Genetics and Education: The Ethics of Shaping Human Identity

This paper suggests an analogy between education and genetic interventions as means of shaping the identity of children and future adults. It proposes to look at issues discussed in the philosophy of education as a possible source of insight for ethical guidelines regarding future genetic interventions. The paper focuses on situations of conflict between parents and state regarding the authority to determine the child\u27s best interests. It describes the current formulation of the conflict in the literature as lacking the crucial element of the child\u27s right to a cultural identity. It argues that this element is a necessary component in an ethical analysis of the child\u27s best interests in a multicultural, liberal society which respects diversity. The paper therefore proposes a better model for the moral evaluation of identity-shaping decisions and offers some implications of this model for genetics

Review of Mark D. Bennett and Joan McIver Gibson, \u3cem\u3eA Field Guide to Good Decisions: Values in Action\u3c/em\u3e

Decisions are something we all face. Decisions change our lives. As parents, as community members, as professionals, we find ourselves daily in complex situations that require good decision-making. Most decisions impact not only the decision maker, but also a network of others whose lives they affect. For healthcare providers and clinical bioethicists, decisions lie at the heart of daily practice and are particularly challenging as they touch the lives of individuals who are often vulnerable and in need of guidance and clarity

La conciliation travail-famille : le défi des mères médecins

Commentaire / CommentaryLes médecins, compte tenu des exigences de leur profession, présentent d’importantes difficultés de conciliation travail-famille. Des mesures favorisant la conciliation travail-famille seraient bénéfiques pour tous les médecins (particulièrement pour les femmes), leurs enfants et leurs patients.Doctors, given the requirements of their profession, have important work-family balance challenges. Measures supporting work-life balance would be beneficial for all physicians (especially for women), their children and their patients

Israel: Bioethics in a Jewish-Democratic State

Unlike most Western nations, Israel does not recognize full separation of church and state but seeks instead a gentle fusion of Jewish and democratic values. Inasmuch as important religious norms such as sanctity of life may clash with dignity, privacy, and self-determination, conflicts frequently arise as Israeli lawmakers, ethicists, and healthcare professionals attempt to give substance to the idea of a Jewish-democratic state. Emerging issues in Israeli bioethics—end-of-life treatment, fertility, genetic research, and medical ethics during armed conflict—highlight this conflict vividly

Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing: Review of Ethical, Legal and Social Implications

ArticleLe test prénatal non-invasif (TPNI) reposant sur l’utilisation de l’ADN fœtal libre (cffDNA) dans le sang maternel a été introduit dans la pratique clinique dans de nombreux pays, incluant le Canada. Ce test peut être effectué tôt durant la grossesse pour détecter le syndrome de Down ainsi que d’autres conditions. Bien que le TPNI promette de nombreux avantages, il comporte aussi des enjeux éthiques, légaux et sociaux (ELS). Cet article recense les préoccupations qui se trouvent actuellement dans la littérature sur les enjeux ELS du TPNI. Nous faisons quatre observations. Tout d’abord, le TPNI semble exacerber certaines des préoccupations existantes et soulevées par d’autres tests prénataux (l’amniocentèse et le dépistage du sérum maternel), telles que les menaces à l’autonomie reproductive des femmes et la discrimination et la stigmatisation potentielles des personnes handicapées et de leurs familles. Cela peut être attribué à la probable mise en œuvre en grande échelle et par la routinisation à venir du TPNI. Deuxièmement, la distinction entre le TPNI comme un test de dépistage (tel qu’il est actuellement recommandé) et comme un test de diagnostic (potentiellement dans le futur), présente certaines implications sur la discussion des enjeux ELS. Troisièmement, nous avons observé un changement progressif dans la littérature. Celle-ci était à l’origine composée d’analyses essentiellement conceptuelles, mais recense maintenant un nombre croissant d’études empiriques. Cela démontre la contribution des approches de la bioéthique empirique alors que la technologie est en cours d’implantation au sein de la pratique clinique. Enfin, nous avons constaté un intérêt croissant pour les questions de justice et d’équité en matière d’accès au TPNI dans la mesure où le test devient implanté à une échelle plus large.Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) using cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) from maternal blood has recently entered clinical practice in many countries, including Canada. This test can be performed early during pregnancy to detect Down syndrome and other conditions. While NIPT promises numerous benefits, it also has challenging ethical, legal and social implications (ELSI). This paper reviews concerns currently found in the literature on the ELSI of NIPT. We make four observations. First, NIPT seems to exacerbate some of the already existing concerns raised by other prenatal tests (amniocentesis and maternal serum screening) such as threats to women’s reproductive autonomy and the potential for discrimination and stigmatization of disabled individuals and their families. This may be due to the likely upcoming large scale implementation and routinization of NIPT. Second, the distinction between NIPT as a screening test (as it is currently recommended) and as a diagnostic test (potentially in the future), has certain implications for the ELSI discussion. Third, we observed a progressive shift in the literature from initially including mostly conceptual analysis to an increasing number of empirical studies. This demonstrates the contribution of empirical bioethics approaches as the technology is being implemented into clinical use. Finally, we noted an increasing interest in equity and justice concerns regarding access to NIPT as it becomes more widely implemented

La confiance publique est une voie à double sens

Pour maintenir la confiance du public et s’assurer que nous continuons à suivre les mesures de santé publique nécessaires, le gouvernement du Québec doit faire confiance à la population avec des scénarios détaillés expliquant les futurs possibles… même s’ils sont incertains

Let’s Do Better: Public Representations of COVID-19 Science

COVID science is being both done and circulated at a furious pace. While it is inspiring to see the research community responding so vigorously to the pandemic crisis, all this activity has also created a churning sea of bad data, conflicting results, and exaggerated headlines. With representations of science becoming increasingly polarized, twisted and hyped, there is growing concern that the relevant science is being represented to the public in a manner that may cause confusion, inappropriate expectations, and the erosion of public trust. Here we explore some of the key issues associated with the representations of science in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of these issues are not new. But the COVID-19 pandemic has placed a spotlight on the biomedical research process and amplified the adverse ramifications of poor public communication. We need to do better. As such, we conclude with ten recommendations aimed at key actors involved in the communication of COVID-19 science, including government, funders, universities, publishers, media and the research communities