Noteworthy News in Bioethics this past week

1. Australia issues first license to clone human embryos. Uh-oh.

2. Army still using physicians in interrogations, ignoring recommendations.

3. New law requires country-of-origin labels on meat. How about a little
check box whether the cow was a downer or not?

4. Drug-tainted drinking water a more widespread problem than previously
reported. The good news keeps on comin’.

5. Breast cancer vaccine helps body fight tumors.

6. “1 hit” event provides new opportunity for colon cancer prevention.

7. Clostridium difficile (C. diff), a dangerous and especially virulent superbug, especially in long term care facilities. Apparently, this little gem thrives when antibiotics are used, and is not killed by alcohol-based hand washing gels! Story here.

8. Free drug samples may end up costing uninsured more in the long run. File
this under “you just can’t win.”

9. Genetically modified cotton assists neighboring crops in pest resistance.
And what else does it spread?

10. St. Petersburg Declaration on Gene-Doping (from international meeting organized by the World Anti-Doping Agency).

11. Speaking Truth to Power – The Need for, and Perils of, Health Policy Expertise in the White House. From New England Journal of Medicine.

12. Six Easy Pieces. A Cheat Sheet for the Next Administration on Science &
Tech Policy.

13. Teach the Controversy. Why “Intelligent Design” Endangers Our National
Security.

14. Drive-through flu shots for seniors in Florida. Dog biscuits included.

15. Gene tests create undue stress, thereby potentially causing disease. Well,
that’s just great, isn’t it? See story here on the problem with conflicting
results. Talk about making one’s head spin. And for a price.

[Thank you to Lisa von Biela, JD candidate, 2009, UMN, Editor of the BioBlurb, from which this content is taken. BioBlurb is a weekly electronic publication of the American Bar Association's Committee on Biotechnology, Section of Science & Technology Law. Archived issues of the BioBlurb, as well as further information about the Committee on Biotechnology, are available here.]