3 ethical reasons for vaccinating your children

The Conversation

Joel Michael Reynolds

Across the country, billboards are popping up suggesting that vaccines can kill children, when the science behind vaccination is crystal clear – vaccinations are extremely safe.

Researchers who study the beliefs of anti-vaxxers have found many different reasons, not just religious or political, as to why some parents refuse to get their children vaccinated.

As a bioethicist who investigates how societal values impact medicine, I consider such decisions to be downright indefensible. And here are three reasons why. . . [Full text]

HSE to help women find doctors who provide abortion services

Irish Examiner

Elaine Loughlin

A new HSE helpline will provide women seeking terminations with the names of doctors in their locality who provide abortion services.

The helpline which is being set up in tandem with the rollout of abortion services after the passing of the historic referendum to repeal the eighth amendment, will provide advice on options and support to women. . . [Full text]

Canadian doctors grapple with how to approach assisted dying for young patients

Toronto’s Sick Kids hospital drafting policy on requests for assisted dying from those over 18

CBC Radio

Duncan McCue

Three years after Canada’s top court decriminalized doctor-assisted suicide, the federal government is about to wade into an emerging controversy: How to respond to requests from children for medical assistance in dying, or MAID.

Canada’s largest children’s hospital has already gotten a taste of this thorny issue.

“We had discussed that there may be a time in the future that MAID would be available for patients under the age of 18, or a group called ‘mature minors,'” said Dr. Adam Rapoport, director of the Pediatric Advanced Care team at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children.

“We, as an organization, like to be ready for things that might be coming down the pike.” . . .[Full text]

Mom to the internet: Anybody want to trade my girl embryo for a boy?

New York Post

Jane Ridley

Lisa, a mom desperate to give her son a little brother, is looking to trade embryos with another mom. Doing so, she’s wading into legal territory colored in shades of gray, experts say.

Just this week, Lisa’s son spotted a pair of young brothers on the street near their home in Bushwick. He turned to his mom with pleading eyes.

“When am I going to get a brother?” asked Daniel. . . [Full text]

GPs critical of timing of ICGP meeting on provision of abortion services

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Ailbhe Conneely

GPs who organised a petition calling on the Irish College of General Practitioners to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting on the provision of abortion services in Ireland, have described the decision to hold it in four weeks time as “wholly unacceptable”.

The 2 December EGM was announced in a statement by the ICGP board this evening, after it received a petition from hundreds of General Practitioners, who are concerned about the introduction of GP-led abortion services here. . . . [Full text]