SCBE In The News
August 2009:
LATimes.com, 08/18/09
--Current healthcare system is immoral, bioethicists say
Critics of the efforts to reform the U.S. health-care system have argued that the proposed changes would pose threats to patient choice, but a group of the nation's bioethics scholars are refuting those claims and arguing that preserving the status quo would be unethical. David Magnus, director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics and president-elect of the Association of Bioethics Program Directors, discussed why the system must be reformed in a recent 1:2:1 podcast, which is referenced in this blog entry. Magnus is also quoted in a San Francisco article that appears in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2009/08/health-reform-death-panels.html
http://www.seattlepi.com/health/409344_healthcare0817.html
http://med.stanford.edu/121/2009/magnus.html (podcast)
KGO-TV, 08/19/09
The USGS says there are dangerous levels of mercury in all Northern California lakes, rivers and streams, including some of the most popular for fishing. Clarence Braddock, professor of medicine, discussed being cautious about eating freshwater fish that may be contaminated with mercury.
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/video?id=6973828 (video)
Dr. Nancy Snyderman (MSNBC), 08/20/09
This segment discussed the moral and ethical issues surrounding health care. David Magnus was featured.
Reuters.com, 08/21/09
--Refuting health care myths
Critics of the efforts to reform the U.S. health-care system have argued that the proposed changes would pose threats to patient choice, but a group of the nation's bioethics scholars are refuting those claims and arguing that preserving the status quo would be unethical. David Magnus, director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics and president-elect of the Association of Bioethics Program Directors, discusses why the system must be reformed in this piece.
http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2009/08/21/healthcare-myths/
Washington Post, 08/27/09
--Lab produces monkeys with 2 mothers
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland have for the first time produced four monkeys using genes from two different mothers. The research may help women with genetic disorders but raises ethical questions. David Magnus, director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, provides comment in this article.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/26/AR2009082602095.html
KIRO-FM (Seattle), 08/27/09
This segment discussed the recent controversy over Caster Semenya, the world champion sprinter from South Africa, whose gender has been called into question by the International Association of Athletics Federations. Katrina Karkazis, a medical anthropologist at the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, discussed the biology of sex and intersex conditions.
To subscribe to this digest or submit any missed news items, e-mail Margarita Gallardo at mjgallardo at stanford dot edu.
Palo Alto Weekly, 08/28/09
--Amid fear of another suicide, vows of vigilance
In the wake of a third Palo Alto student suicide on the Caltrain tracks within four months, worried school officials, parents and mental-health professionals are vowing to increase their support for children and youth and have planned two workshops to address emotional well-being this fall. The Palo Alto Council of PTAs, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and Adolescent Counseling Services will be presenting a panel discussion and resource fair on stress on Oct. 21.
http://www.paloaltoonline.com/weekly/story.php?story_id=11536
http://www.paloaltoonline.com/weekly/story.php?story_id=11535
IndiaWest.com, 08/28/09
--Health care reform: Indian Americans weigh in on raging debate
This piece discusses health-care reform from the perspective of some Indian Americans. Abraham Verghese, professor of medicine and senior associate chair for the theory and practice of medicine program, provides comment.
http://www.indiawest.com/readmore.aspx?id=1420&sid=1