By Kaitlyn Schaeffer Dr. Mark Donowitz at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine is interested in ridding the world of diarrheal disease-related deaths. Every year, more than 800,000 children succumb to diseases such as cholera, rotavirus, and some strains of the bacteria E. coli. “We’ve failed so far to find drugs to treat diarrhea using cell [...]
By Caroline Song A new state law in Illinois that provides funding for undocumented immigrants to receive kidney transplants went into effect this past October. It may be the first law of its kind in the United States. There are currently 686 undocumented immigrants in Illinois enrolled in the state’s kidney dialysis program. Opponents worry [...]
By Kaitlyn Schaeffer Every year around 6000 people choose to make living donations; most donate kidneys to people they know, such as friends and family, but many make donations to strangers. There have been many calls for more people do donate kidneys while they’re still alive, but this mobilization has encountered some road bumps: the [...]
By Caroline Song A study conducted by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) looked at over 100,000 deaths that occurred in hospitals from 2008 to 2012. The report found that most organ donations come from patients that are declared brain dead. The study suggests accepting more donations from cardiovascular failure or death if the [...]
On December 5, 2014 Fordham University Center for Ethics Education bioethicist Dr. Elizabeth Yuko has been appointed to the Advisory Board of the Global Bioethics Initiative (GBI), an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to improving quality of life in vulnerable populations globally, through research, education and policy change recommendations. Yuko, the program administrator for the Fordham [...]
By Andrew Rock Dutch medical experts are influencing policy changes for organ donation after euthanasia. The Netherlands has experienced low donation numbers through euthanasia in recent years. Physicians anticipate new legislation will significantly increase the number of organs in the donation pool. In 2013, 273 Dutch citizens donated their organs, while 4800 instances of euthanasia occurred. Dr. Gert van Dijk of Erasmus Medical [...]
NEW YORK, December 12, 2014: Global Bioethics Initiative held a screening of the HBO documentary film: "Tales from the Organ Trade." An expert panel discussion followed the screening with special guests: Dr. Bruce Elliot Gelb, M.D., F.A.C.S., Director of Renal Transplantation in the Department of Transplant Surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center and Dr. Lloyd E. Ratner, M.D., [...]
A meeting of scholars at Princeton University resulted in the drafting of an open letter addressed to President Barack Obama, Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Mathews Burwell, Attorney General Eric Holder, and leaders of Congress. The letter is independent of any organization. Among the initiating signers are NIr Eyal and Robert Truog of [...]
By Andrew Rock Around 21 Americans die each day waiting for transplants. In New York, over 10,000 people are currently in need of an organ transplant. Though exact numbers vary by state, approximately 45% of American adults are registered as organ donors. Given the life-saving capabilities of organs, and great demand for them, what prevents [...]
By Caroline Song A study conducted by Dr. Scott Frey at the University of Missouri suggests that the ability of hand transplant recipients to recover their senses of touch might be due to physiological changes within the hand as well as other important neurological changes. The results of the study could help facilitate the recovery [...]
