Basic care, bodily knowledge and feminist ethics

Within medical schools and within research concerning the ethical questions of health care, basic care and its allied participants have not been stressed enough. The aim of this paper is to emphasise the practice of basic care and some moral problems in connection to this practice. Basic care is the care-provider's providing assistance for patients with bodily dysfunction. The relationships between patient and care-provider in basic care have many substantial similarities with other close social relationships. Thus, the interactive relationships in basic care are an important matter of public concern. Seen from an ethical perspective, its significance due to the welfare-aspects of society is obvious. Patients and professionals in basic care have together a unique knowledge about the meaning of being. Ethics is much more than following theories, rules, and principles and this article presents an alternative to the dominant approaches of health care ethics.     

Academic technology transfer and radiology: a strong partnership for the future

To date, technology transfer from academia to industry has been strongest in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sector. The medical imaging and medical device industries have traditionally been smaller players and, as a result, some, perhaps many, investigators in radiology are unaware of the potential value of technology transfer and the opportunity to receive sponsorship for research from medical imaging companies. Many investigators are also unaware of opportunities to introduce important academic discoveries into clinical practice through licensing and technology transfer. These untapped opportunities are not only valuable, but also are becoming more and more important in light of the ever-increasing difficulties associated with sustaining and receiving new government funding. The goal of this article is to provide academic scientists in the field of radiology with insights about the key aspects of the technology transfer process, including observations about inventions, intellectual property, and industry-sponsored research.     

Scientific misconduct, the pharmaceutical industry, and the tragedy of institutions

This paper examines how current legislative and regulatory models do not adequately govern the pharmaceutical industry towards ethical scientific conduct. In the context of a highly profit-driven industry, governments need to ensure ethical and legal standards are not only in place for companies but that they are enforceable. We demonstrate with examples from both industrialized and developing countries how without sufficient controls, there is a risk that corporate behaviour will transgress ethical boundaries. We submit that there is a critical need for urgent drug regulatory reform. There must be robust regulatory structures in place which enforce corporate governance mechanisms to ensure that pharmaceutical companies maintain ethical standards in drug research and development and the marketing of pharmaceuticals. What is also needed is for the pharmaceutical industry to adopt authentic "corporate social responsibility" policies as current policies and practices are insufficient.     

Bioethics education on deliberation--a view of a novel: Blue Gold, by Clive Cussler

Since the focus of Bioethics is the bridge between Humanities and the Life Sciences and bearing in mind that this bridge is often difficult to build, those who believe that this dialogue is important in our days should promote it through Education. By educating in Bioethics it is possible to improve the participation of the citizens in debates on the ethical issues raised by new technologies and scientific research. It is our conviction that literary texts are laboratories of ethical judgment, where the ethical questions concerning specific scientific/ technological issues are addressed in an imaginary world. Therefore our purpose is to present a framework for ethical deliberation through the use of literature. Fiction allows us to "practise" ethical decision making, by focusing on the particular cases of the characters of the story and by checking how the principles/theories working in the background apply to the narrated cases.     

Morality, ethics, and radiologists' responsibilities.

The goal of this discussion was to address the matter and methodology of ethics and critical thinking and to ask several questions about the relationship between ethics and radiology. Questions about the nature of the moral and how ethics inform decision making raise our awareness and may provide new understanding about moral thinking. Why is medicine a moral endeavor? Overridingness, universalizability, and other-regarding virtues were discussed. How do ethics inform medical decision making? Ethical theories, including parentalism, autonomy, and the engagement model, were discussed. What are radiologists' ethical responsibilities? Our ethical responsibilities as radiologists entail seven briefly described elements: assessing the appropriateness of the imaging examination, participating in the informed consent process, protecting patient interests, providing excellent image interpretation, communicating effectively with physicians and patients, seeking continued learning, and continuously improving quality. Of these responsibilities, competence, loyal concern for the patient's well-being, and respect for his or her person provide the basis for trust in the patient-physician relationship. If the central paradox in medicine is the tension between self-interest and altruism, then responsibility to the patient in this trust has the greatest force and overrides other obligations. Finally, our challenge is to critically examine our and each other's professional role and the extent to which we achieve excellence in our contribution to patient care; to break out of comfortable habits and reflect on new, alternative ways of knowing as caregivers; to think about what we are doing in medicine and the consequences for the human mind and spirit of our patients, our colleagues, and ourselves; and to provide a forum for this important dialogue in our practices, residency programs, and continuing education curricula.     

Law, ethics and professional guidelines in medical research

The volume of law and other regulation in medical research has expanded enormously within the last five years. Researchers need an awareness of how these legal instruments are hierarchically related, so they know which regulation to apply where there is a conflict of norms. They also express concern on whether there is any space left for ethical and professional guidelines in the light of all this formal regulation. This paper addresses these two issues. It is argued that when drafting new legislation or guidelines, room must be left for responsible individual decision-making.     

Nuclear medicine in the post-genomic era

The underlying precepts by which medicine operates will be changed forever by the elucidation of the human genomic sequence. The possibility of using limited forms of genetic engineering are present and beset by ethical considerations. However the use of genetic material in both aiding diagnosing disease and helping our understanding of disease processes is being rapidly diffused into clinical medicine. As the only method available for the study of function in vivo, Nuclear Medicine is ideally suited to act as a bridge between the work in the biotechnology laboratory and the patient. This short review will look at some of the issues raised by the this new horizon in medicine and how it will impact on our practice     

Ethical acceptability, health policy and foods biotechnology based foods: is there a third way between the precaution principle and an overly enthusiastic dissemination of GMO?

The demand for consumer safety with regard to the food-processing industry is becoming, legitimately, more and more urgent. If ingested drugs can carry deleterious effects that exceed the beneficial effect that the research was initially undertaken for, then the same can only be the case for foods that stem from the same new biotechnologies, zero risk being non existent. There are two conflicting viewpoints about the possible risks linked to genetically modified organisms: a posteriori protection (based on vigilance once the product is on the market) and an a priori protection (at present usually supported by the precaution principle). We suggest a third way, which ensures consumer safety, but doesn't hinder scientific progress. Just as there are regulations for the protection of human subjects in biomedical research and regulations for the use of drugs after they are marketed, so should such regulations be introduced in the domains of food production that use biotechnologies. We therefore suggest that the scientific community and the food-processing industry develop evaluation protocols for new foods like the ones that exist for drugs. We thus offer thirteen regulations, based on the Helsinki declaration, in order to establish these protocols. These proposals, applied to food-processing research, would enable the industry to return confidence to consumers and thus avoid the random blocking of scientific progress, which is a source of health for the greater population.     

Ethics, Human Rights, and Clinical Research

Despite the safeguards imposed by the IRB and the consent process, the prospective researcher still may have problems with ethical considerations. There are many motives for performing clinical research, which run the gamut from patient-care concerns, such as inadequate standard therapy, to those less pure, such as reimbursement and academic standing. It is imperative that the rights and welfare of study populations be observed and guarded strictly. This means that all studies must be reviewed by an appropriate IRB before initiation of the study. Failure to do so not only may compromise the ethical integrity of the study but also may prevent the investigator from publishing their findings.Although emergency research may present challenges, recently published guidelines give direction for emergency research requiring waiver of informed consent. Knowledge of the guidelines and federal regulations will assist the researcher to know the expectations necessary to prepare for an IRB review. Ongoing dialog with an IRB representative is helpful to explain and clarify the study and assure that questions are answered before IRB submission.     

Public dialogue and xenotransplantation

Toi te Taiao: the Bioethics Council was established in 2002 to enhance New Zealand's understanding of the cultural, ethical and spiritual aspects of biotechnology and ensure that the use of biotechnology has regard for the values held by New Zealanders. In 2005, the Bioethics Council focused on xenotransplantation. A series of dialogue events were held, the public had the opportunity to participate in an online discussion forum and were able to make written submissions. There is worldwide interest in the potential of this biotechnology to cure or alleviate a number of serious health conditions. However, there are concerns about the risks, especially the potential for cross species infection. Such risks have not yet been reliably quantified, but any decision about safety and effectiveness is also about cultural, ethical and spiritual factors. This paper considers some of the outcomes from the dialogue process and the reflections of the Bioethics Council on these. It contrasts the process with that of classic consultation and concludes that, although the process may be more costly and time consuming than the traditional consultative approach, it enables the role of science to be appreciated in its full context, including appreciation of the uncertainties of natural systems and the relevance of cultural, ethical and spiritual human values. It will be suggested that the public are able to interweave ethical concerns with scientific knowledge to engage in meaningful dialogue, resulting in useful recommendations.     

军用生物技术发展与未来战争生物化趋势

军用生物技术作为新兴技术领域,不断拓展武器装备的概念内涵,成为武器装备变革的重要推动力量。近年来,军用生物技术在合成生物、脑机接口与脑控、生物材料与仿生机械、生物燃料、生物电子与生物计算、非致命性武器等领域不断取得突破,并将催生新的作战样式和作战理念,推动未来战争中武器装备的生物化、作战力量的生物化以及作战样式的生物化。     

Police Corruption

Practitioners from the traditional forensic sciences find themselves in an environment where they are facing a wide range of challenges and opportunities. There is understandably a focus on security related issues and counter terrorism. The communication age brings with it exposure to new possibilities and new ways of doing things for both criminals and law enforcement officials. The power of databases and smart technology raises skill set, ethical and privacy questions on an unprecedented scale. All of this has meant that certain specialist units located in health, environment, defence, border protection and intelligence agencies are finding that they too, now have a role to play.     

噬菌体展示肽库技术在肿瘤诊治研究中的应用

噬菌体展示肽库技术是将高度多样性的多肽与噬菌体衣壳蛋白融合表达,呈现于噬菌体表面的多肽具有相对独立的空间结构,能与配体结合,从而筛选特异性分子表位,其已成为肿瘤诊治研究的重要手段和有力工具.筛选与肿瘤细胞或血管表面细胞特异结合的多肽作为核素载体,制成探针,可以对肿瘤进行早期诊断和转移灶的定位,还可以进行核素治疗;以多肽...     

The ethics of post-marketing surveillance of therapeutic agents

Trials of new therapies have strict codes of conduct which expect the highest of ethical practice. Local ethics committees review protocols, patient information, consent. National research councils delineate guidelines for minimum standards regarding subjects in such trials. Once medications enter the market place, there is less definition of minimal codes of conduct. Clinical trials are designed to meet regulatory demands to access commercial markets. Prior to marketing, there is a usual drug trial exposure of less than 5,000 individuals which diminishes identification of rare adverse events. Australian case law has found negligence for not warning of a 1:14,000 risk of sympathetic ophthalmia and more recently, in Chappel v Hart, even a speculative risk was grounds for negligence. Recent reports of serious adverse events for conditions such as epilepsy or depression resulted in companies appearing to expend considerable effort to suppress concern rather than to seriously investigate these complications in the post marketing period. This paper will explore such cases and discuss approaches to improve post marketing surveillance and patient protection.     

A review of Greek law on human cloning

The creation of Dolly, a cloned lamb from adult cells was a major scientific breakthrough, which opened new avenues for many research fields such as reproductive medicine, transplantation and biotechnology. However this achievement brought to public attention the theoretical possibility of human reproductive cloning. Inevitably heated debate occurred on several ethical and legal consequences of the prospect of human cloning. At the present time there is no legal framework in any country to respond to this challenge in a pragmatic way in order to protect human rights and at the same time to allow science to work for the best interests of mankind. Greece is a European Union country with its own traditions, history, culture and beliefs but without political and legislative experience in the handling of medical and biotechnological matters. This paper aims to discuss the legal issues likely to be raised by the prospect of human reproductive cloning in relation to the current state of the Greek legal system.     

Why are investors not interested in my radiotracer? The industrial and regulatory constraints in the development of radiopharmaceuticals

Four criteria are essential in the acceptance by investors of new radiopharmaceuticals: the existence of a market and a medical need, the quality of the science and technology behind the new molecule, the feasibility and compliance with regulations and the limited competitive landscape.Potential investors need to get more convincing market evidence, largely beyond the nice preclinical data generated to the point of first discussion. A properly protected compound not jeopardized by earlier published results is a must. A guarantee of an easy and secured source of the ligand is obvious. A safe access to the radionuclide in volumes corresponding to the targeted market is rarely taken into account, but of utmost importance.The evaluation of new drugs by investors will include the evaluation of the real market size for the targeted indication and the position of the drug in the healthcare environment at the time to market. This includes the potential competition with other radiopharmaceuticals, but also with conventional drugs or competitive modalities also at time to market. Both criteria are usually not easily accessible to researchers whose acquaintance remains limited to the scientific and technical part. Starting from this set of information, a first business plan can be deduced based on a best estimate for price per dose and a rough evaluation about the chance and level of reimbursement. In the following most of the events are covered that could jeopardize the development of the drug, focusing on the industrial, economic and regulatory aspects, comprehending the detailed analysis of the currently best available radionuclides.     

绵羊和山羊育种现状与进展

当今随着经济的发展，绵羊业和山羊业已成为畜牧业发展的重要产业，并结合生物技术取得了重要成果，促进了我国畜牧业的发展。本文综述了绵羊和山羊育种现状和近20年来生物技术在绵羊和山羊育种中的应用，内容主要包括转基因技术，克隆动物技术，胚胎工程技术，基因图谱的研究等。     

Can you ask that over the telephone? Conducting sensitive or controversial research using random-digit dialing

Social science, medical, and legal researchers often study sensitive or controversial topics and behaviors. This research raises methodological and ethical issues. Using examples from the literature and a recent statewide telephone prevalence survey on sexual assault, we focus on the relative merits of various survey methods, especially those employing new technologies; developing instrumentation that includes explicit behavioral questions; obtaining an appropriate sample in a cost efficient way; gaining informed consent and inquiring about sensitive topics while protecting participants from harm or retraumatization; presenting findings in a way that does not further stigmatize participants; and responding to the media.     

Humanity and radiation: the good, the bad, and the unusual.

Radiation has permeated the universe since time began. People disagree widely about the merits and dangers of nuclear technology. Radiation is often associated in the minds of people with bombs, fallout, destruction, and death rather than with the many benefits of nuclear technology that are present in our daily lives. Rarely do individuals focus on the medical applications of radiation and the fact that nuclear technology saves lives. Over the years, accidents have happened in the nuclear industry; some have produced fatalities, but most proved to be a major source of concern only to the local populace. Since the discovery of naturally occurring radium and uranium and the advent of synthetic radionuclides, a number of consumer products have used radiation, some of which were beneficial and some which were of no benefit at all.     

The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: secrecy in the pharmaceutical arena

Secrecy in the pharmaceutical arena has taken on more importance in the recent past as the pharmaceutical industry has assumed greater prominence in the funding of clinical research and has also become a funder of the agencies that are charged with regulating it. Governments have adopted a neo-liberal agenda that prioritizes private profit over public health and are therefore willing to let industry set the research agenda. As a result, secrecy, to protect intellectual property rights, is a major feature of clinical research. Secrecy also leads to biases in the published literature that conceal significant safety problems. Because regulators are now partially dependent on the pharmaceutical industry for their existence regulators are unwilling to challenge industry. By treating data on efficacy and safety as commercially confidential information they effectively collude with industry in denying health professionals and the public access to essential information to be able to use drugs appropriately.