Bioethics News
Born in silence: Parents draw attention to stillborn babies
KOMO News, January 30, 2013
After a 9-month-long, completely normal pregnancy, the Sprakers’ daughter Emily died in the womb. The parents went from feeling absolute joy to total devastation. Ten years later, they are sharing their story in a video they made with Seattle Children's Hospital in hopes of drawing more attention to a tragedy they say our society is hesitant to talk about: stillborn babies.
Breaking the silence after stillbirth – One family’s story
On the Pulse Blog, Seattle Children’s Hospital, January 28, 2013
“This Thursday, Jan. 31, is our daughter Emily’s 10th birthday, a time that should be filled playfully gathering with friends and giddily unwrapping presents. But Emily will never experience any of those things – she was born still.” – Amanda and Brent Spraker
GAPPS researcher Dr. Maureen Kelley provides an analysis of parents’ and physicians’ experiences of stillbirth. She notes that “Research into the prevalence and causes of stillbirth is ongoing, but meanwhile, many parents suffer this devastating loss, largely in silence, due to persistent stigma and taboo; and many health providers report feeling ill equipped to support grieving parents.”
Late Vaccinations
Q13 Fox, January 22, 2013
Dr. Doug Diekema of Seattle Children’s talks about the importance of getting children vaccinated.
Medical Ethics
KSKA Alaska Public Radio, January 18, 2013
Dr. Doug Diekema, director of education for pediatric bioethics at Seattle Children’s Hospital, joins host Dr. Thad Woodard to discuss ethical issues in medicine, including how to balance parental freedom, child welfare and public health regarding mandatory school immunizations.
Ethicists debate how to tell patients secrets in their genome
Nature News Blog, November 10, 2012
If parents have a son’s genes sequenced in hopes of explaining extreme muscle weakness, should they also be told whether he is likely to get Alzheimer’s disease as an adult? Should the child be told? When? How do answers to these questions shift for currently healthy adults? And should people be given more or less information depending on what they want to know? At the meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics, Holly Tabor at Seattle Children’s Hospital described an emerging approach to help people decide what results from their sequencing data they want to see and when.
New Yorkers Walk to End Ritual Cutting of Girls
Women's eNews, September 12, 2012
New York physicians treat complications arising from female genital mutilation (FGM) in the form of severe infections, increasing neonatal death, painful menstruation and PTSD. When physicians are approached to perform FGM, they face a dilemma because if they refuse it, it will be done dangerously. Dr. Doug Diekema, a pediatrician at Seattle's Children's Hospital explains, "When you're dealing with religious or cultural beliefs, saying no sometimes is not sufficient for people and it will not necessarily eliminate the practice."
Pediatricians: Circumcision up to parents
The (Galveston County) Daily News, September 5, 2012
The circumcision of baby boys has more health benefits than risks, according to a new policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Douglas Diekema, a pediatrician and bioethicist at Seattle Children’s Hospital, explains that traditions and cultural values play big roles in this decision.
Pediatricians' group shifts in favor of circumcision
Erie Times-News, September 3, 2012
The AAP stated recently that the medical benefits of circumcision for baby boys outweigh the small risks. "This is a decision parents should make based on what they think is most important for their child's welfare," said Dr. Douglas Diekema, a pediatric emergency specialist and bioethicist at Seattle Children's Hospital.
Clitoral reconstructive surgery: Hope for victims of female genital mutilation
PR Underground, September 3, 2012
Though a federal law was passed against female genital mutilation in 1997, physicians know that if they refuse to perform it, it will be carried out even more dangerously at home. Dr. Doug Diekema, a pediatrician at Seattle’s Children’s Hospital, states that when you’re dealing with religious or cultural beliefs, saying no sometimes is not sufficient for people and it will not necessarily eliminate the practice.
Circumcision benefits said to outweigh risks
KQED Radio, August 29, 2012
American Pediatrics Group Cites Benefits of Male Circumcision
Voice of America, August 29, 2012
Continuing coverage of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recently issued statement supporting circumcision. Dr. Douglas Diekema, who served on the AAP’s task force, discusses the cost benefits of the procedure.
St. Baldrick’s donates over $400K to two Seattle Children’s researchers
KOMO News, August 29, 2012
The St. Baldrick's Foundation has announced that more than $439,000 in grants will be going to Seattle Children’s Drs. Abby Rosenberg and Jessica Pollard.
$439,433 Awarded in Childhood Cancer Research Grants to Seattle Children’s Research Institute
St. Baldrick’s Foundation, August 28, 2012
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation granted a two-year $209,433 St. Baldrick’s Fellow award to Abby Rosenberg, MD, and a $230,000 extended Scholar award to Jessica Pollard, MD, pediatric oncologists at Seattle Children’s Hospital and investigators at Seattle Children’s Research Institute.
Omamas Take 5: Why pediatricians support circumcision; concussion concerns and football
The Oregonian, August 28, 2012
The AAP says that the health benefits of circumcision in newborn boys outweigh the risks and that insurance companies should pay for it. Dr. Douglas Diekema discusses the controversies surrounding circumcision and why pediatricians are offering more support for the procedure now.
Circumcision, and why pediatricians are offering more support
The Washington Post, August 28, 2012
The American Academy of Pediatrics announced that the health benefits of infant circumcision outweigh the risks. Dr. Douglas Diekema, who served on the AAP task force that wrote the report and who specializes in pediatric bioethics at Seattle Children’s Research Institute, said the group expected the backlash it has been receiving. Dr. Diekema also discusses the newly charged atmosphere around circumcision and how the task force came to its conclusions.
Social networks help families whose babies have rare genetic condition
KING 5 TV, August 28, 2012
Facebook friends with your doctor: good medicine or ethically 'icky'?
The Seattle Times, August 11, 2012
Doctors, Social Media, and Ethics
Flip the Media, August 9, 2012
Parenting severely disabled kids can be a great source of happiness
Deseret News, July 27, 2012
Benjamin Wilfond of Seattle Children’s Research Institute comments on the Pediatrics research which found regardless of the length of their lives, children with trisomy 13 or trisomy 18 – a chromosomal abnormality that can cause shortened lifespans and severe disabilities – not only led happy lives, but enriched the lives of their families.
Families of children with significant disabilities indicate that their lives are enriched
National Right to Life, July 25, 2012
A research study that was published in the current edition of the journal Pediatrics found that parents of children with trisomy 13/18 indicated that the parents considered the child to be happy and found that their lives were enriched by the child. The lead research author, Dr. Benjamin Wilfond of Seattle Children’s Research Institute, comments on the study.
Parents, docs may clash on quality of kids’ lives
Fox News (Reuters), July 23, 2012
About one in four parents of children with a serious and often fatal genetic condition say they feel judged by doctors when they want life-sustaining treatment for their newborns, in a new study. Dr. Benjamin Wilfond, of Seattle Children's Research Institute, is the study’s senior author and notes “There is a broader range of survival and experiences than providers know. The parents may be getting this information online and clinicians may need to rethink what they say to parents.”
Vaccine Hesitancy: A Personal and Community Dilemma
Seattle's Child, April 4, 2012
Here in Washington, questions and concerns about vaccinations have led to the highest vaccine exemption rate for kindergartners in the United States. “Vaccines, probably more than any other medical product, are under constant scientific scrutiny,” says Dr. Doug Diekema, a physician and bioethicist at Seattle Children’s Research Institute.
Pediatricians Fight for the Herd
Infectious Disease Special Edition, April 2012
The increasing incidence of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks in the United States has exposed the need for better patient education, improved immunization requirements for public schools and increased coverage. “Every parent is different and it’s just simply wrong to approach all of these vaccine-resistant parents with a broad brush,” said Douglas Diekema, MD, MPH.
How Do Vaccine Schedules for Kids Get Designed?
Health Blog (Wall Street Journal), March 20, 2012
Some parents worry about the number of vaccines that pediatricians and public-health groups recommend kids get these days. Dr. Douglas Diekema, a vaccine expert and pediatrics professor at the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital, says that it’s important for doctors to take seriously parents’ concerns about vaccines.
Why did Seattle display babies in incubators at the World’s Fair?
KPLU, March 2012
At Seattle’s first World’s Fair in 1909, there were premature babies in incubators on display to show off the new technology. Dr. Douglas Diekema, a bioethicist at Seattle Children’s Research Institute, says that type of exhibit would not be considered appropriate today.