Widespread disease, worsening prospect of survival, prolonged illness, and increased distress contribute to a low quality of life for patients and their caregivers, according to a report in the February issue of The Lancet Oncology. The permanent vegetative state cannot be diagnosed with certainty. The author examines the ethical aspects of the management of people thought to be in this state. He concludes that one solution to this ethical minefield might be to use a full ethical accounting procedure which takes many parties into consideration. Each legitimate party's interest could be considered from the view point of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice.
Justice is likely to be the most contentious issue.
Law enforcement authorities on both sides of the border have moved to halt a Vancouver-based telemarketing scam targeting senior citizens in the United States. Researchers at Rome's La Sapienza University, working with scientists at the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts General Hospital in the United States, have created genetically modified super-muscle mice which are relatively immune to the muscle wasting that occurs with aging. Registration may be required to access some Web sites. All URLs cited in this issue of the eBulletin are believed to be active at the time of publication.