Wesley J. Smith

It appears that wealthy people who need organ transplants are able to be placed on the waiting list for several organ programs at once. Such gaming undermines a system that is supposed to be based strictly on triage principles. (Hat tip Secondhand Smoke reader “Deep . . . . Continue Reading »

This commentary, by Donald J. Boudreaux, chairman of the Department of Economics at George Mason University, suggests setting up a market in human organs for transplantation. To promote his proposal, Boudreaux applies a false reductionism to the reasons for opposing organ markets, writing: . . . . Continue Reading »

A Jealous God: Science’s Crusade Against Religion by Pamela Winnick. Nelson Current. 368 pp. $25.99. Is science really at war with religion? Pamela Winnick’s answer is a firm and worried yes. And in A Jealous God she demonstrates that this war threatens not only religion but science as . . . . Continue Reading »

Ronald Cranford, the neurologist and bioethicist who made something of a career testifying on behalf of dehydrating the cognitively disabled, has died. He had kidney cancer, and I assume that this was the cause of his death.I disagreed vehemently with Dr. Cranford. I saw him testify in the Robert . . . . Continue Reading »

I have a book review of A Jealous God in the current edition of First Things. AJG askes whether science is at war with religion. Actually, I report, the author makes a compelling case that the ideology of scientism is at war with orthodox religion because the latter supports and defends the . . . . Continue Reading »

The Arizona Republic has a story that puts the price of eggs for use in fertility treatments as high as $24,000. Imagine the potential price if cloning becomes ubiquitous. Indeed, it would drive the trade in eggs to the destitute countries and the establishment of a bio colonialism that would . . . . Continue Reading »

The use of cellular treatments for human ailments is growing. In this treatment, muscle tissue from the arm was used as an effective treatment for incontinence. And, since the tissues are biocompatable with the patient—being the patient’s own cells—no problems with rejection that . . . . Continue Reading »

While I was testifying in person before a Senate subcommmittee last week about assisted suicide, I was also asked to submit written testimony to the House Judiciary Committee, which is considering a bill to toughen the law against animal rights terrorism. The testimony deals primarily with the . . . . Continue Reading »

I think this story is less important than it might seem. The Telegraph is reporting that terrorism by animal rights extremists has backfired politically, creating sympathy and support for the proper use of animals in medical testing. That is well and good. But the terrorists won’t care. They . . . . Continue Reading »

This story describes a medical research protocol that will determine whether patients with heart attacks and congestive heart failure can be helped with their own bone marrow stem cells. The difference between stem cell treatments and existing therapies is profound: “The potential new benefit . . . . Continue Reading »