Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics

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Our Experts in the Media

• Facing up to injustice in genome science – 4.18.19 – Nature
  A growing number of researchers have made consultation and community involvement central to their work with Indigenous and other marginalized populations. Dr. Nanibaa’ Garrison, a geneticist and bioethicist at Seattle Children’s, interviewed Native American leaders, educators and community members about their concerns and suggestions on how to improve genetic research in tribal communities. “If tribes feel empowered to make decisions for themselves, rather than relying on other people, that may lead to greater engagement,” Garrison said.
  
  
• Photo Gallery: UC's 'Research & Innovation Week' showcases extraordinary work – 4.11.19 – University of Cincinnati News 
  At UC's R&I Hutton Ethics Lecture, keynote speaker Dr. Benjamin Wilfond from Seattle Children's Research Institute asked, "Why does medical research and clinical work have to exist separate from one another?"

• How is measles still a problem in Washington? – 3.26.19 – Seattle Met
  A recent measles outbreak in southwest Washington escalated to over 50 confirmed cases. Despite the evidence behind vaccines, people usually stick to what they feel is true, says Dr. Douglas Diekema, an emergency physician at Seattle Children’s. “It doesn’t matter what the data shows,” he says. “A story will always trump data.”
  
  
• Is refusing vaccine for child after near-death crisis parental abuse or neglect under Oregon law? What the experts say – 3.24.19 – The Oregonian 
  Dr. Doug Opel, a pediatrician at Seattle Children’s, deals with parents who are reluctant to vaccine their children all the time. “I guess I would say one could really argue that a parent’s refusal of a recommended vaccine is on some level neglectful,” said Opel. “But there’s a separate question whether a state ought to get involved and remove their decision-making authority.” That question quickly took center stage in the vaccination debate when Oregon doctors recently publicized the case of a 6-year-old boy who spent eight weeks in intensive care because he got tetanus.

• Mandatory MMR vaccine a possibility in Washington state – 2.7.19 – Seattle Weekly
  A new house bill could add pressure on Washington parents to vaccinate their children. HB 1638, a more urgently pressed piece of legislation because of the ongoing state measles outbreak, would remove the personal and religious exemptions currently allowed for the MMR vaccine. “The measles causes different sorts of problems, but this is an example of how powerful vaccinations can be at eliminating or getting close to getting rid of these horrible diseases of childhood,” said Dr. Douglas Diekema, a physician at Seattle Children’s.

• Vaccine skeptics fight Washington bill to end personal exemptions – 1.30.19 – The Stranger
  In the midst of a measles outbreak, Washington legislators introduced a bill to end personal exemptions from vaccines. According to Dr. Douglas Diekema, a physician in the ED at Seattle Children’s, there is no credible evidence an allergic reaction to any vaccine causes autism. “Researchers from multiple countries have published studies containing tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of children, and there is nothing there,” said Diekema.