American Journal of Bioethics

Baylis, Françoise

doi: 10.1080/15265160802659367pmid: 19085464

Czarny, Matthew J.; Faden, Ruth R.; Nolan, Marie T.; Bodensiek, Edwin; Sugarman, Jeremy

doi: 10.1080/15265160802595074pmid: 19085461

Lauritzen, Paul

doi: 10.1080/15265160802595124pmid: 19085463

Czarny, Matthew J.; Faden, Ruth R.; Nolan, Marie T.; Bodensiek, Edwin; Sugarman, Jeremy

doi: 10.1080/15265160802559153pmid: N/A

Television medical dramas frequently depict the practice of medicine and bioethical issues in a strikingly realistic but sometimes inaccurate fashion. Because these shows depict medicine so vividly and are so relevant to the career interests of medical and nursing students, they may affect these students' beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions regarding the practice of medicine and bioethical issues. We conducted a web-based survey of medical and nursing students to determine the medical drama viewing habits and impressions of bioethical issues depicted in them. More than 80% of medical and nursing students watch television medical dramas. Students with more clinical experience tended to have impressions that were more negative than those of students without clinical experience. Furthermore, viewing of television medical dramas is a social event and many students discuss the bioethical issues they observe with friends and family. Television medical dramas may stimulate students to think about and discuss bioethical issues.

Trachtman, Howard

doi: 10.1080/15265160802478495pmid: 19085465

Spike, Jeffrey

doi: 10.1080/15265160802495630pmid: 19085466

White, Gladys B.

doi: 10.1080/15265160802568782pmid: 19085467

Ward, Frances Rieth; Summers, Sandy

doi: 10.1080/15265160802478586pmid: 19085468

Wicclair, Mark R.

doi: 10.1080/15265160802478503pmid: 19085469

Baylis, Françoise

doi: 10.1080/15265160802559161pmid: 19085470

In January 2008, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) (London, UK) issued two 1-year licenses for cytoplasmic hybrid embryo research. This article situates the HFEA's decision in its wider scientific and political context in which, until quite recently, the debate about human embryonic stem cell research has focused narrowly on the moral status of the developing human embryo. Next, ethical arguments against crossing species boundaries with humans are canvassed. Finally, a new argument about the risks of harm to women egg providers resulting from research involving the creation of humanesque cytoplasmic hybrid embryos is elaborated. Taken together these ethical concerns about the moral status of the human embryo, about the ethics of crossing species boundaries with humans, and about the potential harms to women (concerns that independently are more or less weighty for different constituencies), provide good reason to eschew humanesque cytoplasmic hybrid embryo research in favor of less ethically controversial means to the laudable end of successful regenerative medicine.