The Human Side of The Human Side of MedicineMedicine

James G. Anderson, Ph.D.James G. Anderson, Ph.D.

Dept. of Sociology & Dept. of Sociology & AnthropologyAnthropology

Purdue UniversityPurdue University

Biomedical Ethics Biomedical Ethics and the Transformation and the Transformation

of Medical Decision of Medical Decision MakingMaking

Strangers at the BedsideStrangers at the Bedside

• 1945-1946 Nuremberg Trials1945-1946 Nuremberg Trials• 1962 Kidney Dialysis1962 Kidney Dialysis• 1965 Medicare and Medicaid1965 Medicare and Medicaid• 1966 NEJM Article on Abuses in 1966 NEJM Article on Abuses in

Human ExperimentationHuman Experimentation• 1967 Heart Transplants1967 Heart Transplants

Strangers at the Strangers at the BedsideBedside

• 1970 Tuskagee Experiments1970 Tuskagee Experiments• 1973 NEJM Article on Withholding 1973 NEJM Article on Withholding

Life-Support from NewbornsLife-Support from Newborns• 1973 Roe vs. Wade1973 Roe vs. Wade• 1975 Karen Ann Quinlan Case1975 Karen Ann Quinlan Case• 1994 Oregon Euthanasia Act1994 Oregon Euthanasia Act

Choices in Human Choices in Human ReproductionReproduction

IssuesIssues

• Long-Acting ContraceptivesLong-Acting Contraceptives• Abortion Abortion • IVFIVF• SurrogacySurrogacy• Post-Menopausal PregnancyPost-Menopausal Pregnancy

Decisions about Death Decisions about Death and Dyingand Dying

IssuesIssues

• Assisted Suicide.Assisted Suicide.• Withholding Treatment from Withholding Treatment from

Newborns with Birth Defects.Newborns with Birth Defects.• Withholding of Food and Water from Withholding of Food and Water from

Dying Patients.Dying Patients.• Withholding the Truth form Dying Withholding the Truth form Dying

Patients.Patients.

HIV: A Global, National and HIV: A Global, National and Local EpidemicLocal Epidemic

IssuesIssues

• Sexual Contact Tracing.Sexual Contact Tracing.• Duty to Treat HIV Patients.Duty to Treat HIV Patients.• Restrictions on HIV-Positive Restrictions on HIV-Positive

PhysiciansPhysicians• Screening of Pregnant Women.Screening of Pregnant Women.

Human/Animal Human/Animal ExperimentationExperimentation

IssuesIssues

• Use of Animals in ExperimentationUse of Animals in Experimentation• Sham Surgery.Sham Surgery.• Conducting Research in Cyberspace.Conducting Research in Cyberspace.• Human Experimentation in Third Human Experimentation in Third

World Countries.World Countries.

Organ TransplantsOrgan Transplants

IssuesIssues

• Xenotransplants.Xenotransplants.• Use of Anencephalic Fetuses.Use of Anencephalic Fetuses.• Market in Body Parts.Market in Body Parts.• Social Criteria for Organ Allocation.Social Criteria for Organ Allocation.

The Doctor/Patient The Doctor/Patient RelationshipRelationship

IssuesIssues

• Refusal of Medical Treatment on Refusal of Medical Treatment on Religious GroundsReligious Grounds

• Futile TreatmentFutile Treatment• The Impact of the InternetThe Impact of the Internet

Genetic Testing and Genetic Testing and ResearchResearch

IssuesIssues

• Use of Genetic Information.Use of Genetic Information.• Pre-Implantation Genetic Testing.Pre-Implantation Genetic Testing.• Stem Cell Research.Stem Cell Research.• Human Cloning.Human Cloning.