Bioethics

>Clues to how blood stem cells become activated (adult stem cells)

>The National Institute of Health has a news release about research done with NIH funding. The researchers explored how hematopoietic or blood cell producing adult stem cells are activated. The NIH article is very detailed, but easy to read and understand. An adaptation of the press release is at Science Daily. The research article was … Continue reading →

>The “Rescission of the Regulation Entitled ‘Ensuring That Department of Health and Human Services Funds Do Not Support Coercive or Discriminatory Policies or Practices in Violation of Federal Law’” was posted on the Federal Register on March 10th, with the announcement of a 30 day period in which to comment. The full announcement can be … Continue reading →

Obama killed conscience protection

The “Rescission of the Regulation Entitled ‘Ensuring That Department of Health and Human Services Funds Do Not Support Coercive or Discriminatory Policies or Practices in Violation of Federal Law’” was posted on the Federal Register on March 10th, with the announcement of a 30 day period in which to comment. The full announcement can be … Continue reading →

>Obama will fund more losing embryonic stem cell research (New Yellow Brick Award to the President)

>Just days after we hear about functioning induced Pluripotent stem cells from adult skin cells, cells that can produce dopamine, the proteins missing in Parkinson’s disease, we read that President Obama is going to overturn the limits on funding for embryonic stem cell research. Despite the fact that these cells match the patient because they … Continue reading →

>Non-embryonic stem cells to cure Parkinson’s?

>The journal, Cell, has published an article (free abstract, full article and supplements for purchase) on patient-derived induced Pleuripotent Stem Cells (iPSC’s) that appear to be brain neurons that produce dopamine, which is lacking in Parkinson’s patients. Besides being derived from the patient’s own skin cells (they won’t be rejected and are cheaper and more … Continue reading →

>Trust me, I have no conscience (Again and again, and again)

>Siricou Raven, that gadfly of the prolife blogger, says I’m using scare tactics, that the NHS pays for dialysis, and that we pro-conscience doctors are afraid that ‘THE GAYS WILL DESTROY MEDICINE!!!!’ Oh, and Bush did it! Well, what do you expect of people who don’t have consciences and who are told by the Powers … Continue reading →

This is your future on Government Medicine

  Imagine that it is 2016, and you are a 65 year old boomer. You have been admitted to your local community hospital with malaise, fatigue, vomiting and cloudy mental status. You have had blood pressure problems and diabetes for a few years, and have just been diagnosed with renal failure. As you drift in … Continue reading →

Goodbye Medicare, hello County Clinic

Where is the outrage over the destruction of (what is left of) Medicare and the debt we owe to veterans? I’m afraid that we’re not talking about “Medicare for all,” or even “Medicaid for all.” We’re talking about County Clinic for all. For a look at the proposed cuts in cost for Medicare, take a … Continue reading →

>AMA: "People aren’t going to waste time on Embryonic Stem Cells, anymore"

> A member of the “lobby group Comment on Reproductive Ethics” maintains that there are “some scientists who like to hold on to what they’ve got, but” she doesn’t “think people are going to waste time on embryonic stem cells any more.” (Josephine Quintanelle, quoted in the Guardian, 3/1/09) The American Medical Association sends its … Continue reading →

Obama moves to overturn Conscience rules

For a couple of years, LifeEthics has covered the conscience of physicians and what it would mean if a doctor, nurse or hospital were to be forced to go against their consciences. My review is here. From the LA Times, we learn that President Obama plans to rescind the ruling clarifying conscience laws in force … Continue reading →