Several days ago, the New Zealand Medical Journal published a viewpoint article, “Testing times: do new prenatal tests signal the end of Down syndrome?”, which considered the ethical implications of screening for Down syndrome (DS) using more advanced “non-invasive prenatal diagnosis” methods (you can read about the current screening programme here). The advocacy group, Saving […]
I did it. I submitted my PhD thesis. About a month ago I took the walk over to Otago University’s Clock Tower, and handed over three year’s worth of work. It was a strange feeling. I thought I’d be jumping for joy. I wasn’t. In fact, if I really had to name an emotion, it […]
This is the last in our new year series showcasing some of the work that has recently been undertaken by students of the Bioethics Centre. I’m sure there will be more abstracts to come as other students complete their studies, but this will probably be the last one for a little while. Just prenatal […]
Here is another example of the research carried out by students of the Bioethics Centre. Allocation and Ageism in Aotearoa: An exploration of the ethical justification for age-based healthcare rationing Bachelor of Medical Science (Honours) Abstract: New Zealand’s population, like many first world countries, is ‘ageing’. This will place our healthcare system under increasing and […]
Enacting Discrimination: A Human Rights Defence of Selecting for Deafness. Master of Bioethics and Health Law Dissertation Abstract: Section 8.3 of the New Zealand Advisory Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology’s Guidelines on Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis prohibits the use of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) to “select embryos with a genetic impairment seen in a parent”. The […]
A Better Path to Enhancement? PhD Thesis Abstract: The way that bioethicists use the term ‘human enhancement’ is far from clear. Much work needs to be done to ensure that those within the enhancement debate are not letting discussions slip by them because they are lacking a shared definition. Some bioethicists, such as Julian Savulescu […]
Caring for autonomous Being: identity, addiction and dementia PhD Thesis Abstract: In this thesis I call into question the metaphysical assumptions that inform western thought and which dominate our understanding of the world and ourselves within it. I argue that the abstract theoretical orientation of western metaphysics is inherently flawed, generating concepts and structures of […]
Hi everyone, I know I’m a little late on this one, but Happy New Year! It’s been a busy time for postgrads in the Bioethics Centre in the last couple of months. We’ve had a Master of Bioethics and Health Law student finish her dissertation before Christmas and in the last two weeks there have […]
A fellow postgrad, Taryn Knox (check out her thoughts in the comments below), just sent me the link to Dr. Oz’s Miraculous Medical Advice: Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain. This article critically analyses day-time TV host Dr. Oz’s so-called ‘medical advice’. It is an extremely interesting look into the type of methods […]
This post isn’t bioethics, but rather ethics more generally (though certainly it could be brought around to bioethics only I don’t want to make the post too long). But since I said there would be a post before Christmas, here it is. (Everyone else was busy so you’re stuck with another post by me!) I […]
Ars Coquinaria Bioethique 