What’s in a name: conceptions of personalized medicine and their ethical implications

Medicine is said to be moving rapidly down the road towards personalization, but it is not entirely clear how we are to understand this term, or its implications for ethics. In understanding the concept of personalized medicine there are multiple possible interpretations of ‘personalization’ at stake. These may in turn presuppose different concepts of ‘person’, with resulting variations in the ethical implications

Genomica, saude pública e identidade

This paper questions the utility of the ethical principles that are usually invoked to deal with genomic issues, particularly genetic databases. Concepts such as solidarity, benefit sharing, equity, public participation, and collective identity are discussed. The author argues that genetic banks are precipitating new concern over group interest, as opposed to concern over issues arising from individualistic medical ethics. Genomics era needs new paradigms in ethics. Anindividualistic approach based on choice and autonomy is not useful, because we make choices not only as individuals but also as members of different groups. The doctrine of informed consent evolved in different historical conditions from the ones we face in the era of genomics. This is complicated by the global context of genetic research, in addition to powerful commercial interests. This suggests that it is not sufficient to move from an individual-centred ethic approach to a more community-centred one; an approach of renegotiating the relationship between individual and community. We need also to be clear about what the interests at stake are, which may mean reconceiving the terms ‘individual' and ‘community' in this context and the ways in which their interests are affected, identifying the sources of collective identity that are at stakeEste artículo cuestiona la utilidad de los principios éticos que son generalmente aludidos para abordar problemas de genómica, particularmente los de bancos de datos genéticos. Conceptos como solidaridad, compartir los beneficios, equidad, participación pública e identidad colectiva son discutidos. La autora sugiere que los bancos de datos genéticos están generando nuevas preocupaciones sobre los intereses del grupo, preocupaciones opuestas a lostemas de una ética médica ind ividualista. La era de la genómica necesita nuevos paradigmas éticos. Un enfoque individualista basado en la elección y la autonomía no es útil, puesto que tomamos decisiones no sólo como individuossino también como miembros de diferentes grupos. La doctrina del consentimiento informado surgió en condiciones históricas diferentes de las que enfrentamos en la era de la genómica. Esto se complica por el contexto global de la investigación genómica y la presencia de poderosos intereses comerciales. Ello sugiere que no es suficiente moverse desde un enfoque centrado en el individuo a un enfoque más centrado en la comunidad; uno de renegociación de la relación entre individuo y comunidad. Necesitamos también tener claro cuáles son los intereses en riesgo, lo que puede significar redefinir los términos "individuo" y "comunidad" en este contexto y los modos en que sus intereses pueden ser afectados, identificando las fuentes de identidad colectiva que están en riesgo.Esse artigo questíona a utilidade dos princípios éticos que se aludem geralmente para abordar problemas do genoma, em particular os de bases de dados genéticas. Conceitos tão a solidariedade, a dividir os benefícios, a equidade, a participação pública, e a identidade coletiva pública tratam. O autora sugire que as bases de dados genéticas estão gerando novas inquietudes pelos juros do grupo, inquietudes opostas aos temas de uma ética médica individualista. A era da genômica necessita de novos paradigmas éticos. Um enfoque individualista baseado na a eleição e a autonomia não é útil, porque nós tomamos decisões não apenas como indivíduos como também como membros de diferentes grupos. A doutrina do consentimento fundamentado surgiu em diferentes condições históricas das quais nós olhamos na era da genômica. Isto se complica mais pelo contexto global da pesquisa genômica e da presença de juros comerciais potentes. Isto indica que não é suficiente de mover de um enfoque estado centrado no indivíduo a um enfoque mais centrado na comunidade; um de renegociação da relação entre individuo e a comunidade. Nós necessitamos estar também seguros o qual são os juros em risco, que pode significar redefinindo os terminos do "indivíduo" e a "comunidade" nesse contexto e as modalidades nestes seus juros podem ser afetados, identificando as fontes de identidade coletiva que estão em risco

Hippocrates Revisited? Old Ideals and New Realities

Individual genomics has arrived, personal decisions to make use of it are a new reality. What are the implications for the patient–physician relationship? In this article we address three factors that call the traditional concept of confidentiality into question. First, the illusion of absolute data safety, as shown by medical informatics. Second, data sharing as a standard practice in genomics research. Comprehensive data sets are widely accessible. Third, genotyping has become a service that is directly available to consumers. The availability and accessibility of personal health data strongly suggest that the roles in the clinical encounter need to be remodeled. The old ideal of physicians as keepers of confidential information is outstripped by the reality of individuals who decide themselves about the way of using their data

Cesagen response to Nuffield Council on bioethics consultation on novel neurotechnologies:intervening in the brain

In what follows, we do not answer every question [by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics). We first proceed with our comments, referring to the numbered questions as appropriate. Thereafter, we give a case study from recent studies within Cesagen to illustrate more general insights for public policy. Case study 1 illustrates some of the complications that arise in public consultation about human enhancement, in particular, with reference to idealistic perceptions which are strongly influenced by long-term popular imaginations about the future of humans and their societies. As we said in a response to a previous consultation, our position is that attention needs to be paid to how the technologies and the associated issues are framed – ethically, politically, scientifically, and by whom. This includes how a given technology is itself described (typically well before it actually exists, if it comes to do so); the claims made for its purported benefits; how stakeholders are conceptualised; how social-cultural aspects will evolve. Such framing is not exclusively a scientific and technological matter but involves cultural and social imaginations as well as artistic ones

What mental pictures do seventh and eighth grade students have concerning certain groups of people

Thesis (Ed. M.)--Boston University, 195

Continuous low-dose antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent urinary tract infection in adults who perform clean intermittent self-catheterisation: the AnTIC RCT

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Continuous low-dose antibiotic prophylaxis for adults with repeated urinary tract infections (AnTIC): a randomised, open-label trial

Funder: UK National Institute for Health Research. Open Access funded by Department of Health UK Acknowledgments We thank all the participants for their commitment to the study, Sheila Wallace for updating the systematic review, members of the Trial Steering Committee and members of the Data Monitoring Committee for their valuable guidance. We thank the National Health Service organisations, principal investigators and local research staff who hosted and ran the study at site. We thank the Health Technology Assessment Programme of the UK NIHR for funding the study (no. 11/72/01). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR, or the UK Government Department of Health. A full report of the study30 has been published by the NIHR Library.Peer reviewedPublisher PD