
blogs


New Study of Medical Students Reveals a Strong Support for Freedom of Conscience
A study in the Journal of Medical Ethics published yesterday showed that nearly 50% of medical students…

General Medical Council and Medical Defence Union endorse ‘tactful’ offers of prayer by GPs
The GP magazine Pulse reports in an exclusive this week on new guidance from the Medical Defence Union…

A life precious to God – how to cope when you find your unborn baby has special needs
There is a deeply heart-warming story in the Daily Mail today (July 18 2011) titled, ‘Doctors told…

Greater than Google – final reflections on the Developing Health Course
I'm back in the office after the Developing Health Course, analysing feedback forms, tying up loose ends…

Martin Pistorius: a story about faith, hope and love through ‘locked in syndrome’
The Sunday Times today tells the story of Martin Pistorius, a South African man who ended up paralysed…

Britain promotes media advertising for abortion whilst Russia attempts to curb it
The Daily Telegraph carried the story earlier this month that private clinics which carry out abortions…

Italy joins Bulgaria and France in blocking euthanasia legislation
Earlier this year I reported that France, Australia, Scotland, Israel and Canada had recently blocked…

Abortion and mental health: is there a link?
This is a question that has been the subject of many a debate in academia, in politics, in the public…

Is Treatment Becoming the New Prevention Fad for HIV & AIDS?
Two new studies (one in Kenya and Uganda, the other in Botswana) were published this week suggesting…

Emmerdale injects some reality into its depiction of the sequelae of assisted suicide
I am not an Emmerdale fan but I was interested to see the way the Soap is developing the story following…

Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis is too high a price for a perfect baby
Last week the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) held its annual meeting…
67% of American doctors oppose the legalisation of physician assisted suicide
An on-line poll of readers of the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that the majority of American doctors are against physician-assisted suicide (PAS). Based on 5,205 respondents from 72 countries, the poll showed that 67% of US readers opposed legalising PAS and a majority supported the practice in only 18 US states. Interestingly, this did […]
Oliver Barclay (1919-2013) made an immense contribution to evangelical Christianity worldwide
Oliver Barclay, the second General Secretary of what is now known as the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship (UCCF), was promoted to glory this week. Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF), for which I work, grew out of IVF/UCCF in 1949 and was founded by Oliver’s immediate predecessor Douglas Johnson (DJ), who features in this obituary abridged from the […]
Liverpool Care Pathway – next steps now clearer with setting up of new leadership alliance
The Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) was developed by specialists in palliative care to improve the management of dying patients but its implementation was dogged by controversy leading to the establishment of an independent review. The review, chaired by Crossbench Peer Baroness Neuberger, published its report in July. It concluded that the LCP should be phased […]
Coronation Street must handle assisted suicide story with great sensitivity and care
The BBC has reported this week that the ITV Soap ‘Coronation Street’ is to run a story on assisted suicide centred on the character Hayley Cropper (pictured). Hayley, the first transgender character in a British soap, has been diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer and the show has revealed that as her health deteriorates she will […]
UK decision to trial three parent embryos for mitochondrial disease ‘both premature and ill-conceived’
Christian Medical Fellowship has recently published a paper on ‘three parent embryos for mitochondrial disease’ which was strongly critical of this new technology on both theological and scientific grounds. This followed submissions that we made on the issue to both the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) and the Nuffield Council. I have also argued […]
Organ donation now on the agenda in Northern Ireland
Wales has finally passed controversial legislation to bring in presumed consent for organ donation by 2015. Now it seems that Northern Ireland may be next in line to change their law on donation. Currently in Northern Ireland (as in the rest of the UK, other than Wales) there is an ‘express consent’ system for donation […]
Controversial policies on organ donation pushed by the BMA and ‘leading doctor’
I support organ donation. In 2013 there were 7,250 people on the UK waiting list for a transplant. The altruistic gift aspect of donation, which arises from fully informed consent, resonates with our Christian obligation to love our neighbours as ourselves. The word ‘donate’ is derived from the Latin ‘donare’, ‘to give’. The more people willing […]
Disability and discrimination
The Paralympics in London last year demonstrated the extraordinary abilities and determination of sportsmen and women with disabilities. Shortly after, it was pointed out in a letter to the Daily Telegraph that there was a certain irony (hypocrisy?) in London hosting this international event and giving it excellent media coverage, while the UK law on […]
Do you know what happened to the girl in this iconic Pulitzer prize winning photo from the Vietnam War?
On 8 June 1972, a plane bombed the village of Trang Bang, near Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) in South Vietnam after the South Vietnamese pilot mistook a group of civilians leaving the temple for enemy troops. The bombs contained napalm, a highly flammable fuel, which killed and badly burned the people on the […]
Legalised euthanasia and assisted suicide – a Christian perspective on upcoming threats in the UK
I was recently interviewed by Emily Graves of Crossrhythms Radio about moves to legalise euthanasia and assisted suicide around the world. The following is an extract from the interview focussing on recent developments in Britain. The full transcript is available online. Emily: Looking a bit closer to home, what is the perspective on euthanasia in the UK at […]
Eight facts most people don’t know about the physical and psychological consequences of abortion for women
Contrary to popular opinion abortion hurts women. TheUnChoice.com is an evidence-based Elliot Institute campaign to raise awareness about unwanted abortions, post-abortion issues and maternal deaths and to provide help, hope and healing. The US-based Elliot Institute publishes research and educational materials and works as an advocate for women and men seeking post-abortion healing. The following figures, referenced […]
New Scam – Beware of university staff inviting you to international conferences
I get a lot of scam emails, mostly from people in developing countries claiming a wealthy relative has just died leaving a huge legacy and promising me a cut if only I will provide my bank details. I don’t reply. But this week I’ve had two scam emails of a different kind, both from African […]