Bioethics Overviews

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Bioethics Overviews present the findings of ethical and legal experts about issues of concern to patients, citizens and biotech consumers.

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Now showing 1 - 7 of 7

Human stem cells: an ethical overview
(University of Minnesota, Center for Bioethics, 2003) University of Minnesota: Center for Bioethics
Resuscitation decisions
(University of Minnesota, Center for Bioethics, 1997-06) University of Minnesota: Center for Bioethics
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an intervention developed in the field of emergency medicine to restore circulatory and respiratory functioning in a person who has experienced cardiac or respiratory arrest. CPR incorporates a spectrum of procedures ranging from basic life support measures such as mouth-to-mouth ventilation and "closed chest" compression administered by a "rescuer" to advanced cardiac life support techniques, including electrical defibrillation, open-chest cardiac massage, or the use of pharmaceuticals administered by a team of health care professionals in a hospital setting. When it was originally introduced, CPR was designed to resuscitate victims of drowning, electrocution, drug overdose and other accidents as well as acute myocardial infarction (heart attack). During the 1960s and 1970s the use of CPR expanded beyond the field of emergency medicine, and became the standard of care for virtually all dying patients.1 More recently, however, questions have arisen about the appropriateness of CPR for patients who are "rescued from death" only to prolong the process of dying, or who survive the immediate threat of cardiopulmonary failure but suffer from neuro-cognitive problems ranging from mild intellectual impairments to a permanent vegetative state.
A guide to research ethics
(University of Minnesota, Center for Bioethics, 2003) University of Minnesota: Center for Bioethics
Research ethics provides guidelines for the responsible conduct of biomedical research. In addition, research ethics educates and monitors scientists conducting research to ensure a high ethical standard.
Ethics of organ transplantation
(University of Minnesota, Center for Bioethics, 2004-02) University of Minnesota: Center for Bioethics
Distributing limited health care resources
(University of Minnesota, Center for Bioethics, 1997-04) University of Minnesota: Center for Bioethics
Health care resources are scarce relative to needs. This means that in some circumstances we cannot provide medical treatments which would yield benefits for patients.
New frontiers in genetic testing and screening
(University of Minnesota, Center for Bioethics, 1999-08) University of Minnesota: Center for Bioethics
We often hear that we are witnessing a "genetic revolution" that will profoundly effect our health care in the near future. One of the first fruits of this revolution is the availability of genetic tests able to detect inherited disorders, and even predispositions to develop many diseases that traditionally have not been viewed as genetic in origin. These developments raise a number of questions deserving our careful attention.
End of life care: an ethical overview
(University of Minnesota Center for Bioethics, 2005) University of Minnesota: Center for Bioethics
Beginning with a definition of death in modern society and continuing all the way through post-death issues, End of Life Care: An Ethical Overview presents significant ethical issues related to death and dying. We focus on ethical considerations of subjects that include the benefits and drawbacks of various types of modern treatment, ending life through physician assistance or termination of treatment, options for preserving the individual autonomy of the patient, the special situation of terminally ill children, and conducting medical research. Each section includes key terminology sufficient to form a basic understanding of the issue and ethical arguments on both sides of the question. A list of further resources, as well as references throughout the paper, provide quick and easy access to further information on topics of particular interest.