General Medical Ethics News

This file includes links to papers published by Eubios Ethics Institute, and some other organizations, in the first section. Next it includes topical extracts from EJAIB and EEIN between January 1994 - 2006 (older news items are in separate files). Last date of updating is referenced in the main News page. Latest news and papers is at the bottom of each of the two sections.

This file is separated into two sections: Related Papers on General Medical Ethics from Eubios Ethics Institute Publications; and News listing This file will be edited as time permits. Papers on bioethics education after May 2002 are all listed in Bioethics Education

Back to main News index
Abbreviations for journals
Eubios Ethics Institute home page
Bioethics is Love of Life: An alternative textbook on cross-cultural ethics by Darryl Macer (1998)

Some other useful sites (see also Information Sources)
To Columbia University HealthWise server
To the US President's Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments list of available files
To the " DOE Office of Human Radiation Experiments - includes declassified goverment documents Med Web Bioethics Sources
US National Reference Center for Bioethics Literature
Syllabus -exchange - Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Washington, D.C.
Journal of Chinese Medical Ethics - Abstracts
Medicine and Philosophy Journal (China) - Abstracts

Related Papers on General Medical Ethics from Eubios Ethics Institute Publications

Editorial - Tsukuba Bioethics Roundtable - Darryl Macer, EJAIB 6 (1996), 153.
Report of the Kyoto Bioethics Seminar, and Comments on Comparative Bioethics - Masahiro Morioka , EJAIB 6 (1996), 157.
Bioethics East and West - Jean Kitahara-Frisch
, EJAIB 6 (1996), 157-8.
Short History of Reproductive Medical Problems in Japan - Shinryo N. Shinagawa , , EJAIB 6 (1996), 158-60.
Commentary on Shinagawa - Yutaka Tejima , EJAIB 6 (1996), 160.
Impressions Of East Asia: Science and Spirituality - Frank J. Leavitt , EJAIB 6 (1996), 171-2.
Ethical issues in Japanese clinical settings in 1990's: Attitudes and Experiences of the Japanese - Atsushi Asai and Tsuguya Fukui , EJAIB 7 (1997), 39-43.

Building Bridges - Kerstin Jage-Bowler , EJAIB 7 (1997), 9-10/ Commentary on Jage-Bowler - Frank J. Leavitt , EJAIB 7 (1997), 10.

Editorial - Bioethical lessons from India - Darryl Macer, EJAIB 7 (1997), 33.
Chennai Statement on Bioethics, EJAIB 7 (1997), 34.

Editorial - Asia, North America and Bioethics - Darryl Macer , EJAIB 7 (1997), 1-2.
Appeal for Comments on Ethical Case Histories - Raymond Richard Neutra, John Goldsmith EJAIB 7 (1997), 69-71.
Case Study 1: Hemodialysis for a patient in persistent vegetative state - Atsushi Asai, Masashi Shirahama, Sara Carmel EJAIB 7 (1997), 105-107.
Bioscience Ethics - A New Conceptual Approach To Modern Ethical Challenges - Irina Pollard and Steven Gilbert EJAIB 7 (1997), 131-133.
The Bioethicist of the Future: Commentary on Pollard and Gilbert, and Melanie Rock - Frank J. Leavitt EJAIB 7 (1997), 133-134.
Pollard's Response to Leavitt's Commentary EJAIB 7 (1997), 134-135.
Case Study 2: Disagreement among family members - Masashi Shirahama and Atsushi Asai EJAIB 7 (1997), 135-137.

Editorial - Darryl Macer EJAIB 9 (1999), 33.
Bioethics and Global Love - Darryl Macer EJAIB 9 (1999), 34-5.
Theories of Bioethics - Robert M. Veatch EJAIB 9 (1999), 35-8.
Commentary on Macer - Masahiro Morioka EJAIB 9 (1999), 38-9.
Kagandahang loob: Love in Philippine bioethics - Leonardo D. de Castro EJAIB 9 (1999), 39-40.
Love in Medical Ethics in South Asia - V. Manickavel EJAIB 9 (1999), 40-2.
The importance of love in ancient Indian biomedical ethics - Sunil K. Pandya EJAIB 9 (1999), 42-3.
Love and medical ethics in Iran - Alizhera Bagheri EJAIB 9 (1999), 43-5.
Love in Buddhist Bioethics - Pinit Ratanakul EJAIB 9 (1999), 45-6.
Can love be a language of bio-ethics? - Ole Doering EJAIB 9 (1999), 46-7.
Love and the History of Chinese Bioethics - Zhang Daqing EJAIB 9 (1999), 47-9.
Love in Bioethics for Patient Care in Developing Countries - A.K.Tharien EJAIB 9 (1999), 49.
Warfare Fitness Enhancement or Losing Strategy? A Bioscience Ethics Perspective - Irina Pollard EJAIB 9 (1999), 50-4.
Commentary on Pollard - A.K.Tharien EJAIB 9 (1999), 54.
Building religious/cultural bridges between Israeli and Palestinian university students - Ben Mollov, Musa Isa Barhoum EJAIB 9 (1999), 55.
Pacifism and Reality: Commentary - Yeruham Frank Leavitt EJAIB 9 (1999), 56.
Beyond the conventional dichotomy/dualism: Occidental value and Oriental value - Kaori Sasaki EJAIB 9 (1999), 74-6.
Chinese Oath of a Medical Student - Liu Qing EJAIB 9 (1999), 81.
Narrativity in Bioethics: with special reference to medical ethics - N. Yasemin Oguz EJAIB 9 (1999), 130-134.
Earthquakes, plagues and bioethics: Commentary on Yasemin Oguz's narrative approach - Yeruham Frank Leavit EJAIB 9 (1999), 134-5.
Ethical issues in holistic health and healing - Dr. A. K. Tharien EJAIB 10 (2000), 8-9.
History of medical ethics in India - Sunil K. Pandya EJAIB 10 (2000), 40-44.
The Role of A Hindu Cultural Determinism in the Execution of Autonomy in the Modern Health Care System in Nepal - V.Manickavel EJAIB 10 (2000), 51-53.
The concept of universal variable and the question of Bioethics as love of life - Eliane S. Azevedo EJAIB 10 (2000), 82-84.
The Importance of Medical Humanity in Medical Education - Michael Cheng-tek Tai EJAIB 10 (2000), 84-85.
Humanistic Medicine: Commentary on Tai - Yeruham Frank Leavitt EJAIB 10 (2000), 85.
Macer, D. (1998) Bioethics: A challenge for policy-makers, The Critical Lawyer 1: 7-10.
Macer, D. (1999) Bioethics, pp. 34-36 in McGraw-Hill Yearbook of Science and Technology 2000 (McGraw-Hill 1999).
Macer, D. (1999) Bioethics: a challenge for scientists and for public policy, Indian J. Physiology &. Pharmacology 43: 1-4.

Editorial: Clinical ethics - Darryl Macer EJAIB 11 (May 2001), 65.
Attitudes of people to the truth-telling issue in Turkey - Nermin Ersoy EJAIB 11 (May 2001), 68-74.
Why bring up the past tragedy again? - Rongxia Chen EJAIB 11 (July 2001), 107.

Commentary on Ranjan: Spirituality and Religion, are they Connected? - Frank (Yeruham) Leavitt EJAIB 11 (July 2001), 110-111.
Religion, Education and Bioethical Maturity - Raghwesh Ranjan EJAIB 11 (July 2001), 111.
What is our Body? - V.R.Manoj EJAIB 11 (July 2001), 111-3.
Commentary on Manoj- Erin D. Williams / Commentary on Manoj- Frank (Yeruham) Leavitt EJAIB 11 (July 2001), 113.

Editorial: Religion and global bioethics - Darryl Macer EJAIB 11 (Sept. 2001), 129.

Rethinking patient-health care provider relations: An ethical perspective - Batami Sadan EJAIB 11 (Sept. 2001), 136-141.

Introducing a 'Thin Theory' for Cross-Cultural Hermeneutics in Medical Ethics. Reflections from the Research Project 'Biomedicine and Ethics in China' - Ole Doering EJAIB 11 (Sept. 2001), 146-152.

The Influence of Culture, Ideologies, Religion and Political Boundary Determines Universal Bioethics -Baby Joseph EJAIB 11 (Sept. 2001), 152-156.

Polytheism and development of universal ethics - K. K. Verma and Rashmi Saxena EJAIB 11 (Sept. 2001), 156.

Response to Verma and Saxena -Avi Gold EJAIB 11 (Sept. 2001), 156-7.

A Short Response to Gold, Verma, and Saxena -Masahiro Morioka EJAIB 11 (Sept. 2001), 157.

Forward looking universal bioethics: Polytheism and Monotheism - Jayapaul Azariah EJAIB 11 (Sept. 2001), 157-159.

Challenges of Global Bioethics for Developing Countries - M. K. Tadjudin EJAIB 11 (Sept. 2001), 159.

Religion Obviously Teaches Tolerance, Humbleness and Respect For Fellow Beings - Raghwesh Ranjan EJAIB 11 (Sept. 2001), 159-160.

John Lennon, Love, Religion and Bioethics - Erin D. Williams EJAIB 11 (Sept. 2001), 160.

Reply to Raghwesh Ranjan - Frank J. Leavitt EJAIB 11 (Sept. 2001), 160-161.

The Monotheism-Polytheism Discussion: Commentary on Verma, Saxena, Gold, Morioka and Azariah - Frank J. Leavitt EJAIB 11 (Nov. 2001), 196-197.

2002

Towards the Bioethics of Individual's Health: Introduction of the Cosmist Philosophical Fundamentals - Konstantin S. Khroutski EJAIB 12 (Jan. 2002), 2-9.

Prescription for Life in the Universe - R. N. Sharma EJAIB 12 (Jan. 2002), 9-11.

Editorial: Eubios Ethics Institute as ABA secretariat - Darryl Macer EJAIB 12 (March 2002), 45.

Eubios Declaration for International Bioethics (Open for signature from 1 March 2002) EJAIB 12 (March 2002), 46-48.

9-11: Experiences and Reflections - James Dwyer EJAIB 12 (March 2002), 53-57.

An Essay on the Principle of Informed Consent versus the Significance of Trust for Subjects of Biomedical Research - Jon Vegar Hugaas EJAIB 12 (March 2002), 65-71.

Best wishes from medical students - G.Sivagnanam, M. Rajasekaran, P. Thirumalaikolundusubramanian, K.Namasivayam, C.Jayashree and C.Ravindranath EJAIB 12 (March 2002), 71-72

Aysegul Demirhan Erdemir, The Importance of Besim Omer (Akalin)'s 1906 Article "Doktorlar Ve Avukatlar" (Doctors and Advocates) from the Point of View of the Principles of Medical Ethics , EJAIB 14 (2004), 134-135.

S. Papagrigoriadis and A. Koreli, Interviewing on life threatening issues for research purposes: can it be harmful for the patient? , EJAIB 14 (2004), 135-8.
Pinit Ratanakul, The Buddhist Concept of Life, Suffering and Death, and Related Bioethical Issues , EJAIB 14 (2004), 141-6.
Frank J. Leavitt, Buddhism, Hume & the Ego: Commentary on Ratanakul , EJAIB 14 (2004), 146-7.
Darryl Macer, Editorial: Asian Bioethics Association (ABA) election , EJAIB 14 (2004), 161.

Pinit Ratanakul , Buddhism, Health & Disease - , EJAIB 14 (2004), 162-164.

Pinit Ratanakul, Response to Frank Leavitt in July 2004 EJAIB , EJAIB 14 (2004), 164-165.

F. Peter Omonzejele, Mental health care in African traditional medicine and society: A Philosophical Appraisal, , EJAIB 14 (2004), 165-9.
Frank J. Leavitt, The Self and Mental Illness: Commentary on Omonzejele and Ratanakul , EJAIB 14 (2004), 169-170.
Darryl Macer, Editorial: Asian-Europe Dialogue , EJAIB 14 (2004), 193.
Soraj Hongladarom, Introduction: the ASEAN-EU LEMLIFE Project , EJAIB 14 (2004), 193-194.
Soraj Hongladarom, Asian Bioethics Revisited: What is it?, and is there such a Thing? , EJAIB 14 (2004), 194-197.

[downloading note - since 2005 the articles are available as pdf files of the complete issue of EJAIB]

Darryl Macer, Editorial: Move to Thailand EJAIB 15 (January 2005), 1.
Hadas Gabizon-David and Frank J. Leavitt, Wittgensteinian Philosophy, Anthropology and the Ethics of PsychiatryEJAIB 15 (January 2005), 2-6.
Konstantin S. Khroutski, Three Dimensions of Contemporary Bioethics: Western, Global, CosmistEJAIB 15 (January 2005), 6-9.
Atsushi Asai, Yugo Narita, Etsuyo Nishigaki, Seiji Bito, Taishu Masano, Yukari Take, Yasuhiko Miura, Koichiro Itai, and Shunichi Fukuhara, Perceptions of interpersonal relationships held by patients with obstinate diseaseEJAIB 15 (January 2005), 32-35.
Darryl Macer, Editorial: Across CulturesEJAIB 15 (March 2005), 33.
Merry Osemwegie, Bioethics in Africa: The new human genetics and a case for responsible global governance EJAIB 15 (Sept. 2005), 141-160.
Ann Boyd and Denise Hise, Interpreting Helsinki in a Pluralistic World EJAIB 15 (May 2005), 83-7.
BBRT1 abstracts EJAIB 15 (July, 2005), 100-135.

Darryl Macer, Editorial: ABC6 in Turkey EJAIB 15 (Nov. 2005), 169.
Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights EJAIB 15 (Nov. 2005), 170-178.
Kamal Kumar Dua, Bhagavad Gita on Divine Values: A Pathway for Ethical Evolution EJAIB 15 (Nov. 2005), 183-185.
Report of the 2005 Asian Bioethics Association (ABA) Board Meetings and General Meeting EJAIB 15 (Nov. 2005), 190-1.
Darryl Macer, Report of the First UNESCO Bangkok Bioethics Roundtable (BBRT1) EJAIB 15 (Nov. 2005), 191-5.
Karolyn White, Catherine McGrath, Ian Kerridge, Multicultural medicine: ethical issues encountered when perspectives differ EJAIB 16 (Jan. 2006), 4-6.
Ahmet G�ner, A Book on Medical Ethics in Medieval Islam: Al-Tashw�k Al-Tibb� (Encouraging Medicine) of Abu�l-Al� S�id B. Al-Hasan Al-Tab�b (1009-1087 A.C) EJAIB 16 (Jan. 2006), 6-9.
David Cummiskey, Confucian Ethics: Responsibilities, Rights, & Relationships EJAIB 16 (Jan. 2006), 9-21.
Darryl Macer, Editorial: Bioethics across the Region EJAIB 16 (March 2006), 29.
Darryl Macer, Editorial: Global dialogue EJAIB 16 (May 2006), 65.
Arthur Saniotis, Health, Illness and Medical Bioethics: An Islamic Perspective EJAIB 16 (May 2006), 71-6.
Darryl Macer, Editorial: Rediscovering our roots EJAIB 16 (July 2006), 97.
Xiaomei Zhai, Informed Consent in Chinese Clinical Research: The Role of Family in Decision-Making EJAIB 16 (July 2006), 98-103.
D.S. Nesy, Report of the Seminar / Workshop on Bioethics (2 � 3, March 2006) Kerala, India EJAIB 16 (July 2006), 123-5.
Lukas Kaelin, Bioethics: A view on the contemporary discussion in Germany compared to Asia - EJAIB 16 (July 2006), 125-31.
Arthur Saniotis, Human Behaviourome as Cross Cultural Tool with Reference to Conflict Resolution, EJAIB 16 (Nov. 2006), 168-71.
Song Sang-yong, ABA Presidential message, EJAIB 16 (Nov. 2006), 168.
Arthur Saniotis, Human Behaviourome as Cross Cultural Tool with Reference to Conflict Resolution, EJAIB 16 (Nov. 2006), 168-71.
Editorial: Towards ABC8 / BBRT2 , EJAIB 17 (Jan. 2007), 1.
Francisco Iturra, Comments Cross Cultural Introduction to Bioethics, EJAIB 17 (Jan. 2007), 22-26.
Akoijam Thoibisana, An Essay on Philosophy and Medicine, EJAIB 17 (Jan. 2007), 26-30.
Darryl Macer, Editorial: The application of bioethics, EJAIB 17 (March 2007), 33.
Eliane S Azevedo, Interdisciplinary Bioethics on the Crossroad of Research Methods, EJAIB 17 (March 2007), 34-35.
Jayapaul Azariah, Welcome to the Eighth Asian Bioethics Conference: All Nations � The Phantom Next Generation (ABA Presidential Address), EJAIB 17 (May 2007), 65-69.
Abstracts of presented papers at the Eighth Asian Bioethics Conference (ABC2007) concurrent with the Second UNESCO Bangkok Bioethics Roundtable (BBRT2), EJAIB 17 (May 2007), 65-94.

Darryl Macer, "The globalization of ethics and balancing cultural diversity with universal bioethics", pp. 31-45 in Cam, Philip, Ibana, Rainier A., and Pham Van Duc, eds., Philosophical Perspectives on Globalization. Korean National Commission for UNESCO; The Asia-Pacific Philosophy Education Network for Democracy (APPEND) 2006.

General Medical Ethics News listing from EJAIB

France is attempting to introduce a Bioethics law again, with much debate, Lancet 342 (1993), 1355; BMJ 307 (1993), 1445; Biotechnology 11 (1993), 1515.

In the USA there have been recent revelations of a series of unethical experiments performed about 40 years ago on mentally incompetent persons involving the use of radioactive markers in dietary studies. Many enquiries are now underway into this, it will no doubt become another example of the past abuses of human beings in biomedical research. There are numerous reports of this in January and late December US newspapers, for example New York Times (1 Jan 1994), 1, 7; Washington Post (2 Jan 1994), A16, 17; (3 Jan), A13. President Clinton has opened government files on radiation experiments. One must note that ethical awareness was considerably less, but even considering that, some trials were clearly unethical.

A recently published OTA Report reported previously, OTA, Biomedical Ethics in US Public Policy - Background Paper (OTA-BP-BBS-105) was discussed in the US Senate in mid-October, with various people calling for the creation of a new committee. The topic and report is also discussed in BME 92 (Oct 1993), 5-6. At least 25 countries have a national commission or committee, while the USA does not. Another call for its creation is K.E. Hanna et al., "Finding a forum for bioethics in US Public Policy", Politics in the Life Sciences 12 (1993), 205-19. A series of reports on ethics committees including: The US Task Force on the life and the law: Surrogate decisions (1992) Executive Summary; from Poland, UK, Slovakia and Italy, are in IJB 4 (1994), 211-231. A report from the Czech Republic's ethics committee is BME 92 (Oct 1993), 16-9.

A reprint of the recent CIOMS International Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research involving Human Subjects is BME 93 (Nov 1993), 9-11. Also on research trials see BME 93 (Nov 1993), 13-9, on improvements in use of the results of trials, p. 20-23; and drug industry advice on good trials practice is p. 24-7. Human experimentation is also the subject of a book review in NEJM 329 (1993), 1748. A discussion of the European charter of children's rights is in BME 92 (Oct 1993), 13-5. A report from a recent conference with two children's views of leg lengthening operations which are informative for those who try to make decisions about treatment for children are BME 92 (Oct 1993), 34-6. The use of video surveillance to detect child abuse is discussed in Lancet 342 (1993), 944.

Informed consent and clinical trials are the subject of letters in BMJ 307 (1993), 1494-7; Lancet 342 (1993), 1366-7. The discussion of whether a clinical trial should be stopped before complete in the case of AIDS is discussed in Lancet 342 (1993), 1001-2, 1311-2. The results of clinical trials should be public property and published, BMJ 307 (1993), 1296-7, 1340-1. A paper on research ethics in Europe and discussion of the Helsinki Declaration is K.E. Tranoy, "Research ethics: a European perspective", BME 92 (Oct 1993), 28-33; and on a US theme of research ethics, J. Katz, "Ethics and clinical research revisited: A tribute to Henry K. Beecher", HCR 23(5) (1993), 31-9. A general background discussion of human research is in Bioethics News 12(5), 30-47. The need for a clinical trial to determine the safety of tamoxifen is stressed in BMJ 307 (1993), 1371-2.

A 24pp. supplement on the issue of priorities in mental health services is P.J. Boyle & D. Callahan, "Minds & hearts: Priorities in mental health services", Special Supplement, HCR 23 (5) (1993), 1-25. It is the result of a project on the issue. On new powers of discharge of mentally ill people, BMJ 307 (1993), 1160. A survey on the use of chaperones to accompany young women or girls as a protection against claims of sexual misconduct finds mild use in the UK, BMJ 307 (1993), 986-7, 1353.

A recent book on the conflict between acting ethically and acting in one's own self interest's is Peter Singer, How are we to live? Ethics in an age of self-interest, Text Publishing $A25). A paper in French on the place and role of the person in bioethics is IJB 4 (1994), 187-98. A report on the founding of the Sicilian Institute of Bioethics and its possible roles is IJB 4 (1994), 269-71 (see also the letter from Yaman Ors in this issue).

An editorial in BME 93 (Nov 1993), 1, criticises the publication of a BMJ paper, BMJ 307 (1993), 1199-1201, against informed consent, because that article was inadequately peer reviewed, and did not refer to published studies. It is the role of reviewers to ensure that papers on ethics are subjected to the same scrutiny as scientific papers, and I agree that it represents an unfortunately common belief that ethics is different to science. Rather both should be consistent with the data, when it exists.

The possible trend in more importance being given to the patient in the doctor patient relationship is discussed in Lancet 342 (1993), 1042-3. Patient decision-making is discussed in JAMA 270 (1993), 2432. Letters on non-compliance are in Lancet 342 (1993), 1426-7. A discussion of the participation of physicians in capital punishment is in NEJM 329 (1993), 1346-50.

A paper reflecting on teaching in Turkey is Y. Ors, "Teaching medical ethics in the subjunctive mood", BME 93 (Nov 1993), 31-6. It provides some advice from his experiences over two decades, in teaching in a positivist way. Also on education in medicine and biology see Science 262 (1993), 498-9; and on special entry fees in entry to medical school in India, Lancet 342 (1993), 1227. Such "extra" fees are routine in private Japanese universities (i.e. entry requires a "monetary gift" to the University). A survey of attitudes towards professional courtesy in the USA is NEJM 329 (1993), 1627-31, 1652-3. Almost all physicians offer free or discounted medical care to colleagues.

The difficulty of measuring the quality of care is discussed in NEJM 329 (1993), 1263-4; 1747-8. However a study in the UK does suggest that the existence of guidelines does improve clinical practice, Lancet 342 (1993), 1317-22. The question of what physicians know and their fallibility is discussed in NEJM 329 (1993), 1268-74. The dilemmas of many different job expectations are discussed in JAMA 270 (1993), 1657-9. An editorial in Lancet 342 (1993), 1063-4, asks whether research makes better doctors or not, and says yes.

A new book, R. Gillon, ed., Principles of Health Care Ethics (Nov 1993, 1128pp., John Wiley & Sons) is priced at US$200. This is certainly not including a chapter on the principles of economical (and some say ethical) book pricing (I have received an advertisement only).

A special issue of Science (12 Nov 1993) 262: 1089-1135, is on minorities in Science. A paper on the trends in the acceptance of women in science is in Scientific American (Nov 1993), 68-77.

The controversy over the radiation experiments conducted in the United States since World War II (EEIN 4: 12) continues to be front page news, and is also discussed in a number of scientific journals. Some comments include: BMJ 308 (1994), 77; Lancet 343 (1994), 106; Nature 367 (1994), 4, 303; Science 262 (1993), 1968; 263: 470-3. The DOE has said it will compensate up to 800 known subjects of research, and has been using a telephone hotline to get information. In some of the studies informed consent was not obtained, and in others it is doubtful. Some of the researchers are being named, thought some are already dead. It has stimulated much debate on bioethics. In the UK, more on the use of military volunteers and nerve gas experiments is in Nature 367 (1994), 676.

Privacy in the age of "Smart cards", and the US federal measures to protect it, are discussed in HCR 23(6) (1993), 13-23. Confidentiality and the duty to warn are debated in CMAJ 149 (1993), 1781-6. A discussion of truth telling is G.J. Annas, "Informed consent, cancer, and truth in prognosis", NEJM 330 (1994), 223-5.

A general comment urging doctors to give serious consideration to the adoption of new technology in medicine is in HCR 23(6) (1993), 32-9. It also discusses the problem of exact diagnosis that is becoming possible. Letters on whether doctor's should refuse to give inappropriate treatment that the patient's chose are in NEJM 330 (1994), 144-5. A critique of consumer satisfaction is B. Williams, "Patient satisfaction: A valid concept?", SSM 38 (1994), 509-16. The privilege of caring for obstetrics and gynecology is the subject of an essay in O&G 83 (1994), 1-4. Beneficence is the subject of a paper L.B. Murphy, "The demands of beneficence", Phil. & Public Affairs 22 (1993), 267-92.

A special supplement on "The Birth of Bioethics", reporting from a US conference on this subject is in HCR 23(6) (1993), S1-16. A list of the 48 participants suggests they are all from the US - which makes us ask what is bioethics? Unfortunately many people interpret it to be a modern subject, originated in the USA: let us hope that we recognise the much earlier origins of the concepts being discussed - and of most of the fundamental questions. A discussion of public involvement in decision-making is P.L. Bereano, "Is there a contradiction between the practice of technology assessment and democratic decision-making", IJB 4 (1993), 285-8. A summary of the OTA report on Biomedical Ethics and in US Public Policy by the project director, R. Nishimi, is in JAMA 270 (1993), 2911. A series of comments on the proposal, including one by D. Macer, are in Politics & Life Science 13 (Feb 1994), .

The central role of love in bioethics is explored in A.C. Mermann, "Love in the clinical setting", Humane Medicine 257 (1993), 268-73. A critique of bioethics in general is R.M. Hare, "Methods of bioethics: Some defective proposals", Monash Bioethics Review 13 (1994), 34-47. On patient rights see Lancet 343 (1994), 132. A book review on the use of quality of life research is in SSM 38 (1994), 764-5. Of general interest to medical ethics are JAMA 271 (1994), 247; Nature 367 (1994), 125; Ethics 104: 382-3, 396-9, 404-10.

The CIOMS guidelines for human subject research (1993) are in French and English in IJB 4 (1993), 299-304; and in IDHL 44 (1993), 734-41. The rules of the Norwegian National Ethics Committee are in IJB 4 (1993), 309-10. Islamic guidelines for human reproductive research from a Dec 1991 conference in Egypt are reproduced in IJB 4 (1993), 305-6.

The Pope is to appoint a bioethics committee - made of 70 scientists, with views consistent with "life begins at conception", Nature 368 (1994), 90. WHO is also trying to call on more ethics committees, along with CIOMS and UNESCO, Lancet 343 (1994), 225-6.

The ethical development of medical students in clinical training is discussed in C. Feudtner & D.A. Christakis, "Making the rounds: The ethica; development of medical students in the context of clinical rotations", HCR 24(1) (1994), 6-12. It suggests training could be better made in the context of the practical experiences. On the ethics of speaking up about ethical problems, and others practice see HCR 24(1) (1994), 13-8. Book reviews of three recent books on clinical medical ethics are in HCR 24(1) (1994), 43-4. A review on responsible ethics in research is Acad. Med. 69 (1994), 102-7.

Research in children is discussed in J. Pediatrics 123 (1993), 852-5; JME 19 (1993), 142-7; Lancet 343 (1994), 282. On ethics committees: New Scientist (12 Feb 1994), 3, 12-3; (19 Feb), 3; BMJ 308 (1994), 362. Caring for Jehovah's Witnesses is discussed in AJOG 170 (1994), 452-3. Mental health is debated in BMJ 308 (1994), 43-5, 408-9, 811; Lancet 343 (1994), 781. On informed consent in clinical trials, BMJ 308 (1994), 271-2. A review of ethics in occupational medicine is SSM 38 (1994), 1367-74.

In South Africa a new government has been elected with the introduction of democracy. In 1993 the South African Medical Research Council issued revised Guidelines on Ethics for Medical Research. The report (119pp.) is based on the UK Royal College of Physicians guidelines, and CIOMS.

General papers include: JME 19 (1993), 131-2, 169-74, 183-7; J. Med. & Phil. 18 (4; 1993), 347-426; SSM 38 (1994), 1469-74; BMJ 308 (1994), 144, 591-3, 666; NEJM 330 (1994), 738-43; Lancet 343 (1994), 101; JAMA 271 (1994), 955-6. A list of some recent successive European bioethics research proposals is in BME 95 (Feb 1994),4. A discussion of G. Gillet's book Reasonable Care is in Bioethics 8 (1994), 159-67. General book reviews are in Bioethics 8 (1994), 93-100, 168-71; Politics & Life Science 13 (Feb 1994),133-160. On confidentiality, CMAJ 149 (1993), 1783-5; BMJ 308 (1994), 69, 139, 342-3, 490, 522-3, 612.

A paper on the use of physical restraints in Ontario, Canada, is in Humane Medicine 10 (1994), 17-27. Involvement in torture and capital punishment is debated in Lancet 343 (1994), 743, 785; JME 19 (1993), 133-41; NEJM 330 (1994), 935-6. On attitudes to homo-sexuality, BMJ 308 (1994), 550-1, 586-7, 854-5; JAMA 271 (1994), 714-5; Lancet 343 (1994), 185-6, 674.

Cultural arguments and universal human rights, and ethics of female circumcision are debated in S.A. James, "Reconciling international human rights and cultural relativism: The case of female circumcision", Bioethics 8 (1994), 1-26. He argues against the use of circumcision as a human rights violation. Also on extending human rights to include any information necessary for patient choice over drug trials, Lancet 343 (1994), 485. On human rights, New Scientist (5 March 1994), 10; CMAJ 149 (1993), 1707-8; Science 263 (1994), 1083-4. The Netherlands has passed a law defining the rights of patients, BMJ 308 (1994), 616. Korean and Malaysian charters are also discussed in Lancet 343 (1994), 132.

The degree of consent that is absent from emergency rooms in the US is discussed in a US House Subcommittee Report, Lancet 343 (1994), 1093. The future of physician ethics in light of the new US health care reforms is reviewed in HCR 24(2) (1994), 28-41. Children's consent should be sought much more often because they must live with the consequences, according to BMJ 308 (1994), 1182-3.

A special supplement (no. 22) of JRSM 87 (1994), 1-50, is on "Trust and ethics in medical care: Patients and Their Doctors". A forum on how to manage patients who refuse blood transfusion is BMJ 308 (1994), 1423-6. Non-compliance is discussed in Lancet 343 (1994), 1305; MJA 160 (1994), 305-6.

In Japan truth-telling for terminally-sick patients is not common, however, there are cases when life needs insurance can be paid before death, Yomiuri Shimbun (22 June 1994), 19; making the case for telling them more compelling. A student's bioethics forum has been started in Japan, to try to stimulate bioethics. On truth-telling, JAMA 271 (1994), 1052. Privacy of health data in the USA is discussed in JAMA 271 (1994), 1308.

A review on the importance of placebo effects is JAMA 271 (1994), 1609-14. The ethics of a breast cancer trial being started in the UK is questioned in BME 96 (March 1994), 3-6; and on breast cancer operations, JAMA 271 (1994), 1204-5. On human research, JAMA 271 (1994), 1228-9; Lancet 343 (1994), 958-9, 1209-11. A summary of an AAAS report to the UN on human rights is in Science 264 (1994), 730, IDHL 45: 105-8. Further cases of US radiation experiments were released in late June, also see Nature 368 (1994), 781; Science 264 (1994), 1410-1.

A supplement on ethics committees is in Monash Bioethics Review 13(2) (1994), 1-34.

A new newsletter has appeared as a supplement to BME 96 (March 1994), called the newsletter of the European Association of Centres of Medical Ethics (EACME). There are 33 established centres and institute for medical ethics in 12 European countries included. The secretariat of the association is Centrum voor Bio-Medische Ethik en Recht Kapucijnenvoer 35, 300, Leuven, Belgium. A survey of US health officer's interactions with the media is JAMA 271 (1994), 1285-9; and on health communication, World Health Forum 15 (1994), 175-77; JRSM 87 (1994), 15.

The role of the hospital chaplain in Western countries is one of the origins of counseling, and a paper on this is A.L. Simmonds, "The chaplain as a spiritual and moral agent. Strengthening the process of bioethical decision-making", Humane Medicine 10 (1994) 103-7.

A special supplement of HCR 24(2) (March/April 1994) is on "What do we owe the elderly? Allocating social and health care resources", 12pp. A paper on deciding when to give money for an operation and when not to is T. Hope et al., "'Not clinically indicated': patient's interests or resource allocation?", Monash Bioethics Review 13(2) (1994), 14-8. On futility see Humane Medicine 10: 108-13.

The difficulties of defining mental sickness are discussed in Lancet 343 (1994), 847; and on mental disorders in the developing world, BMJ 308 (1994), 1052-3. Also on mental disease issues, Lancet 343 (1994), 1237-8, 1274; NEJM 330 (1994), 1546-7.

General medical ethics includes: BMJ 308 (1994), 988-9, 1170; Lancet 343 (1994), 1024-5, 1171; JRSM 87 (1994), 197-9, 250-1; JAMA 271 (1994), 1668-70; and on universalism, Ethics 104: 536-57. On sexual misconduct and harassment, BMJ 308 (1994), 1185-6, 1439; NEJM 330 (1994), 1388-9; Science 264 (1994), 1237-9; Nature 369 (1994), 435. Corruption is discussed in BMJ 308 (1994), 1179-80; Lancet 343 (1994), 964. Alberta, Canada is going to closely test all their doctors, Lancet 343 (1994), 965-6. Mistreatment of medical students is discussed in JAMA 271 (1994), 1049-51.

It has been common in Japan not to give the real reason of death on a death certificate, with only 60% of those who "died of heart failure" actually being victims of heart failure. This is used to coverup other diseases, and leads to difficulties in international comparisons. Calls are being made for Japanese doctors to be accurate, and parents are questioning the real causes; Yomiuri Shimbun (23 July 1994), 1. The most common cause of death written is 26% cancer, and next 21% heart disease.

Debate and calls for a national bioethics committee in the UK are in BME 99 (July 1994), 1. CNRS in France is going to look into ethical issues through a new committee, Nature 370 (1994), 88.

A series of papers marking the 25th anniversary of the Hastings Center are in HCR 24(3) (1994), 6-41. Decter MB. A new book is Healing Medicine: Managing Health System Change The Canadian Way. Toronto: McGilligan Books. 1994.

The US radiation experiments are still being revealed, and are stimulating discussion of informed consent, Hospital Ethics (March 1995), 13-5; BMJ 309 (1994), 207-8. An editorial on obtaining informed consent in human experiments in Australasia's past is in Monash Bioethics Review 13 (1994), 1-3. Tobin, B, "An Australian development of the duty to inform and advise patients", Cath. Med. Qtrly XLIV (Feb 1994), 5-8, looks at the Nov. 1992 High Court decision that said that a doctor was negligent in not explaining a 1 in 14,000 chance of losing sight from an operation. A report on the steps undertaken to ensure no repeat of the NZ cervical cancer research which failed to consider the consent of the women, is Strid, J. "Ethical dilemmas: A consumer perspective", Monash Bioethics Review 13(3) (1994), Supplement: 3-14. Also on consent, Lancet 343 (1994), 1558; 344: 211; BMJ 308 (1994), 1638-9.

In Japan a survey has found that 20% of medical facilities do not inform patients of HIV positive results, Mainichi Shimbun (19 July), 3. Another survey of the public in Japan looked at payment of money by patients to doctors and hospitals (corruption in some cases). 34% of people said they had given something to their doctor. Of 483 persons, 149 said they gave it upon entry to hospital, 88 upon leaving, 109 at the seasonal present time, 79 for a particular operation, 48 for kindness or as thanks, and 10 as they were introduced to a new doctor; Yomiuri Shimbun (8 Sept 1994), 22. A debate on Japanese medical ethics between D. Macer and C. Becker is in Nichibunken Newsletter 18: 1-12.

Meslin EM, et al. "Judging the Ethical Merit of Clinical Trials: What Criteria Do Research Ethics Board Members Use?" IRB (1994) 16(4), 6-10. Also on clinical trials, JME 20 (1994), 3-4, 19-22, 75-6; Lancet 344 (1994), 327. On alternative medicine, BMJ 309 (1994), 103-11; and on the placebo effect, BMJ 309 (1994), 69-70.

A general paper on medical ethics is R. Gillon, "Medical ethics: four principles plus attention to scope", BMJ 309 (1994), 184-8. A paper on feminisim in medical ethics is Monash Bioethics Review 13 (1994), 13-9. On confidentiality, JME 20 (1994), 47-9, 69-70. Other mentions of medical ethics include: New Scientist (2 July 1994), 36-7; MJA 160 (1994), 520-1; JAMA 271 (1994), 1792-8; BMJ 308 (1994), 1522; 309: 124-5; Lancet 343 (1994), 1417, 1512; NEJM 331 (1994), 280-1.

A discussion of the issues when a patient with dementia requires life support is, R. Dresser & P.J. Whitehouse, "The incompetent patient on the slippery slope", HCR 24(4) (1994), 6-12. Silberfeld M. "Evaluating Decisions in Mental Capacity Assessment," Int. J of Geriatric Psychiatry 9: 365-371; D.P. Sulmasy, "More talk, less paper: predicting the accuracy of substituted judgements", Amer. J. Med. 96: 432-8; NEJM 330 (1994), 1895-6. A UK High Court judge ordered the feeding of a mentally competent patient, BMJ 309 (1994), 291-2. On nursing ethics, JME 20 (1994), 7-11, 101-7; BMJ 308 (1994), 1687-92; SSM 39 (1994), 655-70.

Medical ethics education is discussed in N.G. Stevens & T.R. McCormick, "What are students thinking when we present ethics cases?: an example focusing on confidentiality and substance abuse", JME 20 (1994), 112-7; K.R. Mitchell et al., "Assessing the clinical ethical competence of undergraduate medical students", JME 19 (1993), 230-6; Hospital Ethics (March 1994), 4-5; (May), 16; Lancet 343 (1994), 1435. General bioethics education is discussed in Research in Science & Technological Education 12: 77-89; J. Moral Education 23 (1994), 61-73 (in Singapore), 183-98; Lancet 344 (1994), 71-2. On open data, BMJ 308 (1994), 1519-20; Lancet 343 (1994), 1581-2; BMJ 309 (1994), 66.

The CMA policy on sexual relationships with patients is in CMAJ 150 (1994), 1884A-C; and a survey of obstetricians and gynecologists views is CMAJ 150 (1994), 1433+. Also on sexual abuse surveys of practice, O&G 84 (1994), 193-206.

A review of recent UK discussion of confidentiality, including extracts from a draft bill governing use and disclosure of personal health information, and Dept. of Health draft guidance, is in BME 100 (Aug 1994), 13-24; BMJ 309 (1994), 360. Clinical trials are discussed in Lancet 344 (1994), 347-8, 417-8, 688-9.

A paper on Japanese attitudes to truth telling is Tanda, N. "Japanese attitudes towards truth disclosure in cancer", Scand. J. Soc. Med. 22 (1994), 50-7. Patients were more positive to knowing the truth than the general public. He reports 13% of doctors in Hyogo College of medicine report the truth to patients with cancer, however in the Annual Japanese Cancer Society meeting held in October, another survey found 50% of doctors tell the truth. In the process of changing attitudes to truth telling the ratio probably depends on hospital location most.

A positive effect of patient choice in surgery is noted in Fallowfield, L.J. et al. "Psychological effects of being offered choice of surgery for breast cancer", BMJ 309 (1994), 448. Acting in medicine and placebo effects are debated in Lancet 344 (1994), 801-2, 767+; BMJ 309 (1994), 667. The ethics of patient satisfaction surveys are debated in Otago Bioethics Report 3(3), 8-9. On consent, Lancet 344 (1994), 617-8; NEJM 331 (1994), 810-3. A letter on managing a Jehovah's witness who agrees to a blood transfusion is BMJ 309 (1994), 612.

The issue of supervision registers for mentally ill persons is raised in BMJ 309 (1994), 551-2; and on their high security, BMJ 309 (1994), 423-4. The New York state plans for surrogate decision-making are discussed in JAMA 272 (1994), 850-1.

A series of papers in French on medical ethics committees is in IJB 5 (Sept 1994, special issue), 6-94. It includes a list of national ethics committees. A review of Australia's ethics committees is reported in Lancet 344 (1994), 811. A letter arguing that no one swears the Hippocratic Oath is BMJ 309 (1994), 414. A call for colleagues to point out sick doctors is BMJ 309 (1994), 557-8.

A new degree, Master in Bioethics and Health Law is being offered by the Bioethics Research Centre, University of Otago, P.O. Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand. The need for more scientific medical training is made in Nature 371 (1994), 100; and in general, JAMA 272 (1994), 504-5; Macleod, S.M. & McCullough, H.N. "Social science education as a component of medical training", SSM 39 (1994), 1367-73; Feudtner, C. et al. "Do clinical clerks suffer ethical erosion? Students' perceptions of their ethical environment and personal development", Acad. Med. 69 (1994), 670-9; Sainsbury, R. et al. "Do the clinical years change medical students' attitudes to old people"?", Med. Education 28: 307-11. Entry to medical school is discussed in Med. Education 28: 263-4, 265-70; and a list of US and Canadian medical schools is JAMA 272 (1994), 694-701+.

In general, Hill, T.P. "The cultural and philosophical foundations of normative medical ethics", SSM 39 (1994), 1149-54; Hoffmaster, B. "The forms and limits of medical ethics", SSM 39 (1994), 1155-64. On general medical ethics, book reviews are in NEJM 331 (1994), 686-7; IDHL 45: 262-4; JAMA 272 (1994), 829-30; SSM 39 (1994), 1007-8; also Lancet 344 (1994), 616.. The process of decision making and attitude formation is discussed in Brit. J. Soc. Psychology 33: 301-12. Ethics in the Confucian tradition is discussed in Phil. East & West 44: 559-64; and in Saudi Arabia, MJA 161 (1994), 153-9. The formation of ethnic medical associations in the UK is debated in BMJ 309 (1994), 645-7. The NIH Office of Alternative Medicines is being allegedly subjected to senatorial interference, Science 265 (1994), 2000-2.

A study showing positive results from listening to self-chosen music is Allen, K. & Blascovich, J. "Effects of music on cardiovascular reactivity among surgeons", JAMA 272 (1994), 882-4. The problems of gender in academic work is discussed in a book review in Science 265 (1994), 1899; and 266: 51-3; and on violence against women, SSM 39 (1994), 1165-79. Sexuality is discussed in JAMA 272 (1994), 1069.

Human experimentation is discussed in Cocking, C. & Oakley, J. "Medical experimentation, informed consent and using people", Bioethics 8 (1994), 293-311; and in the accompanying editorial. The radiation experiments on healthy persons and patients in the USA have been disclosed in 1994; Lancet 344 (1994), 1498, and in an Australian report, radioactive iodine was given to healthy persons but with consent in Australia also. Quality control in medicine is discussed in New Scientist (17 Sept 1994), 22-6.

Changes in the US health care system could increase the power of Institutional Review Boards (IRB), HCR 24(5) (1994), 2. Local research ethics committees are discussed in Foster, C.G. "Whither local research ethics committee?", Dispatches 5(1), 1-3. The French National Bioethics Committee is producing a newsletter in French, the first issue was October 1994, Les cahiers du Comit� Consultatif National d'Ethique pour les sciences de la vie et de la sant�, 28pp. The first issue contains a series of documents on assisted reproduction. A discussion of ethics committees views across cultures is CQHE 3 (1994), 422-30; and of their role with decisions involving mentally handicapped persons see papers in CQHE 3 (1994), 174-232.

Discussion of the merits and needs for a national bioethics commission in the USA continue in HCR 24(6) (1994), 26-7; JAMA 272 (1994), 1323. Reports from ethical committees in Australia, Denmark, France, Italy, Poland, UK, are in IJB 5 (1994), 121-173. A copy of the application form for research approval from a UK ethics committee is in BME 101 (Sept 1994), 15-28. A list of some European Medical Ethics Centres appears in BME (Sept 1994) in a supplement, the second issue of EACME News.

A review of the growth of the informed consent concept in Japan is Morikawa, I. "Patient's rights in Japan: Progress and resistance", KIEJ 4 (1994), 337-43. The process of drug approval in Japan is being reviewed following the sorivudine deaths (see earlier issues), Lancet 344 (1994), 1075-6.

A study of 50 UK patients within 3 months of an ear, nose and throat operation is Dawes, P.J.D. & Davison, P. "Informed consent: what do patients want to know?", Monash Bioethics Review 13(4) (1994), 20-6. A 15pp. supplement on ethics committees and consent is in Monash Bioethics Review 13(4) (1994). Also on informed consent, McNeill, P.M. et al. "Ethics decision-making in Australian hospitals", MJA 161 (1994), 487-8; CMAJ 151 (1994), 423-7, 736; Hospital Ethics (Sept), 5-6.

Cross-cultural ethics are discussed in several papers in CQHE 3 (1994), 321-71. A survey of Turkish physician attitudes to ethical issues is in BME 102 (Oct 1994), 16-21. Related, Olweny, C. "Bioethics in developing countries: ethics of scarcity and sacrifice", JME 20 (1994), 169-74. Cultural barriers to open discussion of cervical cancer with doctors in the UK are reported in BMJ 309 (1994), 1126-8. On medical ethics in China, Lancet 344 (1994), 1427-8; and in India, Lancet 344 (1994), 1150.

The relationship between doctors and nurses is discussed in Higgins, G.L. "Power and authority in medicine", Humane Medicine 10: 253-61, Storch, J.L. "Division of labour in health care", Humane Medicine 10 (1994), 262-9, 248-50; CMAJ 151 (1994), 19-20, 76-8, 1129-32;JME 20 (1994), 175-80; Lancet 344 (1994), 1077. Several papers on healthcare relationships are in CQHE 3 (1994), 7-80. Ethics consultation is the subject of book reviews, NEJM 331 (1994), 1532- 3; JAMA 272 (1994), 1553-4.

The profession of medicine is reexamined in BMJ 309 (1994), 1100- 1, 1140-3; and the Hippocratic Oath in BMJ 309 (1994), 952-3. A conference review of a big US bioethics meeting is in JAMA 272 (1994), 1642-4. A discussion of meta-analysis in medical policy is Science 266 (1994), 960-2. Practice guidelines are discussed in JAMA 272: 1374-5. The problem of impaired physicians and preventing them from practicing is being addressed more in some US state medical boards, JAMA 272 (1994), 1238. Private medical insurance is changing some practices in the UK including the charging of fellow doctors for medical services, BMJ 309 (1994), 1318-9.

A series of papers on the placebo effect, and its uses is treatment are: Lancet 344 (1994), 925-6, 995-8, 1066-7, 1140-2, 1206- 10, 1279-81, 1347-8, 1436. European programs in caring for mentally handicapped persons are reviewed in BMJ 309 (1994), 1218- 21. Psychiatric patient issues are in JME 20 (1994), 135-8; MJA 161 (1994), 381-4. The process of obtaining false confessions of crime is also an ethical issue, Lancet 344 (1994), 1447-50. The release of hospital mortality tables is discussed in Lancet 344 (1994), 1561.

A view on the origin of the word "bioethics" is Reich, W.T. "The word "Bioethics"; its birth and the legacies of those who shaped its meaning", KIEJ 4 (1994), 319-35. General papers on bioethics include: Goldstein, D.M. "Rejuvenating bioethics, literature and interpretive openness", Humane Medicine 10 (1994), 275-81; JME 20 (1994), 152-6; New Scientist (5 Nov 1994), 49; JRSM 87 (1994), 797; Lancet 344 (1994), 1159-60; and book reviews include IDHL 45 (1994), 427-39; BMJ 309 (1994), 1095; Lancet 344: 1558.

Specific topics include; Primum non nocere, Lancet 344 (1994), 1487- 8; confidentiality, JME 20 (1994), 165-8; CMAJ 151 (1994), 847-8; the right to know in World Health (Sept 1994), 18-9. Feminist bioethics include: Humane Medicine 10 (1994), 282-90; JME 20 (1994), 195-6. Sexism is discussed in CMAJ 151 (1994), 1167-8. The NIH has stopped a proposed study on discrimination, Nature 372 (1995), 3.

A review of religious views on bioethics is Bishop, L.J. & Couts, M.C. "Religious perspectives on bioethics, part 2", KIEJ 4 (1994), 357-86. See also JME 20 (1994), 133-4.

Ethics education is discussed in Hospital Ethics (Sept 1994), 14; CMAJ 151 (1994), 415-7. Swiss medical schools will test aptitude, Lancet 344 (1994), 1424.

Funding for bioethics has reached 2% of the total biomedical research funds available in European collaborative research; BME 104 (Jan 1995), 6. The European Parliament has approved a budget of 336 million ecus for BIOMED 2. The first call will be for 140 Mecus, by 31 March , 1995; and the rest by the following March.

The lessons that could be learnt from unethical experiments and the origins of bioethics in the USA are discussed in Katz, J. "Reflections on unethical experiments and the beginnings of bioethics in the United States", KIEJ 4 (1994), 85-92; and the consequences of the radiation experiments are discussed in KIEJ 4 (1994), 147-54. The issues are also discussed in Katz, J. "Do we need another advisory commission on human experimentation?", HCR 25 (1995), 29-31. This concludes that not a study, but a permanent public review process is needed. An editorial with a UK report on how the public can express concerns about health reforms is BME 104 (Jan 1995), 1.

The Italian national bioethics committee has been in controversy following the resignation of the famous biologist, Rita Levi-Montalcini, in protest over the appointment of 9 new orthodox Roman Catholic members by the out-going Italian prime minister, Nature 373 (1995), 97; Science 267 (1995), 326; Lancet 345 (1995), 182.

Consent and the refusal of medical treatment by Christian scientists is discussed in HCR 25: 15-21. Papers on informed consent are in JLME 22 (1994), 301-13, 314-7; JAMA 272 (1994), 1814; BMJ 310 (1995), 43-8. Mental health and ethics are discussed in NEJM 331 (1994), 1662-3; 332: 196; BMJ 309 (1994), 1590-1; 310: 145-6.

The financial constraints in some countries may not allow the presence of a parent in the operating room to see dying relatives, even if the medical staff support it; Hall, P.A. et al. "Parents in the recovery room:" survey of parental and staff attitudes", BMJ 310 (1995), 163-4. This view was discussed in the Philippines, Bioethics Newsletter of the South East Asian Centre for Bioethics (Dec 1994), 1. A study on the harsh impact of ill health on families is JAMA 272 (1994), 1839-44.

A series of 8 papers, and useful references, on research ethics are in CQHE 3 (1994), 493-577. Placebos are discussed in Science 267 (1995), 25-6; NEJM 332 (1995), 60-1. The use of interior decorating to improve health in hospital is becoming common in the USA, JAMA 272 (1994), 1885-6. The question of how to compare good and bad doctors (in terms of performance) is discussed in Scientific American (Jan 1995), 33-4; BMJ 309 (1994), 1599-600. On the ethics of the NHS in the UK, BMJ 309 (1994), 1640-5; 310: 73-4, 189-91, 198.

Theology and bioethics are discussed in KIEJ 4 (1994), 155-83. A discussion of value theory and best interests is in Bioethics 9 (1995), 50-61. A book review of Fulford, K.W.M. et al., eds., Medicine and Moral Reasoning (Cambridge University Press, 1994, 207pp., �12.95) is in Lancet 345 (1995), 307-8. A book review of The Ethical Ophthalmologist: A Primer is in JAMA 272 (1994), 1869-70. The latest Bibliography of Bioethics Vol. 20, has been released by the Kennedy Institute, Washington D.C., 811pp, US$60. On general issues in medical ethics, BMJ 309 (1994), 1657-9, 1668, 1671-2; Lancet 344 (1994), 1774; JAMA 272 (1994), 1888.

The Declaration of Ixtapa, the statement of the XXVIIIth meeting of CIOMS on "Poverty, vulnerability, the value of human life and the emergence of bioethics", from the meeting held 17-20 April, 1994, is in BME 104 (Jan 1995), 10-11. On WHO, Lancet 345 (1995), 203-4, 312; BMJ 309 (1994), 1566-8. Cross-cultural ethics is discussed in: Jecker, N.S. et al. "Caring for patients in cross-cultural settings", HCR 25 (1995), 6-14. On human rights in Singapore, Asian Survey XXXIV (1994), 933-48. A review of ill treatment is Kosserev, I. & Crawshaw, R. "Medicine and the Gulag", BMJ 309 (1994), 1726-30.

Telemedicne is discussed in Lancet 345 (1995), 73-4; and telephone followup in BMJ 309 (1994), 1527-8. Personal computer networks are being tested for medical records in Hyogo prefecture in Japan in a 2 year project, which will test there practicality for the Ministry of Heath and Welfare before general use.

Also on the issue of women in clinical trials, KIEJ 4 (1994), 117-46. A book review on feminist bioethics is in Bioethics 9 (1995), 72-9. The consequences of past sexual abuse on woman's health could make the call for needing to discover the background that people have, Humane Medicine 11 (1995), 23-8. Incest is specifically discussed in Humane Medicine 11 (1995), 29-33. An interesting comparison, the average wage of a woman in Japan is 51% of that of men.

In the January disaster in Kobe, Japan, the local government refused the offer of the Japanese Emergency Medical Association to send more medical staff. As they later found, when some members went on their own sense of being needed, many lives would have been saved if the local government had accepted their offer, Yomiuri Shimbun (25 Jan 1995), 1.

World parliamentarians at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) conference in the Madrid meeting approved a resolution on bioethics, saying bioethics should be taught at all levels of education and governments should ''provide their citizens with exact information on issues related to bioethics (and encourage) ongoing debate on these issues.'' The IPU acknowledged that it would be difficult to draw up universally-acceptable guidelines on medical research. But it called for ''an international corpus of common principles which respect diversity of culture, belief, spiritual values and historical heritage.'' It urged non-member states of the Council of Europe to accede to the European Convention on Bioethics, ''thereby giving it a universal character.'' The draft convention bans the creation of embryos for strictly investigative use and the use of human beings for tests other than diagnosis or treatment. Some scientists say biomedical research into many diseases would be seriously hindered if such restrictions on embryo use were adopted worldwide; Reuters World Service (1 April).

China has called for progress in medical science and biotechnology should be used to better serve human beings but care should be taken to prevent misuse, a Chinese delegate told the IPU. Lin Liyun, a member of the standing committee of the Chinese National People's Congress, observed, it is only natural that different countries should have different views and policies on the relationship between bioethics and human rights protection, due to differences in history, religion and culture, as well as the difference in the level of economic development and medical science. Bioethics is a new discipline and "issues related to this new science are often too disputatious to be agreed upon even in the same country. we are opposed to the practice of imposing one's views on others and we are more opposed to making groundless fabrications and wilfully laying charges against other countries under the pretext of protecting human rights," Lin added; The Xinhua News Agency (29 March).

A report on the issues in New Zealand in balancing cultural traditions is Campbell, A.V., "Ethics in a bicultural context", Bioethics 9 (1995), 149-54. It looks at the inclusion of Maori views into research committees. As mentioned in previous issues, sometimes the emphasis on the Maori view may be too great, and it is a lesson that the opinions and input of all cultural groups and minorities should be sought.

Papers on ethics research committees include, BME 105 (Feb), 13-6; IJB 5 (1994), 345-6. Clinical trials are discussed in Gifford, F. "Community-equipose and the ethics of randomised clinical trials", Bioethics 9 (1995), 127-48; Lancet 345 (1995), 469. There are investigations in Germany of several physicians who may have conducted unethical trials, Nature Medicine 1 (1995), 108. On the flaws in regulations in Japan, Fukushima, M. "Clinical trials in Japan", Nature Medicine 1 (1995), 12-3. A debate is Petros, A.J. et al. "Should morbidity replace mortality as an endpoint for clinical trials in intensive care?" Lancet 345 (1995), 369-71.

On quality of life, NEJM 332 (1995), 469-72. A US study finding that after cancer treatment black and white children have the same outcome, JAMA 273 (1995), 633-7.

Nursing ethics are discussed in Otago Bioethics Report 4 (1995), 1-2. Teaching nursing ethics is discussed in University of Minnesota Centre for Biomedical Ethics Newsletter (Spring), 1-2. Teaching medical ethics is discussed in JME 20 (1994), 229-34, 235-8, 239-43, 244-50.

Informed consent and other bioethical issues in three countries are discussed in Annas, G.J. & Miller, F.H. "The empire of death: How culture and economics affect informed consent in the U.S., the UK and Japan", AJLM XX (1994), 357-94. A review of refusals by parents for children's therapy is Elton, A. et al. "Withholding consent to lifesaving treatment: three cases", BMJ 310 (1995), 373-7; BME 105 (Feb), 3-4. Also on children's consent, JME 20 (1994), 205-6.

The UK Law Commission has recommended review of UK law to fill in gaps in the protection of mentally handicapped persons, BMJ 310 (1995), 549. A criticism of the appeals procedure for detention under the Mental Health Law is BMJ 310 (1995), 364-7. On the New Zealand laws, J. Law & Med. 2 (1994), 38+.

The CIOMS Declaration of Ixtapa, which looked at global bioethics, at the XXVIIIth CIOMS conference on "Poverty, Vulnerability, the value of human life and the emergence of bioethics", is in IJB 5 (1994), 359-61.

Other papers on bioethics in general, Bioethics 9 (1995), 155-80; JME 20 (1994), 25-30, 45-8, 57-63; Nature Medicine 1 (1995), 90-1, 97; on ancient Greek ethics, Ethics 105: 241-57, 258-83, 284-95, 352-85; and on cost/benefit analysis, Economics & Philosophy 10 (1994), 151-68, 169-94. On medical practice, New Scientist (21 Jan, 1995), 14-5, 41; JME 20 (1994), 19-24. A recent book on moral reasoning is Gowans, C.W. Innocence Lost. An Examination of Inescapable Moral Wrongdoing (Oxford University Press 1994).

A book review of Oates, S.O., The Good Doctor is NEJM 332 (1995), 755. On psychological effects in healing, Newsweek (13 March), 51; BMJ 310 (1995), 527-8; JME 21 (1995), 31-4; SSM 40 (1995), 724; New Scientist (25 Feb, 1995), 8. Disease and depression on the family is discussed in SSM 40 (1995), 789-97, 829-35, 837-46.

On racial discrimination in medicine, BMJ 310 (1995), 478-9; and on sexual discrimination, New Scientist (7 Jan, 1995), 38-9. A study of UK medical school applicants and entry is Esmail, A. "Acceptance into medical school and racial discrimination", BMJ 310 (1995), 501-2.

A discussion of the origins of the word "bioethics" is Reich, W.T. "The word "bioethics": The struggle over its earliest meanings", KIEJ 5 (1995), 19-34. A series of papers on the theme Beyond Autonomy are in CQHE 4 (1995), 7-79, with a 3 page list of references, pp. 80-82. It also includes a paper on the Japanese situation, Hoshino, K. "Autonomous decision-making and Japanese tradition", CQHE 4 (1995), 71-4. A report on the failure of patient rights in a supreme court case in Japan is Lancet 345 (1995), 1166, 1176. Also on Japan, Lancet 345 (1995), 926, 1574.

A UK BMA group has produced a document, Core Values for the Medical Profession in the 21st Century, the conclusions are in BME 107 (1995), 3-4. The General Medical Council has also given advice on good standards for a doctor, see BME 107 (1995), 4-5; BMJ 310 (1995), 759. The amendments to the Medical Act from the Medical (Professional Performance) Bill are in BME 106 (1995), 10-11. The US debate on medical regulation is in JAMA 273 (1995), 1534-8.

Ethics committees are discussed in IJB 6 (1995), 65-82; CQHE 4 (1995), 83-91; Alderson, P. "A national research ethics committee?", BME 107 (1995), 13-6;BME 107 (1995), 1, 7; BMJ 310 (1995), 735; 1051. A series of papers on the function of research ethics boards in Canada, "Protecting and promoting the human research subject: A review of the function of research ethics boards in Canadian faculties of medicine", is in a Special issue of NCBHR Communique 6 (1995), 1-32.

The code of practice of the NHS in the UK is in BME 107 (1995), 10-11; and the proposed code of conduct for Community Health Councils in the UK, BME 106 (1995), 8-9. A series of papers on clinical practice guidelines are in JLME 23 (1995), 47-81.

A new book is Rogers, A. & Durand de Bousingen, D., Bioethics in Europe (ISBN 92-871-2566-X, 380, Paperback, US$20. A journal looking at international comparisons between health in different places since 1995 is Health & Place, ISSN 1353-8292, Pergamon Publishers. A review of the situation in Russia including medical ethics is Cassileth, B.R. et al. "Health care, medical practice, and medical ethics in Russia today", JAMA 273 (1995), 1569-73, 1622-3. Also on cross-cultural ethics, SSM 40 (1995), 869-72.

In general on ethics, NEJM 332 (1995), 1177-8; BMJ 310 (1995), 856-9; 850-3, 1016-7; JAMA 273 (1995), 1232, 1445-9; World Health Forum 16 (1995), 115-25; SSM 40 (1995), 1013-4. The journal Humane Medicine is now separate from the Canadian Medical Association, yet will continue to be published. A series of papers on clinical ethics are in JMP 20 (1995), 1-106. The Canadian Bioethics report is on-line at the CMA, as listed in the front. BMJ is also going electronic, and on the future of publication, BMJ 310 (1995), 1343-4,1381-90. On religion and bioethics see, Humane Medicine 10 (1995), 57; NEJM 332 (1995), 1523-5. A new book is New Dictionary of Christian Ethics and Pastoral Theology, Inter-Varsity Press 1995 (�30).

Nursing care is discussed in Humane Medicine 10 (1995), 62-5; JME 21 (1995), 82-3; World Health Forum 16 (1995), 127-30. On conflicts between health care workers and managers, BMJ 310 (1995), 1054-6. Gender issues are discussed in McCarrick, P.M., "Gender issues in health care", SCOPE Note 27, KIEJ 5 (1995), 61-82; JAMA 273 (1995), 1022-5, 1056-7.

On consent: BMJ 310 (1995), 935-7, 1277-8, 1315-8, 1355-6; MJA 162 (1995), 443, 497-8; JAMA 273 (1995), 1283-7, 1300-2; SSM 40 (1995), 1433-4, 1573-7; JME 21 (1995), 67-8. The UK Law Commission on mental incapacity summary is in BME 106 (1995), 13-8; see also, BMJ 310 (1995), 1195-6. On taking pills to be happy, NS (1 April, 1995), 14-5, (22 April), 7. Children's consent is discussed in BME 105 (1995), 3-4; BMJ 310 (1995), 373-7; JLME 23 (1995), 5-46; Lancet 345 (1995), 805-6, 1370-1. On language barriers in US medicine, JAMA 273 (1995), 724-8; and a review is Ong, LML. "Doctor-patient communication: A review of the literature", SSM 40 (1995), 903-18.

On medical education, Lancet 345 (1995), 966-8, 1032-4, 1093-5, 1151-3; NEJM 332 (1995), 1507-9; BMJ 310 (1995), 994-6; JAMA 273 (1995), 771, 1061-4, 1533. A case of cheating is reported in Leavitt, F.J. "Cheating in medical school", BMJ 310 (1995), 1014-5. On ethics education, JAMA 273 (1995), 1386-9; JME 21 (1995), 97-103

A critique of the new UK law on doctors' professional performance is in an editorial in BME 108 (1995), 1. British government's proposals on poorly performing doctors are in BMJ 311 (1995), 402; British doctors are asked to report unfit colleagues BMJ 311 (1995), 406-7. On professional attitudes and decorum, Perspectives in Biology & Medicine 38 (1995), 238-53. The role of the UK professional body, the General Medical Council is discussed in BMJ 310 (1995), 1427, 1489, 1515-8; Lancet 345 (1995), 132. A scandal in the Bristol Cancer Help Centre from a study in the late 1980s of complementary therapy is discussed in BME 108 (1995), 3-5.

A sex attitude survey among New Zealand doctors found that 35% found dating and 10% found sexual contact with patients usually or sometimes acceptable, and 4% admitted having sexual contact with a patient at some time, Lancet 346 (1995), 302.

A call to forget the distinction between experiment or treatment and to focus on informed consent is in HCR 25 (July 1995), 6-15. The history of informed consent is reviewed in Friedlander, W.J. "The evolution of informed consent in American Medicine", Perspectives in Biology & Medicine 38 (1995), 498-510. Informed consent for children, CMAJ 153 (1995), 73-6; and for unconscious patients, Nature Medicine 1 (1995), 612; and in post-marketing research in phase IV clinical trials, BMJ 310 (1995), 1660-3; and inadequate medical information, Lancet 346 (1995), 251. The cultural lag and the Hippocratic oath is discussed in Lancet 345 (1995), 1422-4; 346 (1995), 130; BMJ 311 (1995), 196.

Ethics of psychiatric therapies are discussed in BME 109 (1995), 13-7; BMJ 310 (1995), 1422-3, 1549-50. The Revisions to the UK law on mental capacity are documented in Dispatches 5 (No.3, 1995), 3-5; Hodgkinson, D.W. et al. "Doctors' legal position in treating temporarily incompetent patients", BMJ 311 (1995), 115-8. See also, Keyserlingk, E.W. et al, "Proposed guidelines for the participation of persons with dementia as research subjects", Perspectives in Biology & Medicine 38 (1995), 319-362. A series of papers on substituted judgement are in J. Clinical Ethics 6 (1995), 14-52.

The functioning of privatised ethics committees in New Zealand is discussed in BME 110 (1995), 9-10. On ethics committees, BME 110 (1995), 16-8; Health Law Review 4 (1995), 3-43. Monitoring clinical research,CMAJ 152 (1995), 1973-1980; and on clinical trials, Lancet 345 (1995), 1616-9; SSM 41 (1995), 598-9. Medical research in the UK was the subject of a recent House of Lords report, BMJ 310 (1995), 1552.

A report on methods used to train ethics teachers for medical school in Germany is Dressel, R. et al. "Training ethics teachers in Germany", BME 109 (1995), 13-5. An agent centred approach to ethics teaching is discussed in Whitbeck, C. "Teaching ethics to scientists and engineers: Moral agents and moral problems", Science and Engineering Ethics 1 (1995), 299-308; and on values education, Grundstein-Amado, R. "Values education: a new direction for medical education", JME 21 (1995), 174-8. On teaching sociology of medicine, Medical Education 29 (1995), 205-10; Lancet 345 (1995), 1440-1. Evidence-based medicine is called for in Australia,in MJA 163 (1995), 60-1.

A book review calling the fourth edition of Beauchamp and Childress, Principles of Biomedical Ethics, the beginning of the end of principalism is in HCR 25 (July 1995), 37-9. A discussion of the principles is also in Gracia, D. "Hard times, hard choices: Founding bioethics today", Bioethics 9 (1995), 192-206. A paper on the subject of principalism is in Monash Bioethics Review 14 (July 1995), 23-30 (reprinted from BMJ. General medical ethics include: J Clin Ethics 6 (1995), 14-19.

Two book reviews on bioethics consultancy are in HCR 25 (July 1995), 39-40. On nursing, BMJ 311 (1995), 303-8, 309-13. On counseling and ethics in medicine, BMJ 310 (1995), 1474, 1551; 311 (1995), 54. Placebos are discussed in Nature 375 (1995), 530.

A series of papers from the International Association of Bioethics Second Congress are in Bioethics 9 (1995), 183-343. It includes several cross-cultural bioethics approaches. In New Zealand the issue of "Cultural safety" classes, which have become compulsory at many education institutes as part of the Nursing Council requirements, are being widely questioned. The classes are intended to teach Maori values, however, the reaction against them may be more detrimental to developing a multicultural society.

On Beijing and the future of women's rights, BMJ 311 (1995), 580-1; Lancet 346 (1995), 195; Newsweek (28 August, 1995), 10-7; and media from the beginning of September. Bisexuality is discussed in Newsweek (17 July, 1995), 36-42.

Capital punishment is discussed in HCR 25 (July 1995), 5. Triage in accident and emergency departments (see comments in editorial and by F. Leavitt in this issue, BMJ 311 (1995), 404; and on psychological debriefing after trauma, BMJ 311 (1995), 1479-80. Removal of violent patient's right to visit a GP is noted in BMJ 311 (1995), 131; NEJM 333 (1995), 134.

A number of topical pamphlets and introductions on different bioethical themes are available from:
Prof. Dr Hans-Martin Sass
Zentrum Medizinische Ethik
Ruhr Universitaet
Postfach 102148
Bochum 4630 , GERMANY

Law & Medical Ethics

Amendments to the Council of Europe's draft convention on bioethics article 7 , 15, 16, 17, and 18 are reported in BME 108 (1995), 5-6.

The guidelines for expediated review of research proposals on humans from the Office for Protection from Research Risks are in BME 109 (1995), 7. On rights and responsibilities, CMAJ 152 (1995), 1955- 6. The definition of significant risk is debated in JAMA 273 (1995), 1906-7.

In the UK a system where the lawyer can charge a proportion of the legal suit award as fees is being established, to the criticism of some, Lancet 345 (1995), 44. On medical negligence, BMJ 310 (1995), 1671; 310 (1995), 267; JAMA 274 (1995), 22-5, 457-61; Science 269 (1995), 295-6. In the UK the House of Lords has ruled against suing in child abuse cases, BMJ 311 (1995), 79.

In general on medical law trends, JAMA 273 (1995), 1688-9. The ownership of medical records in NSW, Australia, is the subject of a High Court case, Lancet 345 (1995), 1429. Trends in scientific evidence in law courts are reviewed in Harvard Law Review 108 (1995), 1482-1606.

There are various reports on the Beijing Women's conference: Reproductive Freedom News (29 Sept, 1995), 5; Monash Bioethics Review 14 (4, 1995), 1-4; BMJ 311 (1995), 1010; Time (11 Sept 1995), 36-45. Also on women's health, Science 269 (1995), 739, 765-801, 1508-9. Reproductive rights continue to be somewhat culturally dependent, as do other interpretations of human rights. The role that the media may play in bioethics debate is discussed in HCR 25 (5, 1995), 40-3.

A new exchange journal is Nursing Ethics, the address is listed later. There are a series of papers on ethical issues in nursing, which could equally apply to all health care works who want to add the human touch. A paper comparing gender differences is Norberg, A. & Uden, G. "Gender differences in moral reasoning among physicians, registered nurses and enrolled nurses engaged in geriatric and surgical care", Nursing Ethics 2 (1995), 233-42. Another paper with a provocative title is artificial personhood, Nursing Ethics 2 (1995), 185-96. A new book is Keatings M., Ethical and Legal Issues in Canadian Nursing. Toronto: Harcourt Brace and Co, 1995.

A series of papers on the issue of principlism in bioethics by T.L. Beachamp, "Principlism and its alleged competitors"; R.M. Veatch, "Resolving conflicts among principles: Ranking, balancing, and specifying"; K.D. Clouser, "Common morality as an alternative to principlism"; A.R. Jonsen, "Casuistry: An alternative or complement to principles?"; and E.D. Pellegrino, Toward a virtue-based normative ethics for the health professions", are in KIEJ 5 (3, 1995), 181-278. Related is the paper, Meslin, E.M. et al. "Principlism and the ethical appraisal of clinical trials", Bioethics 9 (1995), 399-418. Also on theory, NEJM 333 (1995), 885-6.

An editorial looking at the need for cultural sensitivity in informed consent is JAMA 274 (1995), 844-5; following Carrese, J.A. & Rhodes, L.A. "Western bioethics on the Navojo Reservation. Benefit or harm?", JAMA 274 (1995), 826-9. It use of Western means United States concepts. A study on elderly Korean and Mexican Americans also found differences in truth-telling concepts, Balckhall, L.J. et al. "Ethnicity and attitudes toward patient autonomy", JAMA 274 (1995), 820-5. There are also gender differences, SSM 41 (1995), 1255-60. Borins, M., "Native healing traditions must be protected and preserved for future generations", CMAJ 153 (1995), 1356+. Language barriers are discussed in JAMA 274 (1995), 683-4, 1002-4; and deaf patients in JAMA 274 (1995), 794-5.

The issue of whether to waive informed consent in emergency research is discussed in KIEJ 5 (1995), 155-62; JAMA 274 (1995), 1184, 1196; Science 270 (1995), 25-6. Lies and professionalism are discussed in CMAJ 153 (1995), 511+. A right to a second opinion is debated in BMJ 311 (1995), 670-2; a call for patients to examine their doctor is JAMA 274 (1995), 1083. A case study relating to Jehovah's Witness blood transfusion is HCR 25 (5, 1995), 28-9.

A series of papers on clinical practice guideline development are CMAJ 153 (1995), 901+; 1073-1077; 1233-1236. Ethics of clinical trials are discussed in Gifford, F. "Community-equipose and the ethics of randomized clinical trials", Monash Bioethics Review 14 (4, 1995), Ethics Committee Supplement, 3-8. Australian confidentiality controversy, BMJ 311 (1995), 971. On clinical trials, Wager, E. et al. "Get patients' consent to enter clinical trials", BMJ 311 (1995), 734-7; Gallo, C. et al. "Informed versus randomised consent to clinical trials", Lancet 346 (1995), 1060-4, 1047-8; Nature 377 (1995), 691; and on clinical ethics committees, BMJ 311 (1995), 639-40, 659-61, 667-9.

Medical ethics teaching is discussed in JAMA 274 (1995), 767-71, 1084-5. Science education is discussed in Lancet 346 (1995), 627; Nature 377 (1995), 2; Biotechnology 13 (1995), 960-1; Science 269 (1995), 1335-7; 270 (1995), 48-9, 239, 247-9; J. Animal Science 73: 2727-32. Medical education in Lancet 346 (1995), 892; BMJ 311 (1995), 642. Critiques of the word bioethicist are Bioethics 9 (1995), 361-79; BME 111 (Sept 1995), 2. A system of assessment methods and education has been introduced in various countries to attempt to maintain professional standards; JAMA 274 (1995), 700-5. An interesting set of kits is produced by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (Contact Mr Neil Paget, Director of Education, RACP, 145 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia).

A discussion of general practice in the USA, UK, Germany and Canada is in JAMA 274 (1995), 692-5. An examination of the term of alternative medicine psychoneuroimmunology is in Probe IV (1 May, 1995), 1-8. The story of using body energy of "chi" to transfer energy into patients is discussed in Probe IV (1 May, 1995), 1, 4-5. On placebos, Nature 378 (1995), 125; BMJ 311 (1995), 821-2. Mental health is discussed in Nature 377 (1995), 298.

The US is expected to have selected the 15 members of the National Ethics Advisory Committee by 31 January, 1996 - if there are no more budget lock-outs of federal projects, TIBTECH 13 (1995), 1431. A review of the Nuffield Council of Bioethics by D. Shapiro, the secretary is ?", Politics & Life Sciences 14 (1995),263-6. A call for national ethics committees to produce in depth work on ethics is called for in R. Nicholson, "Knowledge comes but wisdom lingers", HCR 25 (6, 1995), 4. On UK local research ethics committees, BMJ 311 (1995), 1570-2; JME 21 (1995), 214-9; and in general, Lancet 346 (1995), 1115-6; Student BMJ 311 (1995), 661. Clinical trials ethics are discussed in Nature Medicine 1 (1995), 1101-2; JAMA 274 (1995), 1308-9, 1456-8; BMJ 311 (1995), 1382-3; Nature Medicine 1 (1995), 734-6; and aftercare in JME 21 (1995),225-8.

A study of consent is Harth, S.C. & Thong, Y.H. "Parental perceptions and attitudes about informed consent in clinical research involving children", SSM 41 (1995), 1647-51; also, Nature Medicine 1 (1995), 1099. Emergency use and altered informed consent requirements are in JAMA 274 (1995), 1578; NS (4 Nov 1995), 6. The social context of consent is discussed in Nursing Ethics 2 (1995), 347-50. A paper on Chinese ethics (see also the abstracts of EACB'95 in this issue) is Guo Zhaojing, "Chinese Confucian culture and the medical ethical tradition", JME 21 (1995), 239-46. The text of the UK General Medical Council booklet "Good Medical Practice" is in BME 113 (1995), 8-11. On clinical practice guidelines, CMAJ 153 (1993), 1423-32, 1575-84. Second opinions are supported in BMJ 311 (1995), 1506-7, 1179-81; and on the limits to physician autonomy, JME 21 (1995),170-3.

A series of papers on the theme Compassion: What Does it Really Mean? is in CQHE 4 (1995), 415-501. The relationship between doctors and patients is discussed in JAMA 274 (1995), 1265-6, 1345-6. A paper on Hippocrates is in World Health Forum 16 (1995), 394-7.

Humane Medicine is changing its name to Humane Health Care: An International Journal of Healing (Multimed Inc., 1120 Finch Ave West, Suite 601, Downsview ON M3J 3H7, USA). The Istituto Siciliano di Bioetica has published a further issue of Bioetica e Cultura IV (1995), 8 (In Italian). Several journals of interest to bioethics and the topics of EJAIB are on line at http://www.bdt.org.br/bioline/ The Institute for Global Ethics has a www page, http://www.sourcemaine.com/ethics They include discussion of business ethics, and general applied ethics. A site of information for Jewish medical ethics is http://www.hia.com/hia/medethic/ The Church of Scotland Society, Religion and Technology Project has a home page at http://webzone1.co.uk/www/srtproject/srtpage3.htm Internet and NEJM is discussed in NEJM 333 (1995), 1077-80.

Bioethics in Canada is discussed in several papers in English and French in IJB 6 (1995), 230-53. Jehovah's witnesses may be helped by new methods to increase blood production before operation, but erythropoietin is expensive, BMJ 311 (1995), 1115-6.

On general medical ethics, BMJ 311 (1995), 1323, 1502, 1617; Cooter, R. "The resistible rise of medical ethics", Social History of Medicine 8 (1995), 257-70; JME 21 (1995), 220-4; Hospital Ethics (Sept/Oct 1995), 4-5; on rights, Phil. & Public Affairs 24 (1995), 83-107108-41; book reviews are in NEJM 333 (1995), 1509-12; ), JAMA 274 (1995), 1637, 1723. Ethical issues of electroconvulsive therapy are discussed in Nursing Ethics 2 (1995), 321-46. Mental disease issues and ethics are discussed in BMJ 311 (1995), 1442-3, 1511-2; MJA 163 (1995), 455-6; and with quality of life in JAMA 274 (1995), 1511-7.

Ways to measure moral reasoning among nurses during training are explored in Nursing Ethics 2 (1995), 303-14. On medical education and society, CMAJ 153 (1993), 1433-6; and medical humanities, Lancet 346 (1995), 1143-5; JAMA 274 (1995), 1738. A US study found literacy was very low in some hospitals, preventing real understanding, JAMA 274 (1995), 1677-82, 1719-20. Ethics education is discussed in JME 21 (1995), 133-4, 174-8, 234-8.

Media attention on sexual abuse cases is reviewed in Sociology of Health & Illness 17 (1995), 458-76. On discrimination, Ferris, L.E. et al., "Do Canadian female surgeons feel discriminated against as women?", CMAJ 154 (1996), 21-30.

One of the main databases within CMA On-line is CPG Infobase the collection of full-text clinical practice guidelines During 1996 it will be enlarged, CMAJ 154 (1996), 295. The American Association of Bioethics has started making a www site (mmiller@src.utah.edu) at

The Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University, Box 1212 Washington DC 20057-1212, USA; has issued the first issue of a Newsletter, as it celebrates its 25th year - the oldest university bioethics institute in the world. The contents include news of their staff activities and book discounts that can be obtained by members. Others may be aware of the academic journal, KIEJ. In general on bioethics, Nature Medicine 2 (1996), 98-9; Lancet 347 (1996), 67-8; NEJM 334 (1996), 60-1; Modern Law Review 59 (196), 145-9; Laine C & Davidoff F, "Patient-centered medicine. A professional evolution", JAMA 275 (1996), 152-6, 147-8. On the Hippocratic Oath, Lancet 347 (1996), 101-2.

The third volume of Forum in Bioethics (Philippines) is Gomez, FB and Bustamante, HF, Relevant Ethical Issues in Healthcare, eds, 141pp., University Santo Tomas Dept. of Bioethics 1996. It is the proceedings of their 1995 Third Postgraduate Course in Bioethics. The title relevant issues is important for a bioethics world that continues to grow with more papers and books. A review of the East Asian Conference of Bioethics is in Newsletter of the Centre for Applied Ethics, Hong Kong Baptist University 3 (2, Dec 1995), 8-9. On Jewish medical ethics, JAMA 275 (1996), 159-60. Bioethics for minorities is discussed in SSM 42 (1996), 301-3; JAMA 275 (1996), 107-10.

A review of D. Macer, Bioethics for the People by the People is in JME 22 (1996), 61. It calls for a further book on the data analysis, which is actually likely, as the analysis is continuing. The analysis of the High School part of that International Bioethics Survey project is in the new book, Macer DRJ et al. Bioethics in High Schools in Australia, New Zealand and Japan published by Eubios Ethics Institute in March 1996 (200pp, see back cover).

The poor understanding of informed consent in the USA is reviewed in BME 114 (1996), 4-5; and on its history, Lancet 346 (1995), 1633. The FDA's new emergency consent rules are debated in Lancet 346 (1995), 1505-6. A study of communication skills is in Medical Education 29 (1995), 424-9; and on the benefits of animal love, JAMA 274 (1995), 1897-9; and music therapy, JAMA 275 (1996), 267-8.

The conference proceedings of the September 1993 symposium on Bioethics and Neurosciences in Paris organized by the Int. Association of Law, Ethics and Science are in IJB 6 (1995), special issue 68pp. There are several papers directly on bioethics, but mainly in French, exceptions include Macer, D. "Medical aspects of the repression of deviating behavior", pp. 38-40. A review of the conference is in IDHL 46 (1995), 572-5. The BMA and Law Society in the UK have agreed on laws for incapacity in a new report, Assessment of Mental Capacity: Guidance for Doctors and Lawyers, BMJ 312 (1996), 203.

The changes resulting from ethics education is discussed in Holm S. et al. "Changes in moral reasoning and the teaching of medical ethics", Medical Education 29 (1995), 420-3. Maturity in medical students is recommended in Lancet 347 (1996), 55-6 The conclusion that most people prefer women doctors is seen in literature since 1322 AD, Br.J.O&G 103 (1996), 2-3. A Mexican survey of factors that influence patients perceived recovery from disease is SSM 42 (1996), 199-207.

For those who can read Italian the journal Itinerarium contains a number of articles, (subscription 40,000lire, Coop. S. Tom. a.r.l., Via del Pozzo 43, cas. post. 28 - 98100 Messina, ITALY).

Clinical trials are discussed in JAMA 274 (1995), 1962-4; Lancet 347 (1996), 171-4; BMJ 312 (1996), 249; and ethics committees in Lancet 347 (1996), 331. Sex abuse in Irish hospitals is being investigated, BMJ 312 (1996), 201-2; see also Modern Law Review 59 (1996), 56-77. Ethical issues in the growing economy in Thailand are discussed in Insights on Global Ethics 6 (1996), 1, 4-7. Elderly persons in the USA and UK have rising suicide risks, BMJ 312 (1996), 135-6, 140-1, 144.

The results of a survey of Israeli nurses regarding their behaviour, and how they face professional ethics questions is Tabak, N. & Reches, R. "The attitudes of nurses and third and fourth year nursing students who deal with ethical issues", Nursing Ethics 3 (1996), 27-38. A paper looking at how to educate nurses about bioethics is Leavitt, FJ. "Educating nurses for their future role in bioethics", Nursing Ethics 3 (1996), 39-52. The effects of ethics education a discussed in Nursing Ethics 3 (1996), 53-64.

The relationships between doctors and patients are discussed in Balint, J. & Shelton, W. "Regaining the initiative. Forging a new model of the patient-physician relationship", JAMA 275 (1996), 887-91. On medical decision-making, SSM 42 (1996), 769-76. The question of patient benefit is raised in Lancet 347 (1996), 379-80.

A report on the extent of public involvement in health decisions in Canada is Jackman, M. "The right to participate in health care and health resource allocation decisions under Section 7 of the Canadian Charter", Health Law Review 4 (2, 1995/1996), 3-11. A supplement to the NCBHR Communique 6 (2, 1995), is a selected bibliography: Bioethics of Research with Human Subjects in the Health Sciences (1983-1993). On patient advocacy, NEJM 334 (1996), 543. On general bioethics, BMJ 312 (1996), 646-7; JAMA 275 (1996), 406-7, 568-9, 1032-37; NEJM 334 (1996), 670-1; Lancet 347 (1996), 746; JME 22 (1996), 8-12; and on business ethics, Philosophy & Public Affairs (1995), 292-313.

The experiences of nurses provide great teachers, as they do for all of us. A paper looking at the increasing attention being paid to experience is Lauritzen, P. "Ethics and experience: The case of the curious response", HCR 26 (1996), 6-14. The origins of cases for ethical discussions is claimed to be driven by particular ethical theories in HCR 26 (1996), 25-32.

Psychology and ethics are discussed in HCR 26 (1996), 17-24; BMJ 312 (1996), 787; NEJM 334 (1996), 791-2; and there are ethnic differences in compulsory psychiatric admissions in the UK, BMJ 312 (1996), 533-7. An analysis of non-responders to surveys is J. Public Health Medicine 18 (1996), 6-12.

The March 1996 (No.5) issue of the Newsletter of European Association of Centres of Medical Ethics is in BME 116 (1996). On the roles and functions of hospital-based ethics committees, CMAJ 154 (1996), 1094-1095.

A review of medical ethics teaching is Arda, B. & Ors, Y. "Teaching medical ethics with an ethics to teach", BME 116 (1996), 19-22. They are from Turkey. Also on education, JME 22 (1996), 3-4, 46-52. The use of poetry on medical rounds is discussed in Lancet 347 (1996), 447-9; also see the papers by Ors and comments by Leavitt and Hare on ethicodrama or psychodrama in EJAIB. The effects of information technologies on medicine is discussed in JAMA 275 (1996), 669-70, 735. Culture also affects the way science is learnt, Int. J. Sci. Educ. 17 (1995), 695-704.

A bioethics report from Argentina is in Bioethics 10 (1996),140-53. A special issue of IJB 6 (1996), 279-314 includes papers in French, Spanish and English from Latin America. A survey of physician attitudes in Soviet Estonia is JME 22 (1996), 33-40. A report on the social study of science and technology suggesting there are about 3000 scholars engaged in the field in China is Bull. Sci. Tech. Soc. 15 (1995), 159-62. On Christian bioethics by H.T. Engelhardt see Bioethics Research Notes 7 (1995), 37-8. A new journal with the same title is H.T. Engelhardt, Lustig, A. & Wildes, K.W., eds, Christian Bioethics. Non-Ecumenical Studies in Medical Morality (Swets & Zeitlinger Publishers 1996), ISSN 1380-3603. A revie