ScienceDaily: Bioethics News

Collecting DNA for human rights: How to help while safeguarding privacy

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:50:50 EDT

DNA databases might help identify victims of crime and human trafficking, but how do we safeguard the personal privacy of innocent victims and family members? A new report identifies a number of key challenges to consider as experts develop such programs.

Do markets erode moral values? People ignore their own moral standards when acting as market participants, researchers say

Fri, 10 May 2013 12:45:45 EDT

Many people express objections against child labor, exploitation of the workforce or meat production involving cruelty against animals. At the same time, however, people ignore their own moral standards when acting as market participants, searching for the cheapest electronics, fashion or food. Thus, markets reduce moral concerns, new research shows.

Patients should have right to control genomic health information, experts say

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:34:34 EDT

Doctors should not have the right or responsibility to force-feed their patients with genomic information about their future health risks, according to bioethicists. They write in response to controversial recommendations from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics on the reporting of incidental findings in clinical genome sequencing.

Local laws key to reducing dangers of lead poisoning

Mon, 06 May 2013 13:24:24 EDT

A new study catalogs community-based efforts to develop strategies and policies that -- by targeting high risk housing -- may hold the key to reducing lead hazards in children's homes.

Researchers outline concerns about unproven stem cell therapies

Fri, 03 May 2013 11:46:46 EDT

An international group of leading stem cell researchers has issued a statement that specifies concerns about the development and use of unproven stem cell therapies. The commentary is published ahead of a debate in the Italian parliament on whether to change a recent law that allows certain untested stem cell therapies to be used by the public health system. The authors of the commentary argue that rigorous clinical testing and regulation of stem cell therapies are essential to introduce safe and effective medical interventions for patients.

Focus on STD, not cancer prevention, to promote HPV vaccine use

Thu, 02 May 2013 12:04:04 EDT

The HPV vaccine can prevent both cervical cancer and a nasty sexually transmitted disease in women. But emphasizing the STD prevention will persuade more young women to get the vaccine.

'Slippery slope' fears for legal euthanasia of very sick newborns unfounded, experts say

Wed, 01 May 2013 19:32:32 EDT

Fears that legalizing euthanasia for very sick newborns would prompt the start of a "slippery slope" and lead to abuse of the option have proved groundless, say experts.

Researcher reveals new way to safeguard forensic dna samples against contamination

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:47:47 EDT

DNA evidence is invisible and remarkably easy to transfer, making it possible for a sample to be spilled or even planted on a piece of evidence. Scientists have now developed a solution that permanently marks DNA samples to prevent contamination. Hampikian has used nullomers, the smallest DNA sequences that are absent from nature, to create the DNA bar code.

Sharing examination questions threatens trust in medical profession

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:36:36 EDT

Unethical behavior among physicians-in-training threatens to erode public trust and confidence in the medical profession. Reacting to CNN reports last year about the widespread use of "recalls" and "airplane notes" by radiology and dermatology residents, experts call on leaders in medical education to establish guidelines and change the culture of medical school and training programs.

People care about source of money, attach less value to 'tainted' wealth

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:27:27 EDT

It's no accident that money obtained through dishonest or illegal means is called "dirty money." A new study suggests that when people perceive money as morally tainted, they also view it as having less value and purchasing power, challenging the belief that "all money is green," and that people will cross ethical boundaries to amass it.

Mephedrone boosts illegal drug use

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:10:10 EDT

Experienced clubbers are more likely to add the former ‘legal high’ mephedrone to their drug repertoires rather than use it to replace popular established club drugs such as ecstasy and cocaine, according to new research.

Should doctors be involved in the concealed-weapons permit process?

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:55:55 EDT

Experts have discussed the medical, ethical, and legal concerns about physician involvement in concealed weapons permits. They argue that standards, protocols and new policies are needed for physicians to adequately assess a patient’s physical or mental competency in concealed-weapons permitting.

Are human genes patentable?

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 08:42:42 EDT

On April 15, the Supreme Court of the United States will hear oral argument in Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics, a case that could answer the question, “Under what conditions, if any, are isolated human genes patentable?”. Experts say the layered uncertainties make this case an unusually difficult case in which to predict the outcome.

Is there a future for a privacy-friendly Internet?

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 19:46:46 EDT

A privacy-friendly Internet might be possible in the future according to an academic.

Doctors urged to 'pause before posting' and not 'friend' patients

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:23:23 EDT

New recommendations offer physicians ethical guidance for preserving trust in patient-physician relationships and the profession when using social media.

Assessing disease surveillance and notification systems after a pandemic

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 20:02:02 EDT

Significant investments over the past decade into disease surveillance and notification systems appear to have "paid off" and the systems "work remarkably well," says a researcher who examined the public health response systems during the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic.

Female students just as successful as males in math and science, Asian-Americans outperform all

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:50:50 EDT

While compared to men, women continue to be underrepresented in math and science courses and careers. Is this disparity a true reflection of male and female student ability? According to a new study, male and female students earn similar grades in math and science while Asian-American students of both genders outperform all other races.

Brain scans might predict future criminal behavior

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:53:53 EDT

A portable MRI was used to assess anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) activity in 96 adult male inmates who were then followed for up to four years after their release from prison. Those who re-offended were more likely to have lower ACC activity, indicating impulsivity and anti-social behavior.

Young women do not want to run for office, experts say

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 15:10:10 EDT

There is a serious gender gap in women's interest versus men's interest in running for elected office which will likely persist for generations, experts say.

Women make better decisions than men, study suggests

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 10:16:16 EDT

Women's abilities to make fair decisions when competing interests are at stake make them better corporate leaders, researchers have found. The study showed that women are more likely to consider the rights of others and to take a cooperative approach to decision-making. This approach translates into better performance for their companies.

'End of men'? Not even close

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:44:44 EDT

A report on gender in the professions shows that males retain lion’s share of power and prestige in post-recession economy.

More career options may explain why fewer women pursue jobs in science and math

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:44:44 EDT

Women may be less likely to pursue careers in science and math because they have more career choices, not because they have less ability, according to a new study.

Conservationists call for radical change to ‘war on poaching’

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 10:50:50 EDT

Widespread extinction of highly endangered and valued species will occur without a radical change to the way the wildlife trade is being handled across the world, according to conservation scientists.

Mitigating climate change? Guiding responsible research in geoengineering

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:10:10 EDT

Geoengineering, the use of human technologies to alter the Earth's climate system — such as injecting reflective particles into the upper atmosphere to scatter incoming sunlight back to space — has emerged as a potentially promising way to mitigate the impacts of climate change. But such efforts could present unforeseen new risks. Scientists outline how the current deadlock on governance of geoengineering research poses real threats to the sound management of climate risk. Their article advances concrete and actionable proposals for allowing further research -- but not deployment -- and for creating scientific and legal guidance, as well as addressing public concerns.

Implementing HPV vaccinations at a young age is significant for vaccine effectiveness

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:21:21 EDT

Initial vaccinations for human papillomavirus (HPV) at a young age is important for maximizing quadrivalent HPV vaccine effectiveness according to a Swedish study.

No attention-boosting drugs for healthy kids, doctors urge

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:20:20 EDT

The practice of prescribing drugs to boost cognitive function, or memory and thinking abilities, in healthy children and teens is misguided, according to a new statement by the American Academy of Neurology.

Antibiotic-resistant strain of E. coli increasing among older adults and residents of nursing homes

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:47:47 EDT

Antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) continues to proliferate, driven largely by expansion of a strain of E. coli know as sequence type ST131. A new study points to hospitals and long-term care facilities as settings in which this antibiotic-resistant strain is increasingly found.

Do-gooder or ne'er-do-well? Behavioral science explains patterns of moral behavior

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:46:46 EST

Does good behavior lead to more good behavior? Or do we try to balance our good and bad deeds? The answer depends on our ethical mindset, according to new research.

Genomic screening for improved public health

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:45:45 EST

In 10 years' time, routine preventive health care for adults may include genetic testing. As genomic testing prepares to enter the realm of general medical care, an interdisciplinary team of researchers is suggesting that now is the time to explore genetic testing to identify people at high risk for carefully selected, preventable disease.

Bankruptcy judges influenced by apologies

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:35:35 EST

Debtors who apologized were seen as more remorseful and were expected to manage their finances more carefully in the future compared to debtors who did not offer an apology, finds a new study.

Catfight? Workplace conflicts between women get bad rap

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 09:22:22 EST

A new study suggests troubling perceptions exist when it comes to women involved in disputes at work.

Researchers find appointed justices outperform elected counterparts

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 12:10:10 EST

State supreme court justices who don't face voters are generally more effective than their elected counterparts, according to new research.

TV comic set to win seats in Italian general election

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 09:18:18 EST

Beppe Grillo aiming to shake up Italian politics. It’s not only in the US that actors are crossing over into politics. A recent article suggests why comedian Beppe Grillo’s Five Star Movement may win a certain number of seats in parliament at Italy’s upcoming general elections.

Scrap 'unwinnable' drugs war and divert funds into curbing global antibiotic misuse, experts say

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 18:49:49 EST

Governments around the world should stop squandering resources fighting an "unwinnable war" against illegal drugs, such as cocaine and heroin. Instead, they should use the cash to curb antibiotic misuse, which poses a far more serious threat to human health, claims a leading ethicist.

Red brain, blue brain: Republicans and Democrats process risk differently, research finds

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 17:31:31 EST

A team of political scientists and neuroscientists has shown that liberals and conservatives use different parts of the brain when they make risky decisions, and these regions can be used to predict which political party a person prefers. The new study suggests that while genetics or parental influence may play a significant role, being a Republican or Democrat changes how the brain functions.

Newly identified natural protein blocks HIV, other viruses

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 20:19:19 EST

Researchers have identified a protein with broad virus-fighting properties that potentially could be used as a weapon against deadly human pathogenic viruses such as HIV, Ebola, Rift Valley Fever, Nipah and others designated "priority pathogens" for national biosecurity purposes by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease.

Making homemade guns on a 3-D printer becomes real, so engineering expert suggests stronger laws on gunpowder

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:21:21 EST

Making homemade guns on a 3-D printer becomes real, so engineering expert suggests stronger laws on gunpowder.

Predictions of the human cost of climate change

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 10:53:53 EST

Scientists predict a grim future for billions of people by 2050 if climate change issues are not addressed now.

Charting progress in debate over medical research with animals

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 14:16:16 EST

The scientific and ethical debate over the use of animals in medical research has raged for years, but perspectives are shifting, viewpoints are becoming more nuanced, and new initiatives are seeking alternatives to animal testing, according to a special report.

'Nudge' can be ethical choice

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 18:46:46 EST

As patients and physicians share decision-making in choices among treatment options, decision aids such as videos, websites, pamphlets or books are coming to play an important role. However, in some cases, it may be ethical for the decision aids to provide a "nudge" toward a particular option, say researchers in a new report.

Disparities exist in kidney transplant timing

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 09:08:08 EST

African Americans and individuals without private health insurance are less likely to receive a kidney transplant before needing dialysis. Geographic region is not a major factor in determining whether a patient receives a kidney transplant before starting dialysis. Nearly 90,000 people in the US are waiting for a kidney transplant, and many will die before a suitable organ becomes available.

Morning after pill conscience clauses in UK risk unwarranted pregnancies, pharmacists argue

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 08:46:46 EST

Conscience clauses, which allow pharmacists to opt out of providing the "morning after pill" without a prescription, risk unwanted pregnancies and undermine the principle of universal healthcare in the UK's National Health Service, say pharmacists.

'Moral realism' may lead to better moral behavior

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 12:19:19 EST

People who are primed with "moral realism" may be motivated to better moral behavior. Researchers assess the impact of meta-ethics on everyday decision-making in a new report.

Safeguards needed for tissue donors

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 13:39:39 EST

Donors to biobanks -- vast collections of human tissue samples that scientists hope will lead to new treatments for diseases -- have a right to basic information about how their donations may be used, an ethicist argues in a new article.

Pandemic controversies: The global response to pandemic influenza must change

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 10:46:46 EST

"Evil" scientists, deadly viruses and terrorist plots are usually the preserve of Hollywood blockbusters. But when it comes to pandemic influenza, it is the stuff of real life. As controversy about H5N1 bird flu virus research continues, a new article argues for a new approach to pandemic preparedness.

Experts propose overhaul of ethics oversight of research

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:53:53 EST

The longstanding ethical framework for protecting human volunteers in medical research needs to be replaced because it is outdated and can impede efforts to improve health care quality, assert leaders in bioethics, medicine, and health policy.

Implementation of smoke-free legislation reduces the number of acute myocardial infarctions by 11 percent

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:53:53 EST

Researchers assessed the impact of the partial smoke-free legislation passed in 2006 on the incidence of acute myocardial infarction in the province of Girona and observed it has dropped 11 percent. This decrease has been noticed especially among women, population aged between 65 and 74, and among non-smokers.

Sociologists dispel myths about academic parental leave

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:33:33 EST

A new study finds assumptions that men take unfair advantage of parental leave at universities – using the leave as an opportunity to further their research while shirking the responsibility of childcare – are false.

Forcing choice may hamper decision-making, study finds

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 09:47:47 EST

Constraining choice isn't necessarily a good thing when it comes to managers' problem-solving, according to a new Canadian study. Managers tend to pick higher-risk options when forced to choose between competing alternatives to complex situations, according to researchers.

Men more likely than women to commit scientific fraud

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 10:19:19 EST

Male scientists are far more likely to commit fraud than females and the fraud occurs across the career spectrum, from trainees to senior faculty. The analysis of professional misconduct was co-led by a researcher at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and was published today in the online journal mBio.

Poll: Youth attitudes on 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:52:52 EST

On the 40th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade, more young people identify as “pro-choice” rather than “pro-life,” according to a national poll of more than 4,000 high school and college students. Little fear of overturn of decision according to poll of high school and college students.

New study examines post-Roe v. Wade arrests of and forced interventions on pregnant women

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 10:58:58 EST

A new study looks at criminal and civil cases in which a woman's pregnancy was a deciding factor leading to deprivations of her physical liberty.

Fish journeying upstream are hampered by hydropower dams: Facilities in northeastern U.S. fail to allow passage of migrating fish

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:35:35 EST

Major hydropower dams in the northeastern United States, constructed with state-of-the-art features designed to allow migratory fish to pass through them on their way to spawn upstream, have failed in that regard, according to a new study.

PR professionals are not 'yes men' when pressured to be unethical, study finds

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 12:36:36 EST

Public relations professionals who have provided ethics counsel to senior management are at least as fervent about serving the public interest -- sometimes more so -- as they are about their duty to their organizations, a researcher has found.

Experts aim to redefine healthcare and research ethics

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 14:39:39 EST

In what they acknowledge as a seismic shift in the ethical foundation of medical research, practice and policy, a prominent group of interdisciplinary healthcare experts rejects an ethical paradigm that has guided the American system since the 1970s and calls for morally obligatory participation in a "learning healthcare system" more in step with the digital age.

Ethical dilemmas in social network-based research

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 14:20:20 EST

The growing trend towards conducting research on youths as they use social networking sites like Facebook raises ethical questions in academia. Guidelines and best practices are lacking.

Laws of geo-engineering to mitigate global warming?

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 14:05:05 EST

A law professor believes the legal ramifications of geo-engineering need to be thought through now and a global governance structure put in place soon to oversee these efforts to fight climate change.

Cultural, social factors identified as barriers to minority participation in stem cell donation

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 14:39:39 EST

New research examining the role of race and ethnicity in an individual's decision to become a donor for hematopoietic cell transplantation identifies several factors associated with varied participation rates in national donor registries across racial/ethnic groups.

The laws of global warming: How to regulate geo-engineering efforts to fight climate change?

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 15:26:26 EST

With policymakers and political leaders increasingly unable to combat global climate change, more scientists are considering the use of manual manipulation of the environment to slow warming's damage to the planet. But a law professor believes the legal ramifications of this kind of geo-engineering need to be thought through in advance and a global governance structure put in place soon to oversee these efforts.

Emerging ethical dilemmas in science and technology

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 16:24:24 EST

As a new year approaches, a group of scientists have created a list of emerging ethical dilemmas and policy issues in science and technology for 2013.