Bioethicists slated for ties to industry
A bioethicist from Canada’s McGill University has made a stinging attack on his colleagues for snuggling up to commercial interests to secure funding. Writing in Nature Biotechnology, Leigh Turner asks, “if bioethicists are incapable of maintaining financial and intellectual independence from the drug industry, what purpose will their social commentary serve?” He accuses the discipline of betraying its roots in social critiques of the late 1960s and early 1970s, when it criticised the conduct of biomedical research.
Like the outspoken philosopher Carl Elliott, Turner argues that “30 years later, the independence and integrity of bioethics is in question, and bioethicists risk being perceived as corporate pawns whose social commentary is compromised by their corporate ties”. The coda to his philippic is scathing: “Elliott’s depiction of bioethics as lapdog is perhaps too generous a characterisation. More porcine imagery is needed to convey the rush towards corporate consultation, research contracts and advisory gigs.”
- Prescribe morning-after pills to young teenagers, say US pediatric group - November 30, 2012
- Bahrain sentences protest docs to prison - November 28, 2012
- Terry Pratchett assisted suicide documentary wins International Emmy - November 27, 2012
More Stories
After 49 years, SCOTUS strikes down Roe v Wade, abolishing a constitutional right to abortion
The US Supreme Court has struck down two of the most famous decisions in American history, Roe v. Wade and...
Fallen stem cell hero convicted in Swedish court
Once hailed as a stem cell technology pioneer, Italian surgeon Paolo Macchiarini has been convicted of causing bodily harm and...
Hollywood actress explains why she chose surrogacy: ‘I was terrified’
Hollywood starlet Jamie Chung, 39, surprised her fans last year when she and her husband announced the birth of twins....
First legal assisted suicide in Italy
Italy’s parliament is still debating the details of legal assisted suicide. However, last Thursday the first Italian to take advantage...
Re-examining autonomy
The buzzword cutting through the noisy controversy over the US Supreme Court’s repeal of Roe v. Wade is “reproductive autonomy”....
World swimming authority takes conservative stand on gender inclusion
Swimming's world governing body, FINA, has backed a new policy on gender inclusion which will stop most trans women swimmers...