WBP mentioned on CNN Health

Kathryn Hinsch, founder of the Women's Bioethics Project, was quoted on CNN Health, regarding ethical issues in cosmetic surgery and patient-doctor relationships:

"Part of the fundamental trust between a patient and doctor is the idea that the doctor has the patient's best interest at heart, and that there is no financial incentive for the doctor to perform any procedure," Hinsch says. "When doctors start adding cosmetic procedures, which they're adding because they're big moneymakers, there's a corruption of that basic trust."

The article goes on to explore how physicians sidestep this ethical quagmire by never directly hawking their fat-blasting, wrinkle-smoothing, and hair-removal services, but that even a stack of brochures in the waiting room, Hinsch insists, sends the message to patients that looking younger is a matter of good health. To read the complete article, click here.

Kudos to Kathryn for the recognition and speaking up on the ethical issues!

Women's Health Heroes Awards

The voting has started for Women's Health Hero over at the Our Bodies, Our Selves blog, and our very own Kathryn Hinsch has been nominated! Go Kathryn! Voting is only open until May 8, so get on over and vote!

More on Designer Babies

Kathryn Hinsch, founder and director of the Women's Bioethics Project started a trend with her post, Why I Love Designer Babies -- lots of people are commenting on this and here is just a sampling of the range of views:

From Science Progress, who encourages this as a conversation starter,

to

the AJOB blog, who writes about the Perfect Baby,

to

William Saletan on Slate, who asks "Is the era of designer babies finally here"?

to

the Los Angeles Times, who says we should select for health, not eye color.

We need to continue the dialogue -- your tax deductible gift will help our voices be heard! Please consider a donation to the Women's Bioethics Project. Click here.

Will you be in Phoenix on Tuesday?

If the answer to that question is yes, come hear WBP Founding Director and Board President Kathryn Hinsch speak at the Women's Empowerment Luncheon sponsored by the Maricopa County YWCA. More information is available in this article from the Arizona Republic's website, or from this post--and you can register online here. The luncheon will be held at the Arizona Biltmore from 11:30 - 1:30 on September 16.

We're nonpartisan here on the blog, but the role of women in governance and policymaking, as well as how policies in healthcare, research, and social services affect women and families, is something we should all be thinking about as we roll toward November.

Kathryn's remarks are sure to provide food for thought, regardless of your political leanings. We hope you can join us!

A Sneak Peak Inside a Stem Cell Lab

On several occasions, we've blogged about how stem cell research is not an 'either-or' proposition. Today, Kathryn Hinsch pens an article at Science Progress giving us a peek inside a privately funded stem cell lab and at the motivations of stem cell researchers. One of the researchers talks poignantly about the "work became an existential commitment, a chance to do battle with public health challenges.”

The crux of the article is that "To win the battle against disease, dysfunction, and injury, stem cell research must continue on all fronts: embryonic, IPS [induced pluripotent stem cells], placental, and adult." To get a bigger view inside the lab and read the rest of the article, click here.