Ethics of clinical genetics: The spirit of the profession and trials of suitability from 1970 to 2000

As research on and applications of human genetics expanded remarkably during the 1990s, claims were increasingly raised that genetics and its applications should also be considered from an ethical viewpoint. Here medical ethics is the subject of sociological analysis. The paper examines how medical ethics gradually became part of the argumentation and practices of genetic counselling and screening during three decades (1970-2000) by analysing screening and counselling projects and physicians' argumentation in Finland. Medical ethics is analysed as part of a network of experts, regulations and mores, and is regarded as an ongoing process embedded in the processes of medicine, the healthcare system and legislation. It appears that there were two main forms of medical ethics. First, there was the medical ethics that refers to the age-old ways of proper practising of medicine and helping the suffering patient, i.e. the spirit inspiring the profession. Second, during recent decades, medical ethics gradually became expressed in more operationalized and formalized forms, examples of which are codes of ethics, the ethics committees governing medical research and the psychosocial questionnaire studies examining clients' satisfaction and approval. The present paper analyses the medically and morally complicated circumstances in which new formulations of ethics as well as the revival of old foundational medical ethics gained ground.     

Environmental tobacco smoke in hospitality venues in Greece

Background  

Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is a major threat to public health. Greece, having the highest smoking prevalence in the European Union is seriously affected by passive smoking. The purpose of this study was to measure environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure in the non smoking areas of hospitality venues and offices in Greece and to compare the levels of exposure to levels in the US, UK and Ireland before and after the implementation of a smoking ban.     

电子精灵乐活忙

在电子产品以史无前例的广泛度效力于现代人生活的今天，“绿色概念”已经成为检验一个人的选择是否乐活的标志。那些精美的、迷你的、供人们随时把玩的电子精灵们正在向“绿本色”回归，因为它们知道，再不“乐活”肯定会被消费者冷落。     

精神医学在婚前医学检查中的应用

该县自 1994年实施婚前医学检查以来 ,就将精神疾病、心理障碍及遗传疾病列为重点项目。并开展婚前、婚后追踪服务 ,收到良好社会效益。     

Creating the "spirit of service"

What does it take for a hospital to achieve excellence in the area of customer service? How can customer service be improved within a large and complex healthcare facility? Many hospitals are currently seeking answers to these questions.