“I am very, very spiritual but I am not religious. I believe in the existence of God, and before I start an operation I pray to God, and after the surgery I again pray to him for taking me through the operation.” More →

August 26, 2016

A promising new medical technique known as gene editing—deleting, inserting, or replacing genes in human cells—has the potential to cure many genetic diseases. But ethicist Marcy Darnovsky of the Center for Genetics and Society is concerned about the safety of the technology, the ethical questions it raises, the unintended consequences that may be passed on to future generations, and the possibility of wealthy parents genetically enhancing their children regardless of medical necessity. More →

December 4, 2015

Buddhism became a sanctuary for Dr. Barry Kerzin and led to his ordination as a monk. Now he serves as the Dalai Lama’s personal physician and combines his medical wisdom with love and compassion that translate into empathy. More →

October 9, 2015

“What are the ethics and morals of Jews giving kidneys to anybody, as long as that recipient is Jewish?” asks writer Paul Berger, who works for the national Jewish newspaper Forward. More →

October 9, 2015

“This is very, very different than being the great white surgeon who comes in and does some magical surgeries and then leaves without imparting any of the magic to the surgeons in the community. It’s teaching the doctors the surgical skills to go forth and do good things for the community, and also teach other doctors,” says Dr. Mary O’Hara, one of the volunteer surgeons traveling with the Orbis flying hospital to treat eye conditions and train local doctors on a recent trip to Vietnam. More →

July 10, 2015

In most states, parents can choose not to vaccinate their children based on a personal or religious objection. It’s a choice that has begun raising concerns about the ethics of refusal and the rising risk of outbreaks. More →

February 6, 2015

“We should be thinking about how we can more vigorously and effectively help the people of West Africa and how we can protect health care workers in the United States. We can afford to do both quite well,” says bioethicist George Annas. More →

October 17, 2014

“If there’s any way to avoid getting a blood transfusion, one is better off in general if they can avoid it,” says Dr. Abe Steinberger, a neurosurgeon at Englewood Hospital in New Jersey. More →

June 5, 2014

In most states, parents can choose not to vaccinate their children based on a personal or religious objection. It’s a choice that has begun raising concerns about the ethics of refusal and the rising risk of outbreaks. More →

January 24, 2014

Strongly influenced by Catholic teachings, the country of El Salvador now forbids all abortions. Fred de Sam Lazaro reports from San Salvador on the consequences for many women when abortion is considered murder, regardless of the circumstances. More →

December 13, 2013