The clash of prudence with principle
May 14, 2010
Hi there!
Female genital mutilation is wrong, right?
So why has the American Academy of Pediatrics appealed for a relaxation of a
government ban on the practice? The AAP thinks that a blanket ban on an ancient
cultural practice will not work. Instead parents are going to haul their
daughters back to the old country where the procedure will take place without
anaesthetics, without hygiene, perhaps with a shard of broken glass.
Absolutely not, say the AAP’s counterparts
in the UK. They regard this notion as a shameful concession to repugnant and oppressive
gender-based violence.
The conflict of realism with principle is
fascinating. Where do you stand on this? Make a comment!
Early next week we will publish an
interview with distinguished American bioethicist George J. Annas about his
latest book, Worst Case Bioethics. Please visit the BioEdge website to check it
out.
Cheers,
Michael Cook
Editor
PS – you may have received a request for
donations from us this week. Please consider it carefully.
- How long can you put off seeing the doctor because of lockdowns? - December 3, 2021
- House of Lords debates assisted suicide—again - October 28, 2021
- Spanish government tries to restrict conscientious objection - October 28, 2021
More Stories
Could newborns solve the kidney shortage crisis?
Kidneys from newborn babies could be a “game-changing” solution to organ shortage crisis, according to an American study. According to...
Chinese sperm bank pushes the boundaries in its marketing
With a birth rate of 1.09 and a declining population, there is a sense of urgency in China about reversing...
Chinese scientists grow humanized kidneys in pigs
Chinese scientists have successfully created chimeric embryos containing a combination of human and pig cells. When transferred into surrogate pig...
People born from donor gametes in UK will be able to doorknock their dad
As of October 1, 18-year-olds in the United Kingdom conceived with donor gametes will be able to find out who...
British teen dies after doctors refuse her request for experimental treatment
ST, the 19-year-old woman at the centre of a dispute about mental competence and healthcare in Britain, has died of...
Dodging a bullet: how a report recommending ‘chestfeeding’ and inclusive pronouns almost became the norm in British maternity wards
A transgender maternity report commissioned by public health authorities in the UK last year made headlines by recommending the use...