Tag Archives: bioethics

Good Intentions

Variations on “dead men tell no tales” go back at least to 1560 or thereabouts in my language. The idea is much older.1 As advice goes, it’s arguably flawed. Folks who are dead aren’t chatty, but their bodies occasionally pop … Continue reading →

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Different Sorts of “Dead”

Deciding who’s dead and who’s not isn’t always easy. But getting the answer right can be a matter of life or death. “Beating Heart Cadavers” Transplants and “The Brain That Wouldn’t Die” Measuring Brain Activity Defining Life and Death “Reanimated … Continue reading →

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Sweet Potatoes, Genes, and Long Life

One woman decided to take a road trip after learning she had a terminal illness. Another switched careers. Both choices make sense, given the circumstances. This year’s World Food Prize goes to a team who developed a new sweet potato, … Continue reading →

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Alchemy, Science, Life, and Health

(“I find that nothing’s ever exactly like you expect….” (Professor Richard Lazarus, “The Lazarus Experiment,” BBC)) A mad scientist’s lot is not a happy one. All he wants is to redefine being human: and the next thing you know, he’s … Continue reading →

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Bioethics and a Three-Parent Baby

A Jordanian couple have a baby boy: who does not have a lethal genetic disorder, thanks to DNA transplanted from a third person. Four of his siblings did not survive the procedure. I’ll be talking about the decisions involved in … Continue reading →

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