General Medicine

» P_Al - ethics

In response to ethics posted by redback:

"embryos need to be removed from research 14 days."

Yes, this is my understanding. Any longer and researchers are now dealing with what many would consider a human life, hence the cut off point. It appears arbitrary, but I suppose it is our best guess based on our knowledge at this time. This is probably a good reason why we should guard against being too dogmatic. We simply don't have all the answers to the many important questions pertinent to this issue.

-- posted by P_Al

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» P_Al - legislation

In response to legislation posted by tinuviel:

Yes, IVF is in vitro fertilisation. The egg is fertilized externally (in vitro) and then implanted into the woman.

Not sure about an embryo maintained externally. Interestingly, there are a few cases of a fetus coming to term within the abdomen i.e. outside the womb. Apparently, the placenta attaches to one of the organs and develops a blood supply from it. Never underestimate the ingenuity of a clump of cells

-- posted by P_Al

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» redback - legislation

In response to legislation posted by tinuviel:

"...what about the smile on the woman's face..."

My posts are getting too long. There are many other steps preceding the man and/or woman's smile. I was also not limiting it to the desire to procreate which is not essential. I was simply introducing you to a concept beyond what the Pope publicly states is the commencement of life. And as my nephew still hasn't moved out of home at age 35, who knows when dependent life actually ceases in fact...over theory.

The term IVF was used loosely within 'assistive reproductive technology'. Single or multiple embryo transfers and all the other talk here sure takes a lot of the romantic language out of it, doesn't it? But so does smelly nappies and wailing rugrats.

Has the idea of doing Sudoku while endlessly waiting, crossed your radar? Waiting++?? I hope your holiday is mostly enjoyable.

-- posted by redback

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» redback - ethics

In response to ethics posted by P_Al:

"too dogmatic" Twas a bit unsure how that fits.

I must admit to being a bit unsure if I answered your question. By listing all the activities totally prohibited or only allowed under licence, I was hoping the answer lay somewhere. A bit lazy as I also cited the quote you questioned but I could not backtrack it to clarify.

Me, I think the 14 days was picked as a "safe" compromise. The USA is not(??) proceeding because it does not feel it has sufficient palatable answers and Australia IS proceeding because it believes it has enough???

My understanding is Australia is not running recklessly into expanded research now allowed by law but they don't doubt or procrastinate about the leeway they now clearly have.

-- posted by redback

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» P_Al - ethics

In response to ethics posted by redback:
Your answer did shed some light. I was also alluding to the complexity that surrounds any debate on when human life begins and the implications of any decision. More generally was the issue of how difficult ethical decisions can be when opposing sides are arguing based on totally different parameters i.e. doctrine vs scientific theory.
.
Your last sentence suggests that Australian scientists appear to be moving slowly on this issue even though they have been given the green light. If so, this may not be a bad thing. Somethings time enhances clarity of thought and even when/if they proceed this should be with increased confidence.

-- posted by P_Al

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» tinuviel - legislation

In response to legislation posted by redback:

"Never underestimate the ingenuity of a clump of cells."

Hehe... Too funny Outside the uterus, huh? Makes the events of that movie "Junior" sound plausible, doesn't it??

About Sudoku--despite the pride I take in my intelligence, I have NEVER been able to work out one of those things. So, no it didn't occur to me to torture myself in the airport But, I had airport authority take care of the torture, since I was just about arrested (without the cuffs), taken downstairs, and X-rayed from here to eternity. Something about a Jamaican traveling from Colombia that looks suspicious, I guess.

Well, back to the legislation debate... What Paul said in response to your last post sounds good. Can't think of more to add. Seems like the HPV discussion we had a while ago has reopened on another channel (Pap Smear), but it has taken on some new threads I don't know anything about yet. New abbreviations... It'll probably take me a while to enter that discussion. Later.

-- posted by tinuviel

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» P_Al - legislation

In response to legislation posted by tinuviel:

I never did see Junior. Sounds like sci fi stuff. Some of that is not that far off. In fact it could be argued that much of present day sci fi is tomorrow's reality.

-- posted by P_Al

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» P_Al - legislation

In response to legislation posted by P_Al:

I found an interesting article from the New York Times late last year. It looked at research that suggests as stem cells age, they lose their proliferative capacity.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/07/scienc...

This is being interpreted as a protective mechanism to lessen the risk of cancer development! As cells age there are more prone to genetic abnormalities. Shutting them down was associated with less cancers.

This is another possible reason why embryonic stem cells may be so important for research on cancer and other diseases. Adult stem cells may simply not be that effective.

-- posted by P_Al

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» redback - an aside

In response to legislation posted by P_Al:

Hi Paul

You probably know there are cancer topics outside your sphere of influence. Here's one that now needs to be adopted:
http://chronicillness.suite101.com/discu...

I recall one or two others in different topics. Maybe a link between all co-operating writers?

-- posted by redback

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» P_Al - an aside

In response to an aside posted by redback:

Thanks for the link. Cancer is such a wide topic that many other writers will have some overlap with my topic. Its a great suggestion - I have done a bit of collaboration. Plan to do more later on.

-- posted by P_Al

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