Take a look at the 5 most read news stories from bioethics.net this week and you’ll see that our readers were most interested in a historical essay on the role of genetics in politics (and its scandals), a story about a new end-of-life care bill in California, and an “empowered patient” story from CNN about knowing whether your physician has financial ties to the devices he or she is implanting in you.
History’s DNA
21 Aug 2008 – While the recent admission by former North Carolina Senator John Edwards that he had engaged in an extramarital affair drew criticism of his conduct from across the political spectrum, the decision of his alleged mistress, Rielle Hunter, to refuse paternity testing for her infant daughter went largely unquestioned in the media.
A Bill for Patients
21 Aug 2008 – In the course of treating a patient, there may come a point when the physician says, “I’ve done all I can. It’s out of my hands.” The patient may then ask about end-of-life options — not life-ending options, but end-of-life options, such as palliative care focused on making the patient as comfortable as possible during the final illness.
Don’t become a victim of medical marketing
21 Aug 2008 – Linda Lewis says that when she had back surgery two years ago, her surgeon didn’t do what was best for her health; he did was best for his bank account.
State Supreme Court says doctors must treat gays and lesbians
18 Aug 2008 – Doctors in California must treat gays and lesbians the same as any other patient, regardless of religious objections, the state Supreme Court ruled today.
Hospitals’ spies give client care a checkup
18 Aug 2008 – Wearing slacks and dress shirts, they blended in with the other people waiting near the main admitting desk at the Nebraska Medical Center. But they weren’t patients or family. They were “secret shoppers” — employees and managers from other departments covertly watching how admission staff dealt with patients.
Summer Johnson, PhD