Issues Magazine March 2009
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An overview of what's in this edition of Issues. |
Bioethics is a thriving activity whose synoptic vision includes the promise and peril of engineering a higher human type.
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Mercy is a concept that is difficult to define, especially in the face of life-ending decisions. Inextricably linked are ideas about relief, respect and relationships. |
Human enhancement technology is making great medical and military advances, but John Weckert questions what social impacts may arise. |
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Stories about the fountain of youth and eternal life tap into some of humankind’s oldest desires. Will discoveries in molecular biology and genetics one day allow vast extension to life? |
Nanotechnology shows potential for improving the health, social and environmental well-being of many people around the world. However, it may have unintended consequences, particularly for vulnerable populations. |
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Matthew Tieu explains the field of neuroethics, comparing and contrasting the ethical questions it shares with the “genetic revolution”. |
The legal and ethical nuances of consent and their applications in health care can be challenging and controversial. Determining competence is a key task. |
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Harvard University’s Personal Genome Project highlights the difficulty of balancing progress and privacy. |
Should people with body identity integrity disorder be allowed to amputate a healthy limb? |
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Animal experimentation is an established yet controversial practice. Should it continue and what are the alternatives? |
Bob Elliott argues that the current ban on xenotransplantation in Australia should be overturned. |
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Aimee Sanderson explains the genesis of the Stem Cell Channel and the importance of informed public opinion on stem cells.
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What is the current status of stem cell research and the moral and ethical concerns associated with stem cell research and its clinical translation? |
