Response to Nick Janus’ Ethics in Medicine

http://njanuslsc100f10.blogspot.com/

                Nick does a great job explaining the multiple stances of animal testing.  I see both side’s points of view and lye somewhere in the middle.  Although animal testing has led us to making great advances in medicine that has saved many lives, I would never want to see so many animals harmed.  To add to Nick’s comment that doctors cannot even compare the results of animal testing to humans due to anatomical differences; scientists have studied animal body functions and many have systems that work the same way as ours.  This is not to say that the affect of drugs on an animal’s body will be the same as on a human’s but it definitely has some merit.

                It’s quite compelling to me to hear which animals some people think should be tested on and which shouldn’t.  Nick says some are for primate testing because they are our closest ancestors, and some are against it for that same reason.  My stance on this is animals which show culture and which humans have made a connection with should not be tested on.  In experiments, such as giving one primate food and not the other have shown that primates have culture and experience some of the same emotional feelings as humans do.  Their bodies respond the same way chemically as humans to situations that would induce certain emotions.  Also humans feel a connection with certain animals.  These usually include domesticated animals. 

The line between what should and should not be tested on is hazy and differs from person to person.  Nick did a great job representing the many opinion.

Ethics and Medicine: Assisted Suicide

http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre1995050506&type=hitlist

                 Today’s medical law does not permit doctor assisted suicides.  I learned from a documentary, the issue of whether a doctor aiding a patient in committing suicide is ethical or not grew from the famous Dr. Kevorkian.  Dr. Kevorkian successfully assisted about 130 terminal patients in committing suicide.  He was then charged with second degree murder and served eight years of his 10-25 year prison sentence.

                The story of Dr. Kevorkian led many to question whether a patient should have the right to commit suicide with the aid of their doctor if they are terminally ill.  The purpose of a doctor assisted suicide is to end the patient’s suffering.  Many believe that it is the patient’s right to decide if their life is worth continuing in the pain of death’s hands.  Although, assisted suicide is illegal in the majority of the states.  Family members of the terminally ill might be against assisted suicide because they want more time with their loved one and don’t want to see them die.  Some religions say suicide is committed out of unknowing or confusion and will block the transcendence to the afterlife.  I don’t think that either side is misrepresented because both have valid concerns for either wanting a loved one to live, or wanting to die if subjected to suffering for the rest of their life.  In the case of Dr. Kevorkian, though, many see him as a criminal lacking morals or what’s right and wrong.

                Arguments for euthanasia are quite compelling.  The most interesting one I found said that the goal of medicine is to relieve suffering for people.  That is essential what assisted suicide is; relieving the patient of their suffering.  Those against euthanasia say that patients would be selfish or cowardly for wanting an assisted suicide.

Response: Max Jentsch's Demonstration Evaluation

http://mjentschlsc100f10.blogspot.com/

               I agree with Max that the video on how to build a paper airplane is done very well.  The bird’s eye view of the plane is ideal but to follow along I think it would have been better if the camera was placed as how the demonstrator was viewing the paper.  The viewers saw the steps upside down from how the demonstrator did, unless the demonstrator himself was doing the steps upside down, which I would be thoroughly impressed with.  Personally, I do not like that a voice is not there to guide me.  Although it can be relaxing not to have someone directing you what to do, as Max stated, I found it harder to follow along with.  A voice to reinforce the steps would be beneficial to the viewer and help them follow along while watching their own paper airplane without watching the screen.  Max said that he preferred there to be no sound but he understood that some learned differently and would like sound.  I think including sound would be beneficial and if someone didn’t like it, they could always turn the sound off due to it being a video demonstration and not a live one.

                Max had a great point that repeating the steps would have aided to viewer, and that because it was a youtube video you could rewind, it didn’t really matter.  But maybe introducing the steps in the beginning and summing them up at the end would help the viewer grasp what was being done overall.  This would help them prepare for the steps to come and insure them they have done it right if so.  Also some guidelines, similar to the paper plane demonstration speech done by a classmate, such as remembering to crease all folds, would have helped.  An introduction or conclusion of relevance to the viewer would help grab their attention, especially because the absence of sound makes the video a little boring.

Rubix Cube Demonstration Evaluation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsQIoPyfQzM

This is a two part demonstration video that explains how to solve a Rubix Cube.  It is done by shooting the demonstrators hands going through the steps.  It starts off with an interesting brief history of the Rubix cube that grabbed my attention.  Before getting to the real solution, the demonstrator first tells the viewer how to “cheat” and remove the cube to be replaced in their correct spots.  This allows viewers who are not interested in learning the extensive solution to stay interested.

  To inforce the steps to the viewers, a simplified series of moves for each step is displayed on the screen.  This ensures that the viewer is able to follow along correctly and can go back at each display and repeat the steps if needed.  The simplified way of explaining the moves successfully makes a complicated task one that everyone can do.  To further simplify the task, simple, common language is used throughout.

The only drawback is that the demonstrator quickly “resets” the cube to show the multiple starting points at each step.  This can be confusing at times and would be clearer to the viewer if multiple cubes were prepared at each step so transition from one to the other was smoother.  This is similar to a cooking style demonstration where the final product is prepared ahead of time so the viewers don’t have to wait in between steps.  Other than this, the video was done extraordinarily well and simplified a complex task so it can be done by the average viewer.

Demonstration Speech Response

                 Upon viewing the video of my speech, I noticed some things I can improve on for next time.  Overall, I think I effectively taught the class how to draw three dimensional objects while connecting the importance of this skill to their own lives.  One thing I forgot to do was introduce the steps I was going to take to get to the final drawing; but I successfully explained each step and repeated them at the end.  From the outside, the content seemed to be clear and understandable.

                In terms of dialogue and body language, there were also positive and negative points to be noted.  At large I think I showed a relaxed, confident presentation.  Although, I repeated the hesitations “so” and “um” fairly consistently throughout my explanations.  More practice in front of an audience could make me more comfortable with public speaking and more familiar with my material.  I feel good about my body language and use of visual aids.  I referred back to the ball I was drawing at each step and quickly yet effectively drew it on the board.  Unfortunately my back had to be to my audience while I was drawing on the board.  Maybe bringing in a white board to hold in front of me to draw on would have been more effective.  Or instead of drawing each step, showing pictures of each step.  Lastly, I could have made a little more eye contact with the audience to further convey my message.

               Overall, I was relatively pleased with my speech; I think it was clear and relatable.  With a little correction in body language and use of materials, I can form an even more effective speech.

Response: Dialogue on Climate Stifled by Political Two-Step

http://lsc100fall2010.blogspot.com/

             Mr. Spartz describes how recently political figures, such as Dick Cheney and other Republicans, have denied that climate change is occurring despite the enormity of scientific evidence that it is occurring.  By stating that fact is false, these leaders sway a debate in the public eye “toward head-in-the-sand-willful-ignorance”.

Recently in my Environmental Studies class, we have discussed this political denial of reality and how it has largely swayed Americans.  There is no doubt that a climate change beyond natural variability is occurring.  99.9% of scientists believe that it is and have uncovered countless pieces of evidence to prove it.  Mr. Spartz asks, if the question of whether it exists or not (which it does) has already been answered, “why would political figures find it beneficial to perpetuate such views?”  I think the motives behind these highly oppositional views are purely profit driven.  There is a whole industry behind denying proven science to make money.  This is called the denial industry.  The public begins to believe a fact is false through such open denial.  Debate grows and eventually government slows regulation and resists change.  Industries then have more time to make money by manufacturing their products despite environmental harm it may cause.

It is unfortunate that individuals would put the future health of our planet at harm for their own economical benefits, but it is even more unfortunate that the American public is so easily swayed by denial of science.  Does science need to be more widely known to the public or does the public need to reevaluate their priorities?  I believe the later is true.  Americans have lived a very comfortable lifestyle so far without the threat of climate change.  Now that it is eminent, many don’t want to abandon that lifestyle they have grown to know and love.  To persist in the face of climate change Americans must not abandon these lifestyles but adapt to the possible changes before resiliency is not an option.

Solar Homes Sold 20% Faster, and for 17% More, NREL Study Finds

http://cleantechnica.com/

CleanTechnica created this blog regarding renewable energy application to homes. The blog has been active for almost three years, and the authors submit posts quite consistently.  There are at least 2 posts every day.  The authors use hyperlinks to link back to articles that support a point with scientific evidence such as environmental maps or statistical analysis.  Hyperlinks are also used to provide the reader with background information on the article’s topic.  Throughout the posts, many pictures and graphs are used.  The graphs are mostly to provide support for an author’s explanation of a topic, while pictures show the reader what green technologies are being described and how they affect the environment.

http://cleantechnica.com/2010/10/23/solar-homes-sold-20-faster-and-for-17-more-nrel-study-finds/

                The author of this blog post is Susan Kraemer and it came from the CleanTechnica blog site.  It was written very recently on October 23, 2010.  The tone was fairly similar to the tone I was aiming for in my research paper.  It was non-biased and clearly stated the facts and pros and cons of each point, although it is a little more informal.  It is set up in more of an experiment type format.  This style more effectively describes the results of selling a solar versus non-solar powered home.  Also, rather than stating numbers and statistics to show results as I did in my research paper, the author links back to other articles or graphs that show the statistical analysis of the green home market.  This is probably an easier method to provide evidence on an online blog.

Response to Facebook High Res Photos

Travis Balinas:  Facebook is already a popular way to share photo with your 'friends,' but the quality leaves a little something to be desired, to say the least. Well, that's all about to change, as the company has announced that it'll be rolling out high resolution photo uploading to all of its users over the coming weeks. Users will be able to upload and store photos that are eight times larger than what the service now allows (720 pixels). At the same time, the photo viewer will be upgraded to have a lightbox feel -- black background -- for better viewing. Great news, no doubt, for those of us who just couldn't stand another low res shot of someone's baby doing something silly

Response:

I agree that facebook has made great leaps in giving society the opportunity to stay connected with "friends" that you might have normally forgotten about.  It is an opportunity to send more than just a yearly holiday card or a phone call.  But in many ways facebook has made society that much less connected with each other.  There is something more meaningful behind a post card or phone call. It means that someone who cared took the time out of their day to think about you and make contact, rather than quickly commenting on an unnecessary picture of you.  I suppose facebook’s usefulness depends on the user’s intentions; to stay connected with distant family and friends, or to show all your friends the pictures you took together last night.  With the new application of high resolution photos, that even more contact is lost.  Why go out of your way to check up on your friends and family when you can see for yourself through high resolution facebook photos?  For most, it is only a picture of someone’s baby doing something silly anyway.  The avid user might enjoy this more precise way to stay updated, but the user who relies on facebook to maintain relationships loses an obligation to reach out and contact that “friend” in the real world.  I for one don’t want to see the internet world, completely replace the real world.  It may be only high resolution photos now, but who knows what will be next.

Organs for sale?

                I do not believe an individual has the right to sell his or her organs due to a moral obligation to donate organs if they are needed by another person.  A person should have the right to say what will happen to their body after the die, or even what happens to removed organs if they are still alive.  This means one should have the right to say if they want their organs donated or not.  In regards to someone selling their organs, this right should not be granted.  If someone has the opportunity to give an organ to another person in need and has no moral obligations against sharing organs, then the organ should be donated not sold.  All humans have a moral obligation to help others in need, and if someone is willing to help another, they should do it at no cost.  If people were to start charging each other for acts of kindness they were already willing to do, life would be boiled down to quantitative terms.  There are some things that cannot be priced.  I can only hope that the organ recipient would feel the need to thank or repay the donor in other terms than an official agreement to buy the organ.  The act of giving is much more powerful than that of buying.

"Sell Organs to Save Lives"- Martin Wilkinson

The demand for organ donors far outstrips the supply.

In this week's Scrubbing Up, Martin Wilkinson, a visiting professor at Keele University and former chairman of the New Zealand Bioethics Council, argues that selling organs is the way forward.

                After reading Martin Wilkinson’s article on organ sale, I realize that organs are in much higher demand than supply.  Using money as an incentive would possibly meet demand and surpass it, like what happened in Iran.  This doesn’t change my answer but it does make me consider some kind of balance between having the right to sell ones organs.  I am afraid that allowing this right will, as Wilkinson said, “replace altruism with commerce,” but I would not want to deny patients the opportunity to get an organ.  Government or insurance buying the organ could maybe provide a middle ground, or maybe allowing the sale of an organ within certain requirements.  Either way, I believe that it is essential that the act of doing a good deed is not replaced with money driven motives.

The Immortal Life or Henrietta Lacks, obstacles in writing

The story of Henrietta Lacks is definitely one needed to be heard by the public and should be told for generations to come. One of the most conflicting themes that seems to be apparent throughout the book is the lack of notification given to Henrietta regarding the use of her cells. It would seem only right to learn from the mistakes made by Lack’s medical team and share her story with everyone. The initial issue with Lack’s story was that it was kept under wraps for so long. The last thing that should happen with it now is to keep it from the community. The public deserves to know the full history of today’s medicine, the triumphs and horrors. How can it be made sure that something like this doesn’t happen again if the majority doesn’t know it happened to begin with? Although shameful, mistakes are made to grow from.

After a decade of digging, Rebecca Skloot had to turn her research into a book for all readers. I’m sure it was not easy turning the hidden medical files into an understandable and relatable book for the public. Telling a hidden, complicated story in a way that allows any reader to connect to it and learn from it was most likely a very daunting mission. Just the language itself used when uncovering the story was probably not as comprehensible to those without a strong medical background. Putting it into words for a wider range of audience is a challenge in itself, but to tell it so it hits a wide range of people equally, I’m sure was the main task at hand. Hopefully Skloot was successful in achieving this and I won’t have troubles with understanding the medical details of the story. I anticipate I may lose the message the story portrays with an overload of detail of Skloot getting at the truth. Regardless, I am eager to read about the challenges Skloot went through in exposing Lack’s story.