Medical Ethics Advisor – September 1, 2010
September 1, 2010
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Abortion sparks contentious debate despite legalization in 1973
No other bioethics topic stirs passionate debate, political controversy, and religious disapproval quite the way that abortion does and has since its legalization with a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Roe v. Wade in 1973. -
Ethics, religious beliefs blend into political fray
There's no doubt that the debate over abortion is an integral part of not only family-centered discussions, but also the debates that occur on the left, on the right, and various points in the center on the political continuum. -
Nun resigns following abortion decision
Earlier this year, a nun, Sr. Margaret McBride, who served on the ethics committee at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix ultimately "resigned from her position as vice president of mission integration" at the institution, following what was described as a "tragic case" involving the "termination of an 11-week pregnancy," according to a statement from the hospital. -
Practical ethics in neonatal EOL care
[Editor's note: This article is based on a presentation at the 2010 Pediatrics Bioethics Conference hosted on July 23 and 24 by the Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics at Seattle Children's Hospital.] -
U. of Minn. adopts new ethics policy
In the wake of Sen. Charles Grassley's efforts to uncover and reduce conflicts of interest (COI) at academic medical institutions, some health care centers are re-examining their COI policies, and one of those is the University of Minnesota. -
CMS proposes new rules for equal visitation
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed new rules for hospitals that would protect patients' right to choose their own visitors during a hospital stay, including visitors who are same-sex domestic partners, according to CMS. -
News Briefs
A study published in the August issue of Health Affairs suggests that there are no differences in patient outcomes when anesthesia services are provided by certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), physician anesthesiologists, or supervised by physicians, according to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) in Park Ridge, IL.