At the First Things blog, I expound on how the equality of life ethic animates the arguments of both sides of our most intense cultural controversies. Here is my summary paragraph: “In summary: Unlike earlier societal arguments, such as over slavery and race, almost all sides in today’s . . . . Continue Reading »
In 1982, “Baby Jane Doe” was born with Down’s syndrome and an intestinal blockage. Routine surgery to clear the blockage could have saved the baby’s life. But the mother’s ob/gyn told her parents that they could refuse surgery. Jane’s parents decided she—and . . . . Continue Reading »
Ah, this story gets us to an important nub of the euthanasia debate. BBC host Jenni Murray has created a suicide pact with friends in case she becomes incapacitated. But here is the real deal: She doesn’t want to be burdened with caring for her aging parents. From the publicity materials about . . . . Continue Reading »
This time the issue is advanced medical directives and their interpretation by courts: New regulations permit these court rulings—which are often literally a matter of life and death—to be held in secret. This is terrible development. We have open courts in free societies for a reason. . . . . Continue Reading »
Here is the transcript of an interview with David Kilgour on the Australian Broadcasting Network about the potential Chinese organ harvesting atrocities against the Falun Gong. The interviewer, Tony Jones, was suitably skeptical, and he pressed Kilgour in a completely appropriate manner. After all, . . . . Continue Reading »
The New York Times is totally in the thrall of Big Biotech. On its news and editorial pages, it has served loyally as a cheer leader for ESCR and human cloning. Toward this end, it has repeatedly ignored significant adult stem cell research advances while often hyping the potential of ESCR to cure . . . . Continue Reading »
Dissident Harry Wu doubts Falon Gong claims, but agrees that the organs of executed prisoners are indeed sold in China. He says that some Falon Gong witnesses have refused to meet with him, which is interesting, but may be a matter of fear for safety or other concerns. He claims that he sent in . . . . Continue Reading »
I recently wrote about a July 6 report authored by David Matas and David Kilgour, two Canadian human rights lawyers, that accused China of harvesting the organs of Falun Gong practitioners. Back in April, the U.S. State Department issued a letter, not specifically in response to the report, stating . . . . Continue Reading »
This research is potentially exciting, but is still very early. Japanese researchers have apparently reverted mouse adult cells into an embryonic state. The research is one area of “alternative methods” that offer a way to heal the current breach (as some see it) between ethics and . . . . Continue Reading »
Sometimes the right hand of the media doesn’t know what the left hand is doing. So, while news side often regurgitates the mantra that ESCR offers the best chance for cures, every once in a while the business side of the media reflects the reality on the ground that adult stem cells are far . . . . Continue Reading »
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