There are many good resources on our blogroll and here:
- Propublica.org
- Center for Public Integrity (http://www.publicintegrity.org/health/)
- NYTimes/Health (http://www.nytimes.com/pages/health/index.html)
- NPR/Health (http://www.npr.org/sections/health/)
- Center for Investigative Reporting (now called Reveal @ http://www.revealnews.org/topic/healthcare/)
- Recent Frontline special on "Supplements and Safety":
- The booming 30-billion-dollar-plus vitamins and supplements industry says these products can make consumers healthier — but a new FRONTLINE investigation with The New York Times and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation raises troubling questions. Supplements and Safety investigates the hidden dangers of vitamins and supplements — exploring how they’re marketed and regulated, and how it’s often hard to know what’s really in the bottles you buy.
Recombinant DNA: It is a technology of joining together DNA molecules from two different species that are inserted into a host organism to produce new genetic combinations that are of value to science/medicine/agriculture. The classical example in medicine is INSULIN! Before this technology was invented, INSULIN was extracted from animals like pigs or cows, though there were different from human insulin. By extracting a "piece of DNA" from the human cell and merge it with a specific bacteria in order to produce proteins which was INSULIN. Recombinant DNA was a revolutionary invention in this aspect and other proteins are being developed. The same technology was also applied to agriculture creating GMO crops like golden rice, insect-resistant crops etc.
ReplyDeleteLinks: 1.https://www.dnalc.org/view/15255-producing-human-insulin-using-recombinant-dna-walter-gilbert.html
2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1021739/?page=1
That is great, and I really enjoyed reading about the scientist who discovered this, Walter Gilbert, but what are the ethical implications of this? (It was mentioned in the articles at this first site: https://www.dnalc.org/view/15255-producing-human-insulin-using-recombinant-dna-walter-gilbert.html), but it's the ethical import I was looking for in this blog.
DeleteThis reading is short and sweet but states the ethical aspects of recombinant DNA technology (http://www.rpi.edu/dept/chem-eng/Biotech-Environ/Projects00/rdna/rdnaimpact.html). A little more detailed aspect is mentioned in http://issuesinmedicalethics.org/index.php/ijme/article/view/1575/3413. Any gene manipulations will result in ethical issues. Especially with this technology it might seem positive as the production of 'artificial' insulin help millions but the negative affects are hard to test and might possibly take generations to creep out in the open. Another ethical aspect of this technology is GMOs which is in the news almost every day.
Deletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/27/business/drug-prices-keep-rising-despite-intense-criticism.html?ref=health&_r=0
ReplyDeleteHere's a moral issue that's pretty big here in the US that's been an ongoing struggle for quite some time now. With such little regulation, pharmaceutical companies continue to keep raising the prices of their drugs in efforts to maximize their profits as much as possible. The problem here is that thousands of people that need these drugs the most are the ones that can't afford them. Sick people that don't have insurance and rely on these drugs to cope with sickness, disease, and disabilities are finding themselves in an increasingly difficult situation, as they need to cough up the money to deal with their illness. In the year 2015, list prices for drugs had increased by more than 12%, and since the beginning of this year, prices have already reached double-digit percentage increase. So how can we do to fix this issue? Mainly, I believe more strict regulations need to be implemented. Pharmaceutical companies can say whatever they want to justify the price increases (such as making up for "big" research costs), and buyers are left completely at the mercy of these companies. More investigations into the true costs of these drugs need to take place, and pricing regulations need to be put in place. Unfortunately, a lot of this also depends on eliminating the lobbying that no doubt goes on that lets these pharmaceutical companies go crazy. Big pharmaceuticals have a huge moral dilemma on their hands, though I don't suspect they're losing much sleep each night over it.
Here's the hyperlink to the article, because I forgot you need to manually do that on this website: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/27/business/drug-prices-keep-rising-despite-intense-criticism.html?ref=health&_r=0
DeleteGood point. Nothing is being done to address this, but like everything, there is great uncertainty about what the next President will do to disrupt things. The article is interesting in that pharmacies like CVS are doing what they can to work with (negotiate prices) the drug companies to lower costs. But as Adam J. Fein, president of Pembroke Consulting, a management advisory and business research company, says, “It’s sort of embedded in the health care system that the price is never the price, unless you’re a cash-paying customer, and in that case, we soak the poor.”
DeleteIn the end, Pharma is looking at these lower numbers and saying, "See, were not as bad as people say we are." But, the main point is the prices are rising faster than your income is growing. "You’re falling further and further behind, and it’s not sustainable."
On the plus side, the majority of drugs dispensed in the United States — more than 80 percent — are generics, which are low-cost alternatives to brand-name drugs. If your doctor writes you a prescription, there is a very good chance it will cost you $10 or less.
On the down side, if you have a more serious illness or require a newer, brand-name drug, insurers have been requiring that you pay an increasingly large share of the drug’s cost.
(Note: Only for comments do you have to manually add the URL. I used WordPress last semester, but changed to make it easier with a smaller number of students.)
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/sep/09/genetics-ethics-human-gene-sequencing
ReplyDeleteScience fiction always tries to be thought-provoking about the present. For the ethical dilemmas in human genome sequencing a great science fiction flic such as Gattaca sets up that ethical framework. The deeper understanding genetics has been treated with fear and misconception. These misconceptions stem from myths that genomics are simple and deterministic science yet genomics are more of a complex and probabilistic science, in which a constellation of genetic variations makes the odds, but many other factors, environmental as well as biological, decide the outcome. As soon as we take on this probabilistic perspective the risk of discrimination is less large. If a genome does not always predict but it can identify it will raise question around privacy and access. The genomic information should be considered if it were to be shared directly with patients and doctors.
http://healthcare.utah.edu/the-scope/shows.php?shows=0_wrv0q1yo
The advancements in genomics are creating extraordinary opportunities in medicine. But there are potential consequences of its use to society and the individual. In this article pediatric oncologist, Wylie Burke discusses the philosophy behind genomics.
Dr. Burke explains “what we try to do in clinical medicine is to train medical students and residents with the right kind of mentorship, the right kind of guided, morally informed mentorship that helps them to derive experience that leads to good practice”. Screening is to go look for a problem before it happens so that it can either be treated early or maybe even be prevented. Yet it doesn’t always work well. Sometimes what you find in healthy people is misleading information, false positive information, info that causes actions in ways that harm people.
In newborn screen, there are two particular issues
1. Only can justify screening if there were any action that needs to be taken immediately. Conditions that are urgent such as: Phenylketonuria. You need to find kids who are predestined to have PKU as soon as possible after birth in order to prevent the brain damage that will occur if they’re not treated.
2. The general screening principle: making sure that screening process is really going to result in net benefit to the population of infants that are being screened
There are two different articles as I read them. I'll follow the second one, as it now has implications for the Zika virus and ways to assure pregnant women are treated effectively, if they live in humid areas. The article today is about the U.S. preparing for the arrival of the zika virus. I do think that doctors tend to overscreen, but in this case (as in other genetic cases of getting genomes because you can), we are walking on uncharted territory, so overscreening is quite likely. With that carries the risk of false positives, but that is true in many diagnosis without the benefit of genetic testing.
DeleteIn this the article “Positive and Negative Aspects of Genetic Testing” from the European Union discussion the benefits and consequences of genetic test. Genetic testing can identify individuals as carriers of a potential harmful genetic alterations. This can lead the a early detection of cancer and for these individuals who have cancer that runs in their family and are found to not carry a cancer alerting gene may be less anxious about having cancer. A disadvantage of this is that a family member who has been tested and does not have the cancer gene may fell “survivor guilt” as there other family members die from cancer.
ReplyDeleteLink: http://impact-study.co.uk/public/geneticsandcancer/genetictesting/positiveandnegativeaspects
Although this article is about the UK, it's relevant anywhere. I thought this comment was particularly important:
Delete"It is very important that genetic testing is always accompanied by pre- and post-test counseling so that individuals are able to make an informed choice about whether or not to undergo testing, and have access to extra support if needed."
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/04/28/do-children-in-france-have-a-healthier-relationship-with-alcohol/
ReplyDeletewhat other ethical quandaries are there to consider?
In this article we look at the idea of alcohol in relationships. In most cases we view alcohol as a bad thing in family or relationship environment (except you are a college student).
In Italy, they start teaching wine culture at age 6. Italy does this to teach children about the importance of wine in their country but does not teach them to drink it. something that is very different from a American's point of view. This states that children are ready to receive informal education in alcohol consumption and claims that what adults eat and drink should be a major part of this cultural fabric food selection is learned early in life
From my point of view, its like teaching a child about firearms. You want to remove that curiosity at an early age like showing them the firearm and explaining that it is a deadly weapon and should not be used unless an adult is present. Same case with this, children should experience alcohol at a young age, because this studies, shows college drinking is a problem everywhere. If you keep it away from them by the time they are in college they will be drinking and getting depending on the case.
if children see adults appreciating wine - smelling, tasting and consuming it with meals and in moderation it may bode well for their drinking habits in college.
What I liked about this article was less about what you introduce children to, and at what age, but what they model (learn) about from others around them. The example of an infant preferring the food of a native speaker (vs french speaker) shows how big a role culture plays in shaping young children (and babies).
DeleteHow children learn about wine and alcohol consumption sets the stage for drinking habits across the lifespan. The French consume about four times per capita the amount of wine we consume in the United States, and more alcohol over all per capita as well. In France, drinking wine – particularly with a meal – is commonplace. Drinking wine to excess is not.
In the U.S. we have a strained relationship with wine and with guns. It's not introducing children to it early that matters, but how you model the behavior around children. At least, that's my take. Great article! http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/04/28/do-children-in-france-have-a-healthier-relationship-with-alcohol/
Unfortunately there are a lot of AIDS/Herpes denials on Herbal cures still out there. I did research on them after I was tested HIV/Herpes positive I was so worried am I going to die soon. I continue my search again on herbal remedy for Std, then I found lots of testimony on how Dr Itua Herbal Medicine Cured HIV/Aids, Herpes Virus,Copd, Hepatitis, Diabetes, On websites sharing their testimonies, which made much more sense to me. All the authors pronounce Dr Itua As a man with Good Heart, I pick interest in their testimonies and I contact him about my situation then he gave me procedure how it works, I proceed after one week he courier his Herbal Medicine to me and instruct me on how to drink it for two weeks to cure. I receive His Herbal Medicine so I drank it for two weeks as I was told then after 2 days I go for a test I found out I was cured from HIV/Aids & Herpes Virus, I pay homage to him 2 months ago to his country to celebrate with him on his African festival which he told me it usually happens every year. I know there are lots of (HIV)/Aids&Herpes Virus denials of Herbal Remedy movement the same few doctors and they represent a very small faction of the community. I could have died because I refused Natural Herbs Cures for so long, but luckily, by the grace of God I am alive to tell my story. Contact Info...Whatsapp Number...+2348149277967,Email...drituaherbalcenter@gmail.com/ info@drituaherbalcenter.com. My Instagram Username...avat5634 Just in case you need someone to talk with. He cure tthe following diseases below...1. Herpes 2. cancer 3. HIV / AIDS 4. hepatitis 5. Bring my ex back 6. Leprosy 7. SARS 8. Bubonic plague
ReplyDelete9. Cerebrovascular disease 10. Lower respiratory infections 11. Syphilis 12. Influenza A-H1N1 (swine flu) 13.Ischemic heart disease 14. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 15. Whooping cough 16. Perinatal complications 17. diarrhea 18 .. lung cancer.