Does Ethics Apply in a Petri Dish?
By Center for Bioethics Fellow Dr. Heather Kuruvilla: Most people think of cell biologists as bench scientists who grow things in little dishes. As a university professor training future cell biologists, I wondered about my students’ perceptions of the need for an ethical framework. I asked my advanced students for their feedback on the pressing [...]
Research and Ethics on the Mission Field (25)
Can medical missionaries engage in clinical research? Are there potential conflicts of interest between the goal of reaching nationals for Christ and engaging in medical research studies? We talk with Dr. Don Thompson, Director of the Global Health Outreach, the medical missions arm of the Christian Medical and Dental Association. For more information: Global Health [...]
Shifting Standards in International Research Ethics
The Declaration of Helsinki has long been regarded as the leading international standard on human research ethics. Drafted in 1964, the Declaration upholds basic patient rights and governs the business practices of clinical researchers. In spite of the Declaration’s widely accepted ethical authority, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration terminated its reliance on the Declaration [...]
Ethics and Practicality in the Stem Cell Debate
Exciting new success stories with non-embryonic stem cells have come to light in recent weeks. Unlike embryonic stem cells, which destroy the embryo when harvested, sources of non-embryonic stem cells include bone marrow and umbilical cord blood. The list of potential sources for these non-embryonic stem cells continues to grow as research expands. In a [...]

