Genetics & Bioethics
From March to June of 2013, I covered the fascinating world of genetics and bioethics for Medill Reports. I’ve included the links below for people’s viewing pleasure (there’s also a few miscellaneous public health stories thrown in there for Medill Reports).
The field of genetics is rapidly revolutionizing health, medicine, evolution and biology, as scientists unfold the mysteries behind who we are, where we come from and where we are going. I have the great joy of bringing some of these fascinating discoveries out of the lab and into the daylight of public discussion.
With the great advances in the field, however, come a number of ethical dilemmas. Who owns your genes? Are genes patentable? Can you be discriminated against based on your genetic makeup? Can and should we select the genetic traits of our offspring? What are the consequences of genetically modified food?
In addition to these questions, I also covered bioethics outside the field of genetics. It is a rich field that touches upon every aspect of our lives. Is your privacy protected in electronic medical records? Who makes your end of life decisions? What does it mean to have truly informed consent in the hospital? What protections are in place for research subjects? What are the consequences of direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising?
In my writing, I hope to spark discussion and raise awareness about these complicated and imperative issues.
Stories…