Category Archives: Our News & Commentary Blog

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Letter Asks Amer. Psych. Assoc. to Condemn Torture – Against People with Disabilities

advocacy, Our News & Commentary Blog, professional accountability, torture

In August, the American Psychological Association (APA) made some news when it passed a resolution affirming that its members shouldn’t be involved with “Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment” toward those termed “enemy combatants.” Many of us who are familiar with practices that are implicitly sanctioned by the APA took note … Continue reading Letter Asks Amer. Psych. Assoc. to Condemn Torture – Against People with Disabilities →

Transhumanist Suggests Doctor’s Suicide Was “Wrought” by Disability Activists

activism, bioethics, Our News & Commentary Blog, unethical ethicists

This latest confirms my impression that transhumanists have an overrepresentation of bottom-feeders and generally sleazy characters. The latest blog posting of George Dvorsky brings even his performance to a new low. Before I get into the latest post of his, a little history is in order. Dvorsky was the source of the quote about “Ashley … Continue reading Transhumanist Suggests Doctor’s Suicide Was “Wrought” by Disability Activists →

Bob Kafka Replies to Robert Fine’s Defense of Texas “Futility”

activism, bioethics, futile care, Our News & Commentary Blog

The current issue of the New England Journal of Medicine features a letter from Robert L. Fine, M.D. in response to a harsh critique of the Texas Advance Directives Act by Robert T. Truog, M.D. Truog’s Tackling Medical Futility in Texas is freely available (although it might require free registration). Here is an excerpt from … Continue reading Bob Kafka Replies to Robert Fine’s Defense of Texas “Futility” →

New Yorker: “Silent Minds” – article on PVS research and consciousness

life-ending decisions, Our News & Commentary Blog, research

(Thanks to Denise Karuth for the heads up on this) “Silent Minds” by Jerome Groopman is in the latest edition of the New Yorker magazine. It’s a summary of the research into the consciousness of people labeled with persistent vegetative state (PVS) and minimally conscious state (MCS). Much of it will be familiar to readers … Continue reading New Yorker: “Silent Minds” – article on PVS research and consciousness →

“Ashley X” Doctor Commits Suicide

bioethics, depression, Our News & Commentary Blog, suicide

Early reports on the death of Dr. Daniel F. Gunther didn’t have any information regarding his reasons for killing himself on September 30. The stories did spend some time talking about the controversy and his role in the “Ashley X” debate, even flirting with the idea that somehow the controversy might have played a role … Continue reading “Ashley X” Doctor Commits Suicide →