Bioethics

  • Read more: The High Cost of Health Care: Why Some Pay $240 for a $9 Bottle of Pills
    Article

    The High Cost of Health Care: Why Some Pay $240 for a $9 Bottle of Pills

    By Jonathan J. Darrow An earlier post discussed the equivocal efficacy of Propecia (finasteride) as a baldness remedy, ending with the provocative assertion that, efficacy aside, “there is little reason for anyone ever to buy or consume Propecia (finasteride), or any doctor ever to prescribe it, since a much cheaper and identical chemical sold under…

  • Read more: R.I.P. Ronald Dworkin (Dec. 11, 1931–Feb. 14, 2013)
    Article

    R.I.P. Ronald Dworkin (Dec. 11, 1931–Feb. 14, 2013)

    By Michelle Meyer I woke this morning to the very sad news that legal philosopher and NYU law professor Ronald Dworkin died in London early this morning of leukemia, at the age of 81. I’m not sure whether his illness was well known to those within the legal academy, but it came as news to…

  • Read more: Cohen on Medical Tourism
    Article

    Cohen on Medical Tourism

    Glenn Cohen and co-authors have a new open-access piece out in BMJ: “Ethical and Legal Implications of the Risks of Medical Tourism for Patients: A Qualitative Study of Canadian Health and Safety Representatives’ Perspectives.” Here’s the abstract – take a look: Objectives Medical tourism involves patients’ intentional travel to privately obtain medical care in another country….

  • Read more: Caplan on Morality of Flu Vaccine Mandates
    Article

    Caplan on Morality of Flu Vaccine Mandates

    By Arthur Caplan It’s password protected, but Art Caplan has a new short piece out in Clinical Therapeutics: “Morality of Influenza Vaccine Mandates.”  Take a look.

  • Read more: More on Contraceptives Coverage
    Article

    More on Contraceptives Coverage

    By Holly Fernandez Lynch For an excellent perspective on the legal challenges to the contraceptives coverage mandate being brought by for-profit, secular companies with religious owners, check out Bill Keller’s recent NYT op-ed.  A brief snippet: “Also, courts tend to distinguish between laws that make you do something and laws that merely require a financial…

  • Read more: Feb 13: Peter Ubel speaking to the HMS Division of Medical Ethics
    Article

    Feb 13: Peter Ubel speaking to the HMS Division of Medical Ethics

    Please join the HMS Division of Medical Ethics for… “What behavioral science has taught me about the limits of autonomy” Peter A. Ubel, MD Professor of Business Administration and Medicine, Professor of Public Policy, Duke University Wednesday, February 13, 2013 1:00 – 2:30 PM 1st Floor Conference Room 641 Huntington Avenue, Boston RSVP to DME…

  • Read more: Twitter Round-Up (1/27-2/7)
    Article

    Twitter Round-Up (1/27-2/7)

    By Casey Thomson Even the surprisingly resurrected Richard III (on the Twitter-sphere, anyway) appreciates bioethics concerns. Read on to find out more about Richard III’s eagerness for patient confidentiality and other updates in this week’s (extended) Twitter round-up: Stephen Latham (@StephenLatham) included a link to his blog post challenging Andrew Francis’ recent claim that penicillin…