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How did a little nun become a Nobel Prize winner, the most admired person of the 20th century (1) and 'the greatest Indian' since Gandhi? (2) All these were bigger feats given that she was born Albanian, with the less memorable name Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu. She renamed herself after Therese...
The last few years have seen a flurry of excoriating critiques of conscientious objection in the academic press. Many argue that it should no longer be tolerated. (1) As one pundit puts it: 'if people are not prepared to offer legally permitted, efficient, and beneficial care to a patient because...
Before the completion of the Human Genome Project (HGP) in 2003, it was thought there were around 80,000 coding genes for proteins. One of the big surprises of the mapping was the actual number turning out to be around 25,000, and the rest of the DNA was initially written off...
Introduction Over the past 100 years or so advances in medical sciences have allowed for the successful transplantation of several different organs and tissues. Despite historical controversy over organ transplantation there is now near-universal acceptance that organ donation and transplantation is a positive social good, enhancing and saving the lives of...
New draft guidance from the BMA allows doctors to withdraw food and fluids from non-imminently dying patients with dementia, stroke and brain injury, provided it is in their 'best interests'. (1),(2) It comes complete with a six-page executive summary, flow charts and tick box forms to smooth the decision-making process....
As Christians, we have a responsibility to use our God-given abilities for the good of society. (1), (2)This applies not only to 'spiritual gifts' and 'natural talents' (such as musical aptitude), but also to the skills and knowledge we have acquired in the course of our professional lives. There are...
'"The people of the land practise extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the foreigner, denying them justice. I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so that I...
RCOG calls for decriminalisation of abortion The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) joined the BMA and RCM in calling for abortion to be decriminalised. In 2016 there were 200,000 abortions in the UK. Since the passing of the Abortion Act in 1967 there have been 8.5 million abortions....