Bioethics in the News

The Center for Bioethicsand Human Dignity compiled these news stories:

Dutch hospital to lead organtrafficking probe  
Medical and police authorities arelaunching a major international probe into the illegal trafficking in humanorgans for transplants, to help clamp down on the crime. (Associated Press) 
 


New genetic test provides precise,yet hazy results  
Chromosomal microarrary technologycan detect more genetic abnormalities, but it can raise more questions. (U.S.A. Today)

Irish abortion debate flares overdeath of critically ill woman who was denied an abortion
  The debate over legalizing abortion in Ireland flared Wednesdayafter the government confirmed that a woman in the midst of a miscarriage wasrefused an abortion and died in an Irish hospital after suffering from bloodpoisoning. (Washington Post)

Pancreas stem cell discovery maylead to new diabetes treatments
  Stem cells inthe adult pancreas have been identified that can be turned into insulinproducing cells, a finding that means people with type 1 diabetes might one daybe able to regenerate their own insulin-producing cells. (Medical Xpress)

In ‘The Suicide Plan’ Frontlineexplores hidden world of assisted suicide
  In “TheSuicide Plan” — which airs Tuesday evening onPBS’s Frontline (check local listings) filmmakers Miri Navasky and Karen O’Connortake viewers inside the surprisingly coordinated underground world of assistedsuicide in the United States. (PBS)

Medical tourism: 1 in 3 open totraveling for treatments, poll finds
  Nearly a thirdof people surveyed around the world say they are open to the idea of medicaltourism—traveling abroad to enjoy cheaper medical or dental treatment,according to a new poll. (Huffington Post)

New kidney allocation proposal isethically unacceptable
  A new rule about kidneyallocation would increase efficiency, but it is unjust in the way itdistributes organs. (U.S. News and World Report)

Early end-of-life talks tied toless aggressive care
  Terminally-ill cancer patients areless likely to get aggressive end-of-life treatment, such as chemotherapy inthe last two weeks of life, when they talk with their doctors early on abouthow they want to die, according to a new study. (Reuters)

Identical twins’ genes researchsuggests siblings are genetically different
 Identicaltwins may not be so identical after all. Even though identical twins supposedlyshare all of their DNA, they acquire hundreds of genetic changes early indevelopment that could set them on different paths, according to new research.(Huffington Post)

Largest U.S. genetic biobankreveals early findings
  Researchers who haveassembled a trove of genetic and medical data on 100,000 northern Californiansunveiled their initial findings here this week at the annual meeting of theAmerican Society of Human Genetics (ASHG). (Science) 


Immune system breakthrough giveshope to IVF
  Scientists from IVF Australiabelieve women who suffer recurrent miscarriages or IVF failures could have animmune system that is too healthy, consistently rejecting any invading cells,including the fathers’ genes. (Herald Sun)