Bioethics News
Lack of Circumcision Coverage in U.S. Medicaid Programs Could Increase HIV Transmission Risk, Researchers Say
KaiserNetwork.org, February 24, 2009
The AAP estimates that 1.2 million newborns are circumcised annually. Although the AAP traditionally has taken a neutral stance on the procedure, the group now is reconsidering its position in response to recent research. Douglas Diekema, pediatrics professor at the University of Washington, said the academy is “not there yet in terms of making a firm recommendation, or even having formulated tentative ones.”
Do you 'fire' patients whose parents refuse vaccinations?
Infectious Diseases in Children, February 10, 2009
Dr. Doug Diekema discusses how physicians and schools should respond to parents’ decisions not to vaccinate their children.
Children's Webcast: Growth attenuation in children with profound disabilities
Seattle/LocalHealthGuide, January 30, 2009
Seattle Children’s Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics has posted a webcast of its forum on the ethics of growth attenuation in children with profound disabilities. This issue came to the public’s attention in 2006 with the Ashley case.
Cosmetic Procedures for Children Pose Ethical Dilemmas
Medical News Today, January 27, 2009
An essay in the current issue of The Hastings Center Report examines what — if any — justifications there are for parents to consent to changing their child’s physical nature. Mentioned is the 2004 Ashley case along with Douglas Opel and Benjamin Wilfond of the Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics at Seattle Children’s.
To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate?
Seattle's Child, August 1, 2008
State and federal health officials include immunization as an important element of a child’s readiness for school. The consensus among public health and medical professionals — advice that some skeptics still question — is that vaccinating your children is the best thing to do.
Bioethicists grade genetic testing in children and adolescents
Seattle Children's press release, August 1, 2008
The Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics hosts its fourth annual conference, "Predicting Our Future: Genetic Testing in Children and Their Families."
Genetic testing helps predict breast cancer odds
KING 5 News, July 31, 2008
Katie was just 9 years old when mom Becky Fisher was diagnosed with breast cancer. Becky’s mother and grandmother both had early breast cancer. Katie tested positive for the BRCA-1 mutation, which doesn’t mean she’ll get breast cancer, only that her risk is much higher.
Debate of Tough Ethical Issues Surrounding Genetic Tests for Adoption, Adult-Onset Diseases, Tissue Banking and Newborn Screening
Medical News Today, June 9, 2008
The Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics at Seattle Children’s Hospital will host its fourth annual international bioethics conference on July 25-26, 2008, in Seattle.
Bioethicists tackle the hard questions
University Week, May 8, 2008
Interdisciplinary collaborators examine issues from all sides.
Delicate decision: To circumcise or not?
Los Angeles Times, March 31, 2008
Arguments about circumcision often polarize today’s parents. Forty years ago, when almost every male born in this country was circumcised, the decision was easier.
Disabled girl's parents defend growth-stunting treatment
CNN, March 12, 2008
An update of the story on the Ashley case, highlighting a recent interview with the family.
Jehovah's Witness Kid Dies After Refusing Medical Treatment
The Bryant Park Project, NPR, November 30, 2007
Over his parents’ objections, 14-year-old Dennis Lindberg refused vital blood transfusions that could have saved him because it was against his faith as a Jehovah’s Witness.
Judge: Teen can reject treatment on religious grounds
The Seattle Times, November 28, 2007
A Jehovah's Witness from Mount Vernon, Washington, Dennis Lindberg has religious objections to receiving blood. Doctors say he needs transfusions to survive treatment for leukemia. Doctors at Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle diagnosed him November 6 and began giving him chemotherapy.
The Evolving Ethics of Modern Medicine
Children's Hospitals Today (PDF), October 17, 2007
Ethical decision-making is especially difficult in pediatrics because so often children must depend on adults — parents, physicians, politicians — to make decisions on their behalf in their best interests.
A Delicate Balance
Seattle magazine (PDF), September 1, 2007
Helping families and individuals make life-altering decisions within a confusing array of medical choices is the territory of medical bioethicists... doing what’s “best” is seldom straightforward and is often a path fraught with ethical dilemmas.
Seeking less-bitter ways to end conflicts on kids' medical care
The Seattle Times, July 13, 2007
What happens when such intense, life-and-death disagreements fester between parents and doctors? Can the two sides ever come together, or must courts always intervene?
Should children have a say in own medical care?
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, July 8, 2007
Experts in pediatric bioethics fiercely debate how much control children should have over their own medical care, especially when it involves experimental treatments or research.
The Daily of the Universtity of WA — Bioethics conference tackles tough medical decisions
The Daily of the University of Washington, May 17, 2007
She doesn’t have a last name. They call her “Ashley X” or even “Pillow Angel.” Yesterday, though, people from around the nation visited the UW because of this young girl, to discuss the issue of limiting growth in children with severe disabilities.
Ethicist in Ashley case answers questions
CNN, January 11, 2007
Dr. Doug Diekema is interviewed on CNN about the growth attenuation case labeled the “Ashley Treatment.”
More parents resisting vaccines for kids
The Seattle Times, July 16, 2006
Pediatricians, public-health officials and researchers wrestled with how to best reach parents who resist giving their children vaccines, how to counter irrational fears, whether doctors should “fire” vaccine-resister parents and whether mandatory vaccination for school attendance should be scrapped.
Parents' fears over vaccinating kids sets ethics debate
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, July 15, 2006
Ethical issues related to vaccination are a topic at a conference on pediatric bioethics, hosted through today by Children’s. Today’s discussion focuses on parents who worry about and some who ultimately refuse vaccinations for their children.
Choosing Whether to Vaccinate
KPLU FM 88.5, July 14, 2006
Dr. Doug Diekema discusses Children’s bioethics conference, "Current Controversies: Ethical Issues Related to Vaccination of Children," on KPLU radio.
Nation's First Pediatric Bioethics Center Names Director
Seattle Children's press release, April 10, 2006
Children’s Hospital in Seattle selects Dr. Benjamin Wilfond as director of the Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics.
Establishing a Permanent Forum for Pediatric Bioethics
Children's Hospitals Today, January 6, 2006
Seeing the need to create a permanent forum for national debate on the ethical issues pediatric providers and researchers face each day, Seattle Children’s established the Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics.
Bioethics Center to Research Drug Testing on Children
KING 5 News Healthlink, July 26, 2005
When it comes to medicating children, doctors often have to resort to guesswork. That’s because there’s not a lot of research in this area. A national summit being held in Seattle is trying to change that.