Some Catholic hospitals in Australia may close if abortion bill passes
Threat by Archbishop of Melbourne A dispute over conscientious objection making headlines in the Australian state of Victoria. The issue is the Abortion Law Reform...
Doctors shun empathy for lack of time
Changing the topic is one technique In consultations about lung cancer, physicians rarely respond empathetically to the concerns of patients about mortality, symptoms or treatment...
Disney releases new batch of genetically engineered TV stars
Disney has released a new batch of genetically engineered teenagers for its new season television shows. It’s just like putting the pieces of a jigsaw...
US bioethics council grills experts on conscientious objection
Balancing autonomy against conscience With conscientious objection emerging as a surprise bioethical headline over the past month, it turns out that the President's Council on...
Warnock not loopy, says US bioethicist
Practical advice, says AJOB editor Britain's leading bioethicist, 84-year-old Baroness Mary Warnock, recently shocked the nation by declaring that the elderly ought to volunteer for...
Embryo cures still on a distant horizon
Observers pessimistic Pessimism about cures from human embryonic stem cells was one of the main messages from the 2008 "World Stem Cell Summit," in Madison,...
Louisiana legislator suggests sterilisation for poor women
Substantial savings possible, he claims. Gusts from Hurricane Katrina, the 2006 storm which laid New Orleans waste are still whistling through Louisiana. The latest is...
Australia grants patent to disgraced Korean scientist
Truth and utility are not factors Australia has granted a patent for cloning to the disgraced South Korean scientist Hwang Woo-suk. This will protect the...
First licence for cloning granted in Australia
"Unspeakable", says critic The Australian government has issued its first license for cloning human embryos to obtain embryonic stem cells. Sydney IVF, one of Australia's...
US immigrants to be treated with Gardasil
Controversial vaccine adds to expense of migration The US government has declared that all female immigrants must be treated with Gardasil, a controversial vaccine against...