MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'humanity'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:09:18 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4847925&cid=t_107340_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F008091.html Writing for Discover's "Science Not Fiction" blog Kyle Munkittrick reviews films made by Pixar and finds a hidden message in Pixar films about the need to respect and accept non-human intelligences. I see this message as more likely to do us a disservice than to make our future brighter. The new is seen as dangerous and therefore feared. Pixar’s Human as Partner films emphasize that should a non-human intelligence arise, be it a rat or a robot or a monstrous alien, there will be no welcoming with arms wide open from either side. Victory in the battle for the rights and respect from both groups will come from an act of exemplary personhood and humaneness by those who dare to... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4847925 Thu, 19 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4847925 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4723910&cid=t_107340_107_f&fid=36672&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencebase.com%2Fscience-blog%2Ffive-feisty-science-books-on-davids-desk.html Five super science books landed on my desk during the last week or two, everything from a Haynes manual for the Space Shuttle to hacking life and from astrobiology to the discovery of Lucy by way of the fact of evolution. The Fact of Evolution – Opponents of evolution are wont to say it's "just" a theory, as if that somehow implies it's a fiction or not proven. Scientists often dislike talking in plain or making absolute, definitive statements. But, science writers and some scientists really don't mind telling it like it is. Forget the wishy-washy word "theory" with its non-scientific baggage, this is the Fact of Evolution. The onus is on opponents to prove otherwise by coming up with evidence for their own "theory". Biopunk: DIY Scientis... Sciencebase Science Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4723910 Sat, 16 Apr 2011 16:00:33 +0100 4723910 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4472941&cid=t_107340_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F007902.html A view which I see as completely wrong: The Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies (IEET) is committed to the idea that some non-human animals meet the criteria of legal personhood and thus are deserving of specific rights and protections. My take: That someone could say the above in all seriousness stems from impractical and romantic notions about where rights come from in the first place. Rights come from a capacity and motivation to respect rights in others. If the very concept of rights is beyond the mental capacity of beings around you to understand then these beings are not going to treat you as a rights-possessing being. The characteristics that IEET uses to describe why animals have rights fall... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4472941 Mon, 14 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4472941 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4349514&cid=t_107340_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhy-the-term-patient-is-so-important-in-healthcare%2F2011.01.14 An online friend, col­league, and out­spoken patient advocate, Trisha Torrey, has an ongoing e-vote about whether people prefer to be called a “patient,” a “con­sumer,” a “cus­tomer,” or some other noun to describe a person who receives healthcare. My vote is: PATIENT. Here’s why: Providing medical care is or should be unlike other com­mercial trans­ac­tions. The doctor, or other person who gives medical treatment, has a special pro­fes­sional and moral oblig­ation to help the person who’s receiving his or her treatment. This respon­si­bility — to heal, hon­estly and to the best of one’s ability — over­rides any other com­mit­ments, or con­flicts, between the two. The term “patient” con­stantly reminds the doctor of the spe­cialness of... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4349514 Fri, 14 Jan 2011 21:00:02 +0100 4349514 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4162924&cid=t_107340_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-doctors-many-hats%2F2010.11.13 I have taken on the task of writing 50,000 words for a novel in November (NaNoWriMo) and would have to carve time out of work or family [my posts are decreased by this new hat]. I can only wear so many hats. But I am here, and my writing has been far more enjoyable than I expected. This is the time when it is easy to hit the wall (we get daily encouraging emails from successful writers to get us through this time), but I’m okay so far. I am writing about a doctor who encounters a very unusual patient. I am writing in the first-person, which was a good choice, as I know the first person of a physician intimately and stand no risk of getting those details wrong. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Musings of a Distractible Mind* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4162924 Sat, 13 Nov 2010 16:00:00 +0100 4162924 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4134163&cid=t_107340_136_f&fid=39026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarolinemfr.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F11%2Fyes-you-can-help.html I don't understand this. It always seems to take someone famous to get sick or to die or to tell their story to make people realize that they could get it too and that they can help.Earlier this week, Shannon Tavares who starred as Nala in the Lion King on Broadway died of AML or acute myeloid leukemia. She died because doctors were unable to find a bone marrow match in time. Apparently now there is increased interest by the general public in becoming a bone marrow donor. Well, you always have had the option of becoming a bone marrow donor. This isn't different. Its just now a lot more people have become aware of it since she died.I don't know I sometimes wonder if people live in a cocoon thinking that 'it couldn't happen to me' - whether its cancer, MS, car accident, house fire, or any ot... Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4134163 Thu, 04 Nov 2010 10:15:00 +0100 4134163 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3827303&cid=t_107340_133_f&fid=35111&url=http%3A%2F%2Fspockette.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F08%2Fsome-realizations-part-i.html It occurred to me this morning that I've been diagnosed as aspie for almost ten years, give or take a few months. In that time, I've learned a lot about Asperger's Syndrome, autism, and me. Some of the things that help include:ListsCrossing things off listsFeeling like I've accomplished something by looking at said listsAnd here's yet another list of things that I've grown to realize as an human being and an autistic being:No matter what others may say, it's never silly to protect my hearing.If someone expects me to take vacation time to spend with them and they're not willing to reciprocate, they're not worth my time.When friends have similar dispositions to me, they're likely not going to initiate contact. I need to take a chance, trust they like me, and call... or text. Or randomly show... Misadventures from a Different Perspective blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3827303 Thu, 05 Aug 2010 16:01:00 +0100 3827303 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3287704&cid=t_107340_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F006958.html Are dolphins sufficiently self-aware to deserve more ethical treatment from humans? Emory University neuroscientist Lori Marino will speak on the anatomical basis of dolphin intelligence at the American Association for the Advancement of Science conference (AAAS) in San Diego, on Sunday, Feb. 21 at 3:30 p.m. "Many modern dolphin brains are significantly larger than our own and second in mass to the human brain when corrected for body size," Marino says. A leading expert in the neuroanatomy of dolphins and whales, Marino will appear as part of a panel discussing these findings and their ethical and policy implications. Some dolphin brains exhibit features correlated with complex intelligence, she says, including a large expanse of neocortical volume that is more convoluted... (Source: Futur... FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3287704 Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3287704 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2719686&cid=t_107340_87_f&fid=35049&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nakedmedicine.com%2Fwhich-side-are-you-really-on-jane-chin I received what is probably the most passionate email from a reader of this blog that I’ve ever gotten since creating NakedMedicine.com in 2006. The email concludes with this: I can’t figure out what your agenda is Ms Chin. Are siding with the poor hard working physicians who are fighting a losing battle with their idiot patient’s lifestyles? Are you siding with the tirelessly industrious pharmaceutical scientists who are selflessly dedicating their efforts to cure our ills? Are you siding with the poor neglected suffering individuals who are bravely pushing onward in their lives, struggling with disease, possible disease, possible pandemics, or just plain plainness requiring cosmetic medicine? Doctors, business, persons, for whom are you advocating? I was shocked by the ... NAKEDMEDICINE.COM blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2719686 Fri, 21 Aug 2009 04:42:29 +0100 2719686 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1344262&cid=t_107340_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F005107.html How long till wolf-boy gets created? Scientists at Newcastle University have created part-human, part-animal hybrid embryos for the first time in the UK, the BBC can reveal. The embryos survived... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1344262 Wed, 02 Apr 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1344262 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=876079&cid=t_107340_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F09%2Fhumane-society.html We stumble into the building tripping over ourselves in our haste, a rambling, rabble of ragamuffins. They disperse in three different directions but I remain calm because no-one can actually escape. One single entrance, that is also the sole exit, is balm to a woman such as myself.I allow them to let off puffs of steam. their excitement whirs a while. After about twenty minutes, they have expended enough energy to risk entering one of the smaller enclosures. We battle with unco-operative doors. I remind them all about the need to sanitize their hands between each cat stroking session. They are perfectly happy to submit to the hand washing in order to maintain the health of the cats and kittens. The greater good. A man enters the same enclosure. My children are still louder than many, as t... Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=876079 Sun, 16 Sep 2007 23:47:00 +0100 876079 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=852564&cid=t_107340_133_f&fid=35128&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthiswayoflife.org%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D233 People who aren’t institutional survivors (including group home residents) or close to someone who was simply don’t understand the reasons for the abuse in those places. I don’t claim to understand fully, but I do know many reasons. And, they aren’t what people think - it isn’t that bad people work there who get thrills out of abusing people, although that’s certainly true. But most abusers aren’t people who set out to abuse people - it just sort of happens, from good people, with good hearts, and good intentions. Does that mean these people are not responsible for there actions? Of course not. But it does mean that solving the problem is a bit more complex than finding and getting rid of “bad apples.” We need to find and get rid of the... NTs Are Weird blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=852564 Sat, 08 Sep 2007 23:29:48 +0100 852564 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=501857&cid=t_107340_133_f&fid=35128&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthiswayoflife.org%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D144 Apparently, if you are responsible for the basic needs of someone else, it’s more okay to murder than it would be if they are a stranger. Especially if you love them, although that’s not a requirement for leniency. Every time an autistic person is murdered by a family member who cares for them, I brace myself. First, I’m sad that another autistic person has been murdered. But, secondly, I fear the public reaction, as it reminds me exactly of how society views people like me. When an autistic person is murdered by their caregiver, we typically hear, as a very first response, about how difficult caring for an autistic person is, as it is felt this is actually relevant. Well, I’ve worked for difficult bosses before, but just being difficult I doubt would have got me mu... NTs Are Weird blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=501857 Mon, 26 Mar 2007 12:33:28 +0100 501857 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=487647&cid=t_107340_133_f&fid=35092&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.autistics.org%2Fdemonized%2F%3Fp%3D18 Lisa Helt writes, in an Amazon review of Strange Son: I can’t believe anyone could write such cruel things about any human being, much less a child with a disability. She uses the words, “beast-like”, “alien”, “possessed by a demon”, “like a wild beast”. Only someone who has no compassion whatsoever could write this, much less be the founder of Cure Autism Now. I know one thing, they will never ever get my money again. Portia Iverson tries to say she never wrote that, and Lisa Helt points out the passages, saying at the end: To me it seemed you were embarrassed by autism, embarrassed that they ruin your dinner parties that were so painfully planned with their “French country patterned napkins”. I hope that one day you can ac... Autism Demonized blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=487647 Sat, 03 Mar 2007 16:34:16 +0100 487647 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=487651&cid=t_107340_133_f&fid=35092&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.autistics.org%2Fdemonized%2F%3Fp%3D13 Now I’m going to look at The Siege, by Clara Claiborne Park. This is the book that Catherine Maurice found inspiration for battle metaphors in. It’s another classic in autism literature by parents, and was originally written in 1967. The version I have here is a 1982 version with a newer epilogue. The first chapter of the book is called “The Changeling”. From page 5: Once a friend, seeing for the first time her pale skin and straight yellow hair, her clear blue eyes and the dancing grace of her body, called her a fairy child. And there was a fairy lightness in her movements, a fairy purity in her detached gaze. As time passed and she grew taller, leaner, older, her face seemed not to record time’s passage. She carried none of the stigmata of the defective; not... Autism Demonized blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=487651 Mon, 27 Nov 2006 08:54:32 +0100 487651 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=487652&cid=t_107340_133_f&fid=35092&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.autistics.org%2Fdemonized%2F%3Fp%3D12 , by Catherine Maurice, is considered a classic in narratives by parents of autistic children. Page 57: I was in a race against time, and either I found someone or something that truly helped or I had lost Anne-Marie forever. It was as simple as that. There is something about autism that to me gave meaning to the phrase “death in life.” Autism is an impossible condition of being there and not being there; a person without a self; a life without a soul This is more of what’s becoming almost standard in the entries on this blog. Autism as death. Autism as soullessness. Autism as being lost. Later on, Maurice describes her daughter in the following way on page 63: Anne-Marie was so far gone by this point that she spent the evaluation period curled on the floor in a fetal po... Autism Demonized blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=487652 Sun, 26 Nov 2006 20:12:36 +0100 487652