Medicine and law
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This paper focuses on the idea of pro-life arguments and the sanctity of life doctrine in the context of debates on end-of-life law. Advocates of the sanctity doctrine are often thought of as being pro-life, which has potentially troublesome implications in policy debate. ⋯ I question the coherence and appeal of truly pro-life law, and law that is premised on the sanctity doctrine. The analysis allows me to examine and reject the idea that the sanctity doctrine is reasonably described as a 'middle way' that we should enshrine in policy and practice.
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The authors describe models for the approach to demand-orientated and demand-driven health care as experienced in the Netherlands. The practical operation of the scheme is discussed including implications for financing and other aspects of regulation. The paper concludes that at present a demand-orientated system is feasible, but changes of a fundamental nature would be necessary to institute a successful operation of demand-driven health care, at least in the country the subject of this study.
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One of the most difficult issues doctors face is a conflict between their professional duties. Such a conflict may arise when doctors know that information has implications not only for patients but also for family members but their duty of confidentiality prevents them from disclosing it. A comparative analysis of English and Israeli medical law reveals that the doctors' duty is based on two principles: a liberal perception of patient autonomy and an overriding utilitarian principle of prevention of harm. ⋯ This approach perceives confidentiality and privacy as embracing the family unit, based on the view that close relatives are not entirely outside the private sphere of the individual but rather are integral to his or her identity. Thus, to the utilitarian mechanism available in medical law this approach adds a social criterion: The effect any decision (to disclose or not to disclose) will have on the familial relationship and on the dynamics of the particular family. This will provide a more flexible and workable alternative for doctors to resolve familial tensions over access to genetic information.
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I summarize my experience with scientific misconduct and breach of publication ethics during my 10 year term as Editor-in-Chief and my first 3 years as Scientific Integrity Advisor for Neurology, the official publication of the American Academy of Neurology. I describe in some detail the highly publicized, lengthy saga involving the accusation from a former colleague that James Abbs falsified data in an article published in Neurology. ⋯ Most of the problems I encountered were less complex and involved claims of plagiarism (regarded as "scientific misconduct") and self plagiarism (regarded as a "breach of publication ethics"). I conclude by providing helpful sources for editors in dealing with these infractions.
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Scientific fraud and misconduct appear to be on the rise throughout the scientific community. Whatever the reasons for fraud and whatever the number of cases, it is important that the academic research community consider this problem in a cool and rational manner, ensuring that allegations are dealt with through fair and impartial procedures. Increasingly, governments have either sought to regulate fraud and misconduct through legislation, or they have left it to universities and research institutions to deal with at the local level. ⋯ In this paper, we propose a standard definition of scientific fraud and misconduct and procedures for investigation based on natural justice and fairness. The issue of fraud and misconduct should not be left to government regulation by default. The standardized definition and procedures presented here should lead to more appropriate institutional responses in dealing with allegations of scientific fraud and misconduct.