Is social neuroscience “voodoo science”?
Whole field could be discredited by radical paper from MIT researcher Neuroscientists are learning more and more about the brain. In the past few years,...
Obama’s inauguration bioethics
What about stem cells and abortion? President Barack Obama's inauguration speech has been examined syllable by syllable to discern the policies of his administration. Its...
Brain-death standard defended by bioethics council
But Council calls for better philosophical explanation Defining death may seem like an academic exercise, but the number of organs available for transplant depends on...
Conjoined twins “a blessing” says UK mother
A British couple who have refused to terminate the lives of their unborn, conjoined twins are attracting world attention -- some of it quite negative....
Last-minute conscience rule grants protection to abortion objectors
Doctors, clinics, receptionists and others can refuse to give care they find morally objectionable As a parting shot at the Obama Administration’s support for abortion,...
Puberty blocking for gender identity disorder
US Endocrine Society issues draft guidelines Children under 15 with a gender identity problem should be treated with puberty-delaying drugs to allow them to choose...
Face transplants an ethical minefield
If they fail, doctors should consider voluntary euthanasia, says Caplan Doctors in Cleveland have performed the first American face transplant. In a 22-hour operation they...
Obama courts scientists
Science is about “protecting free and open inquiry” Bioethics isn’t just about science, but about the human uses of science. There’s always a danger of...
Doctor cleared in California transplant case
Jury calls for clearer guidelines for donation after cardiac death A California transplant surgeon has been cleared of intentional harm after an intellectually-disabled man whose...
Vatican hangs its bioethics on human dignity
First major statement in 20 years The Vatican has released its first major statement on bioethics in 20 years. Although the conclusions of Dignitas Personae...
The rich are different from you and me: they hire surrogates
New York Times journalist Alex Kuczynski turns her life into newspaper copy"They were careless people," wrote F. Scott Fitzgerald. "They smashed up things and creatures...
Scottish MP proposes euthanasia right for 12-year-olds
Based on age when kids choose which divorced parent to live with Children'sautonomy is a tricky issue. When can they give informed consent tohaving an...