Health Care Rationing (PP15)

Read the article Why We Must Ration Health Care by Peter Singer. Does the author make a good case for rationing? Why or why not?

Due Friday, December 14, 2012

Animal Rights Extremism (PP14)

Read the articles and commentary below about animal rights extremists and the recent car firebombings. What rights, if any, do animals have? Why or why not? Is the type of violence discussed in these articles ever justified as a means to stop animal research?

Animal Research Activists Firebomb Car
Press Release from UCLA Newsroom

More on the UCLA Firebombing
From the LA Times

Commentary on Animal Rights Extremists
From Adventures in Ethics and Science Blog

Due Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Alternative Medicine (PP13)

Should publicly funded health programs pay for alternative services and treatments that have not been tested in controlled clinical settings? Why or why not?

Due Monday, December 10, 2012

DNA Interactive (PP12)

Read the article DNA has Come a Long Way from Genetic Engineering and Biotech News (11/2012) and checkout the DNA Interactive site. Then discuss future ramifications from a philosophical perspective.

Due November 30, 2012.

Organ Allocation Part Two (PP11)

Policies that guide the distribution or allocation of organs have always been controversial. Please read the articles below and discuss how organs should be allocated in the US and why? As you read, please consider how you selected the organ recipient in the previous blog post.

Ethics of Organ Transplants (About.com summary)
The Waiting Game (PBS)
Distributing Donor Organs (PBS)
United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)
About Organ Allocation (Transplant Living)
Organ Allocation Issues (Miracosta College)
Controversies in Organ Donation (Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation Journal)
Infant Heart Transplant Controversy (US News)
Human Organs for Sale (New Internationalist)
Do US Hospitals Push Organ Black Market (CBS News)
So What About Mickey Mantle (Wordpress Donate Life Blog)
Natalie Cole Kidney came From Deceased Fan (CNN)
Jobs Travel to Transplant Mecca Shows System Flaws (Bloomberg)
Britain to Outlaw Most Private Organ Donations (Yahoo! News)

Due November 16, 2012

Organ Allocation Part One (PP10)

Read the case of the transplant decision and decide on your own who should get the only heart available. Discuss with the class who you chose and why.

Due November 16, 2012

ASU Tribal Research (PP9)

Beginning in 1990, Arizona State University began a study using DNA from the Havasupai Tribe in Arizona. Read the articles at the links below. Discuss the importance of informed consent in human subjects research.

Indian tribe wins fight to limit research of its DNA
From the New York Times (04/22/2010)

Havasupai case highlights risks of DNA research
From the New York Times (04/23/2010)

Informed consent and the ethics of DNA research
From the New York Times (04/23/2010)

Due October 26, 2012

Political Affiliation (PP8)

More election related discussions. Take the following two quizzes:
Pew Political Party Quiz and the GoTo Political Party Quiz

Post and discuss your results.

Due October 11, 2012

Civic Engagement (PP7)

It's election "season". Since so many science and health issues are being discussed by the candidates, we'll look at US politics and civic responsibility.  Take the Civic Engagement Quiz developed by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute and post your score. Discuss your results with the class.

Due October 8, 2012

Animal Rights (PP6)

View the video clip and read the essay linked below. Then answer the following questions. Do animals have rights? Why or why not?

Tom Regan, PhD
Philosopher, North Carolina State University

The Case for Animal Rights

Essay - The Case for Animal Rights
by Tom Regan

Due October 5, 2012

Forced Sterilization (PP5)

Read the informational pieces below and discuss the issue of reproductive control including ethical considerations of mandatory sterilization policies.

Due October 1, 2012

Uzbek women allege forced sterilization - Salon (07/19/2010)
Social origins of eugenics - Paul Lombardo, UVA

The Right to Refuse Care (PP4)

Is it ethical for parents to refuse potentially life-saving medical treatment for their minor children? Consider the recent cases of Daniel Hauser and Madeline (Kara) Neumann in your response.

In the case of Daniel Hauser, his parents refused chemotherapy to treat his cancer (Hodgkins Lymphoma). In the case of Madeline (Kara) Neumann, her parents withheld insulin and chose to treat her Type I Diabetes with prayer.

Background info on both cases is below.

Due September 21, 2012

Daniel Hauser:
Science Blogs (Respectful Insolence) 05/12/2009
Science Blogs (Pharyngula) 05/15/2009
Fox News 05/19/2009
NY Daily News 05/19/2009
USA Today 05/21/2009
KSTP 05/26/2009
CNN 05/26/2009
MPR 05/27/2009
Star Tribune 05/29/2009
MPR 06/23/2009

Madeline (Kara) Neumann:
FoxNews 03/26/2008
CBC News 03/28/2008
Journal Sentinel 04/29/2008
WTMJ 05/15/2009
Religion News Blog 05/20/2009
WTMJ 06/15/2009
Court Filings - Courtesy of WTMJ
AZ Central 07/27/2009
MSNBC 08/01/2009
BBC 08/02/2009
Pharyngula Blog 08/02/2009
BBC 10/07/2009

Roe v Wade (PP3)

Please read the 1973 US Supreme Court Decision in the case of Roe v Wade provided via the linked Touro College website. Discuss the following: What did the Supreme Court say about personhood, privacy, and state rights and obligations? Was the Supreme Court capricious in its decision or was the case carefully considered and the reasoning sound? Why or why not?

Due September 14, 2012.

Care for the Beginning of Life (PP2)

Read the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, Fifth Edition, Part Four - Issues in Care for the Beginning of Life. Are the directives ethical? Why or why not?

Due September 7, 2012 
The directives can be found on the class BlackBoard site. 

Care for the Dying (PP1)

Read the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, Fifth Edition, Part Five - Issues in Care for the Dying. Are the directives ethical? Why or why not?

Due August 31, 2012 
The directives can be found on the class BlackBoard site.

Welcome Fall 2012 PHI213 Students

Welcome to the GateWay Community College Bioethics blog. The purpose of this blog is to share information about recent scientific advancements and their impact on medical and bioethics, and to debate classic and current ethical dilemmas. Enjoy!

Organ Allocation (PP12)

Policies that guide the distribution or allocation of organs have always been controversial. Please read the articles below and discuss how organs should be allocated in the US and why?

Ethics of Organ Transplants (About.com summary)
The Waiting Game (PBS)
Distributing Donor Organs (PBS)
United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)
About Organ Allocation (Transplant Living)
Organ Allocation Issues (Miracosta College)
Controversies in Organ Donation (Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation Journal)
Infant Heart Transplant Controversy (US News)
Human Organs for Sale (New Internationalist)
Do US Hospitals Push Organ Black Market (CBS News)
So What About Mickey Mantle (Wordpress Donate Life Blog)
Natalie Cole Kidney came From Deceased Fan (CNN)
Jobs Travel to Transplant Mecca Shows System Flaws (Bloomberg)
Britain to Outlaw Most Private Organ Donations (Yahoo! News)


Due July 18, 2012

Health Care Reform Part Two (PP11)

Read the articles below and discuss the recent Supreme Court decision regarding the Affordable Care Act.

Kaiser Family Foundation
The Jurist
NY Times
The Nation

Due July 17, 2012

Health Care Reform (PP10)

Is healthcare a fundamental right or is it a privilege? Defend your position.

Due July 15, 2012

Alternative Medicine (PP9)

Should publicly funded health programs pay for alternative services and treatments that have not been tested in controlled clinical settings? Why or why not?


Due July 15, 2012

ASU Study - Human Subjects Research Challenges (PP8)

Beginning in 1990, Arizona State University began a study using DNA from the Havasupai Tribe in Arizona. Read the articles at the links below. Discuss the importance of informed consent in human subjects research.

Indian tribe wins fight to limit research of its DNA
From the New York Times (04/22/2010)

Havasupai case highlights risks of DNA research
From the New York Times (04/23/2010)

Informed consent and the ethics of DNA research
From the New York Times (04/23/2010)

Due Tuesday, July 3rd

Animal Rights (PP7)

View the video clip and read the essay linked below. Then answer the following questions. Do animals have rights? Why or why not?

Tom Regan, PhD
Philosopher, North Carolina State University

The Case for Animal Rights

Essay - The Case for Animal Rights
by Tom Regan

Due Sunday, July 1st

Animal Rights Extremism (PP6)

Read the articles and commentary below about animal rights extremists and the recent car firebombings. What rights, if any, do animals have? Why or why not? Is the type of violence discussed in these articles ever justified as a means to stop animal research?

Animal Research Activists Firebomb Car
Press Release from UCLA Newsroom

More on the UCLA Firebombing
From the LA Times

Commentary on Animal Rights Extremists
From Adventures in Ethics and Science Blog

Due Saturday, June 30th

Forced Sterilization (PP5)

Read the informational pieces below and discuss the issue of reproductive control including ethical considerations of mandatory sterilization policies.

Due June 12, 2012

Uzbek women allege forced sterilization - Salon (07/19/2010)
Social origins of eugenics - Paul Lombardo, UVA

The Right to Refuse Care (PP4)

Is it ethical for parents to refuse potentially life-saving medical treatment for their minor children? Consider the recent cases of Daniel Hauser and Madeline (Kara) Neumann in your response.

In the case of Daniel Hauser, his parents refused chemotherapy to treat his cancer (Hodgkins Lymphoma). In the case of Madeline (Kara) Neumann, her parents withheld insulin and chose to treat her Type I Diabetes with prayer.

Background info on both cases is below.

Due June 9, 2012

Daniel Hauser:
Science Blogs (Respectful Insolence) 05/12/2009
Science Blogs (Pharyngula) 05/15/2009
Fox News 05/19/2009
NY Daily News 05/19/2009
USA Today 05/21/2009
KSTP 05/26/2009
CNN 05/26/2009
MPR 05/27/2009
Star Tribune 05/29/2009
MPR 06/23/2009

Madeline (Kara) Neumann:
FoxNews 03/26/2008
CBC News 03/28/2008
Journal Sentinel 04/29/2008
WTMJ 05/15/2009
Religion News Blog 05/20/2009
WTMJ 06/15/2009
Court Filings - Courtesy of WTMJ
AZ Central 07/27/2009
MSNBC 08/01/2009
BBC 08/02/2009
Pharyngula Blog 08/02/2009
BBC 10/07/2009

Roe v Wade (PP3)

Please read the 1973 US Supreme Court Decision in the case of Roe v Wade provided via the linked Touro College website. Discuss the following: What did the Supreme Court say about personhood, privacy, and state rights and obligations? Was the Supreme Court capricious in its decision or was the case carefully considered and the reasoning sound? Why or why not?

Due June 7, 2012

Care for the Beginning of Life (PP2)

Read the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, Fourth Edition, Part Four - Issues in Care for the Beginning of Life. Are the directives ethical? Why or why not?

Due June 4, 2012 
The directives can be found on the class BlackBoard site. 

Care for the Dying (PP1)

Read the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, Fifth Edition, Part Five - Issues in Care for the Dying. Are the directives ethical? Why or why not?

Due June 1, 2012 
The directives can be found on the class BlackBoard site.

Online PHI213 Class - Welcome!

Welcome to the GateWay Community College Bioethics blog. The purpose of this blog is to share information about recent scientific advancements and their impact on medical and bioethics, and to debate classic and current ethical dilemmas. Enjoy!