Philosophy of the Life Issues.

He states that "The evolution of culture and civilization has arisen out of the development of ten fundamental principles". He note that three of them deal with evidence and objective truth; three deal with ethics; three deal with the dignity and treatment of human beings; and the tenth represents what is generally known as "The Golden Rule." He also asserts that failure to teach and practice any one of the principles can lead to a variety of wrongs. "Failure to teach several of these principles," he adds, "will most certainly lead to widespread abuse and a general decline in culture." In an easy-to-read format, Fr. Spitzer transcends religious beliefs to offer sound and keystone reasoning that can guide our thoughts and actions; our laws and public policies.

How should we treat others, and how should we reasonably expect them to treat us? Are there reasonable principles, regardless of religious belief, that can guide our actions, especially when human life is at stake?

Steve Jobs Liver Trans Plant

This article talks about liver transplants, particularly having to do with Steve Job's liver transplant in 2009. There is a controversy on how the system of liver transplants should work. With liver transplants being so tough to get a hold of and the cost of acquiring one is so high, it almost seems impossible to attain one. Steve Job's was lucky enough to be able to get a liver, but the main point of the story is that how can the system be changed to help better the people who really need a liver. Should the system of attaining a liver transplant be changed and made more fairly so that everyone has a equal opportunity to get a transplant even without being able to pay fully for it?-Alvin Leung