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Cross Post: Re: Nudges in a Post-truth World
Guest Post: Nathan Hodson This article originally appeared on the Journal of Medical Ethics Blog In a recent article in the Journal of Medical Ethics, Neil Levy has developed a concept of “nudges to reason,” offering a new tool for those trying to reconcile medical ethics with the application of behavioural psychological research – a practice known as…
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The ethics of treatment for Charlie Gard: resources for students/media
by Dominic Wilkinson and Julian Savulescu The case of Charlie Gard has reached its sad conclusion. However, it continues to attract intense public attention. It raises a number of challenging and important ethical questions. The role of Practical Ethics in cases like this is to help clarify the key concepts, identify central ethical questions,…
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Cross Post: Speaking with: Julian Savulescu on the ethics of genetic modification in humans
Could genetic engineering one day allow parents to have designer babies? Tatiana Vdb/flickr, CC BY William Isdale, University of Melbourne What if humans are genetically unfit to overcome challenges like climate change and the growing inequality that looks set to define our future? Julian Savulescu, visiting professor at Monash University and Uehiro professor of Practical…
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Burke, Briggs and Wills: Why we should not fear the judgment in Charlie Gard
In a blog post today, Julian Savulescu argues that in a parallel adult version of the highly controversial Charlie Gard case, a UK court might thwart an unconscious patient’s previously expressed desire for self-funded experimental medical treatment. He finds the Gard decision deeply disturbing and suggests that we all have reason to fear the Charlie…
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Video Series: Charlie Gard should be allowed to die, says Dominic Wilkinson
Dominic Wilkinson, Consultant Neonatologist and Professor in Medical Ethics, argues that Charlie Gard should be allowed to die and that disagreement about this case is not necessarily ‘reasonable’ disagreement. He also explains what could possibly change his mind about the case.
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Burke and Wills, Bowen and Gard: The English Courts, Best Interests and Justice
The Case of Donald Wills Donald Wills is a self-made man. He is billionaire British banker who has taken an interest in technology. He believes the Singularity is near and wishes to live as long as possible. He completes an advance directive to use his money to keep him alive at all costs, should he…
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Video Series: Peter Singer on the Pros and Cons of Defending Controversial Views
Peter Singer has probably done more good than many of us will ever do. Despite this, he has received threats, people have protested to stop him from lecturing, his views have been compared to those defended by Nazis, etc. How has this affected him? Should we ever refrain from defending controversial views? Is it okay…
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How Social Media Distorts Our Perceptions of Groups.
We know that groups are internally diverse. For any group you care to pick out (Brexit supporters, feminists, tea drinkers), we know intellectually that they will disagree among themselves about a great deal. When people identify as a group member, they may feel pressure to conform to the group view, but there are countervailing pressures…
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Revised Press Statement: Gard Legal Decision Questionable on Secular Ethical Grounds
Julian Savulescu and Peter Singer Charlie Gard should have been allowed to go to US for experimental treatment back in April (or better January when it was first considered) because there was some possibility of him having a life worth living after treatment. That possibility may have been slim, but it does not appear (to…