Genetic Protection Modifications: Moving Beyond the Binary Distinction Between Therapy and Enhancement for Human Genome Editing.

The current debate and policy surrounding the use of genome editing in humans typically relies on a binary distinction between therapy and human enhancement. Here, we argue that this dichotomy fails to take into account perhaps the most significant potential uses of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing in humans. We argue that genetic treatment of sporadic Alzheimer's disease, breast and ovarian cancer predisposing mutations, and the introduction of human immunodeficiency virus resistance in humans should be considered within a new category of genetic protection treatments.

Broad consent for biobanks is best - provided it is also deep.

Background: As biobank research has become increasingly widespread within biomedical research, study-specific consent to each study, a model derived from research involving traditional interventions on human subjects, has for the sake of feasibility gradually given way to alternative consent models which do not require consent for every new study. Besides broad consent these models include tiered, dynamic, and meta-consent. However, critics have pointed out that it is normally not known at the time of enrolment in what ways samples deposited in a biobank may be used in future research and that, for a consent to be informed, exactly this kind of knowledge is required.

Communicating Identifiability Risks to Biobank Donors.

Recent highly publicized privacy breaches in healthcare and genomics research have led many to question whether current standards of data protection are adequate. Improvements in de-identification techniques, combined with pervasive data sharing, have increased the likelihood that external parties can track individuals across multiple databases. This article focuses on the communication of identifiability risks in the process of obtaining consent for donation and research.

The stigmatization dilemma in public health policy--the case of MRSA in Denmark.

Background: Multi-resistant bacteria pose an increasing and significant public health risk. As awareness of the severity of the problem grows, it is likely that it will become the target for a range of public health interventions. Some of these can intentionally or unintentionally lead to stigmatization of groups of citizens.

Primo non nocere or maximum survival in grade 2 gliomas? A medical ethical question.

Background: Maximum safe resection is the "gold standard" in surgical treatment of grade 2 gliomas (G2Gs), aiming to achieve maximal survival benefit with minimal risk of functional deficit.

Objective: To investigate the attitude of patients and experts towards more extensive surgery with a trade-off between neurological function and survival time.

Methods: Eight patients and seven experts participated in semi-structured focus group interviews.

[Treatment of cardiac arrest in potential organ donors creates ethical conflicts].

This article describes the results of an interview study on the ethical issues related to treating cardiac arrest in potential organ donors in Denmark. The medical background and the Danish guidelines relevant to the issue are described. The results from the interview study are then summarized and analyzed from an ethical perspective in order to clarify the ethical issues and value conflicts experienced by health personnel in this situation.

Ethical issues related to screening for preeclampsia.

The implementation of new methods of treating and preventing disease raises many question of both technical and moral character. Currently, many studies focus on developing a screening test for preeclampsia (PE), a disease complicating 2-8% of pregnancies, potentially causing severe consequences for pregnant women and their fetuses. The purpose is to develop a test that can identify pregnancies at high risk for developing PE sufficiently early in pregnancy to allow for prophylaxis.

Science and technology of farm animal cloning: state of the art.

Details of the first mammal born after nuclear transfer cloning were published by Steen Malte Willadsen in 1986. In spite of its enormous scientific significance, this discovery failed to trigger much public concern, possibly because the donor cells were derived from pre-implantation stage embryos. The major breakthrough in terms of public recognition has happened when Ian Wilmut et al.

After Dolly--ethical limits to the use of biotechnology on farm animals.

The cloning of Dolly the sheep gave rise to a widespread call for limits on interference with life. Until recently, the main limits were technical: what it is possible to do. Now scientists are faced with ethical limits as well: what it is acceptable to do.