June 2008
The 5 most popular Bioethics News stories from the week of June 9
Here are the most popular Bioethics News items from last week based on average clicks per day:
1. Japan looks to drop a few pounds
(NYT) A law that recently took effect there requires local governments and companies to measure the waistlines of those ages 40-75. If certain population targets aren't met, the governments and companies will face financial penalties.
2. New guidelines for stem cell research and treatment
(Reuters) The International Society for Stem Cell Research hopes the guidelines will combat "snake oil" treatments that purport to treat a wide range of diseases with stem cells.
3. Undercover patients
(AP) The AMA's ethics council has recommended that the organization vote in favor of using "mystery shopper" patients to help assess the performance of doctors and staff.
4. Insured, but not covered
(NYT) A study by the Commwealth Fund reports that about 25 million Americans did not have enough health insurance to keep them out of financial hardship should they become seriously ill.
5. Harvard researchers failed to disclose millions from industry consulting
(NYT) The researchers, both psychiatrists, have now reported earning $1.6 million in consulting fees between 2000 and 2007. One of the researchers has been an influential figure in the movement toward using powerful antipsychotic drugs in children.
The 5 most popular Bioethics News stories from the week of June 1
Here are the most popular Bioethics News items from last week based on average clicks per day:
1. Race and place
(NYT) A study by researchers at Dartmouth reports that a person's place of residence or ethnicity can have a dramatic impact on the type of care they receive. For example: blacks with diabetes are almost five times more likely than whites to have a leg amputated.
2. Report: many med schools failing to adequately police industry relationships
(NYT) In rankings compiled by the American Medical Student Association, Just seven of 150 medical schools received "A" grades for their conflict of interest policies. Sixty got an "F."
3. Everyone dies, but not necessarily the same way
(NYT) An analysis of hospital rankings reveals that end-of-life care in New York City varies greatly between patients in elite private hospitals and those in municipal hospitals.
4. Companies push against shouldering costs of health coverage
(Boston Globe) A coalition of businesses and health insurers in Massachusetts has formed a lobbying group to prevent more of the costs of universal coverage from being shifted upon employers.
5. Feds move toward encouraging e-prescriptions
(AP) Current versions of the Medicare bill included penalties for doctors who stick with pen and paper prescriptions. Proponents of electronic prescriptions say they save money and reduce errors.
The 5 most popular Bioethics News stories from the week of May 26
Here are the most popular Bioethics News items from last week based on average clicks per day:
1. It matters where you grow up
(USA Today) According to a report from The Commwealth Fund, the quality of children's health care varies greatly from state to state.
2. Japanese mob members got liver transplants at UCLA
(LA Times) There's no evidence doctors at the medical center knew of the patients' criminal ties. But ethicists say the transplants are troubling because organs are in such short supply in the US.
3. Monkeys control robotic arm with brain-machine interface
(NYT) Researchers report in Nature that that tiny sensors implanted in the brains of two monkeys allow primates to control a robotic arm with just their thoughts.
4. Francis Collins leaving NIH
(Washington Post) The genome pioneer is leaving the National Human Genome Research Institute to write a book and consider new options.
5. Placebos for kids
(NYT) Ethicists are concerned about a company's plan to market placebos for children. One psychiatrist likened them to candy cigarettes.
