Posts Tagged ‘Bioethics’
Ethics as a Condition of a Functional Society
There can be no ethics in a rigorous Darwinian world; instead, it comes down to a struggle with your neighbor to pass on your genes, rather than those of your neighbor, to the next generation. Therefore, there is no rational basis for patriotism, nor for noble acts of self-sacrifice, despite the desperate attempts of true believers to produce a theory of group altruism.
Read MoreTouching Hands, Connecting Hearts
March 2020. Like other events in history, I know most of us can remember where we were, how we felt, and what we were doing when the world shut down. For me, my life was full of anxiety.
Read MoreWhat Does It Mean to Be Human?
This article is an excerpt transcribed from an interview recorded for a CMDA Matters podcast episode released in November 2023 with CMDA CEO Mike Chupp, MD, FACS; CMDA Senior Vice President of Bioethics and Public Policy Jeff Barrows, DO, MA (Ethics); and Professor John Wyatt. During the conversation, they discussed what it means to be human in the age of artificial intelligence (AI), especially how it relates to healthcare. To listen to the full episode, visit cmda.org/cmdamatters.
Read MoreLive as Children of The Light
Perhaps the biggest problem for young people today is deciding what to believe and therefore not knowing how to live. My heart aches for them, including some of my grandchildren. By the same token I am deeply moved to see those who have the wisdom to see the truth through the mists of deceit which envelop our culture. In my life it was so much easier. There was no distracting television, only the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) “wireless,” which included intellectual feasts like C.S. Lewis giving talks that were later adapted into Mere Christianity (sadly we missed those, but real high-quality material like that we did often hear).
Read MoreEscaping Death
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death” (Proverbs 14:12, ESV).
Read MoreHuman-Animal Chimeras and Scientists Deluded by a God Complex
The battle in Congress over human-animal chimera experiments highlights the gulf between communists and Democrats and Republicans on the distinctions and boundaries between humans, animals and God.
Read MoreEthics, Science and Ethical Science
Should ethical considerations have a place in science and medicine? Should ethics reviews be a standard part of science proposal reviews? Some scientists have said one reason they don’t consult ethicists or think about the ethical implications of their research is because ethicists usually say “no” to new technologies or because ethics is arbitrary. But what they are really avoiding is the necessity of setting rational limits on science, thinking they can thereby avoid any limits on their work. Limits that protect all human beings—even nascent human life—are neither arbitrary nor irrational. Such limits offer essential protections against abuses that could actually tarnish the image and standing of science, and limits also provide us opportunities to appreciate our shared humanity. These limits are not barriers but rather channels to move the scientific endeavor onto more productive ground. Science and ethics are not diametrically opposed approaches. In fact, in most cases the two walk hand in hand, enjoying each other’s company and benefitting from the shared journey.
Read MoreWill Anyone Consider the Ethics of Genetically Engineered Humans?
The story of the gene-edited babies birthed in China continues to reverberate around the world. To review, the Chinese scientist He Jiankui disclosed in late 2018 that he had used gene editing tools to create genetically-modified human embryos, and he then gestated the embryos to birth. He discussed his experiments on the twin girls at an international genetics meeting co-sponsored by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. While most of the scientific community condemned the experiments, some of the outrage seemed feigned. Nonetheless, in the months following his announcement, there were calls from leading scientists and ethicists for a global moratorium on human heritable genome editing and wide-ranging discussions on the ethics of manipulating the human genome. Over 60 global leaders wrote to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar, saying “We write as scientific, industry, and bioethics leaders who are committed to translating the promise of gene editing into medicines to help patients in need, to express our views strongly condemning the recent reports of the birth of CRISPR-edited infants in China and to urge you to take action.”
Read MoreMedical Breakthroughs Follow Ethical Choices
Medical breakthroughs are routinely touted in the media, whether they are actual breakthroughs or promising, potential information. Press outlets often make no distinction between real, evidence-based progress that can impact patients versus wished-for projections that can influence funding of projects. Rarely are the ethical choices noted regarding use, or development, of the research.
Read MoreWho is Juan Carlos Izpisúa Belmonte?
Dr. Juan Carlos Izpisúa Belmonte is trained in pharmacy and biochemistry and is a professor at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California, in the Gene Expression Laboratories. He has been at the Salk Institute since 1993. He also held a position in Spain during 10 of those years. He helped found the Barcelona Regenerative Medicine Center (CMRB), a stem cell research institution, in 2004. He left the CMRB director’s post in 2014, citing lack of funding and support from the government. Of the center’s 21 projects, he took 18 with him, for they were his intellectual property.
Read MoreWhat’s in a Name?
In this week’s blog post, Dr. Joy Riley discusses how verbiage makes a big difference in how physician-assisted suicide is promoted and transformed to make it more palatable to the general population.
Read MoreChristian Doctor’s Digest – June 2015
Seeking to equip you better to deal with the issues we face each day. John Patrick, MD helps prepare us to take our witness into the public square as we speak out on bio-ethical issues. Peter Anderson, MD shows us a new way to deal with the Electronic Medical Records in our practices. John Dunlop shares from his book Wellness for the Glory of God about how we can glorify God through our bodies.
Read MoreChristian Doctor’s Digest – August 2014
Practical advice is the word of the day. Haddon Robinson joins us to teach how to apply the Bible to the 21st century and make it relevant to our culture. Bob Orr, MD shares from his book Medical Ethics & the Faith Factor about clinical decision making at the bedside. Chap Clark discusses how to make our kid’s faith stick with them into adulthood. can glorify God through our bodies.
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