Medical Ethics: Tough Choices (Collaborative Media Live Streaming Event)

WHAT IF YOU HAD TO DECIDE?
http://net.unl.edu/newsFeat/med_eth/me_index.html
If a cure for breast cancer costs tens of thousands of dollars per patient, who decides which patients will receive the treatment?

Should tax dollars be spent on cures that might be accessible only to the wealthy?

A geneticist discovers an apparent genetic predisposition of a certain ethnic group to violent behavior. Should the discovery be made public?

You need a liver transplant, but donated human organs are in desperately short supply. The liver from a pig could save your life. Would you be willing to be the first person to receive a pig liver transplant?

Whats right? Whats wrong? Who makes these Tough Choices?

This Web site gives you the chance both to inform yourself on some of the most challenging areas of research underway in Nebraska and also to share your opinions on these issues.

                    THE PROJECTS

The Lincoln Journal Star: A special four-part newspaper series beginning January 7, 2001.

                             January 7: Gene Therapy
                             January 14: Stem Cell Research
                             January 21: Xenotransplantation
                             January 28: Cloning

Nebraska ETV: A special live, two-hour discussion. On February 1, 2001, at 7:00PM CT, a cross section of Nebraskans will discuss how our states leaders should make the "tough choices" relating to medical and scientific research. Joining them will be researchers, elected officials, and representatives of advocacy groups to react and provide their input.

NETV2 REPEATS:
                    2/3 at 5pm | 2/13 at 8pm | 2/19 at 1:30pm

                    KMTV-Channel 3: Starting January 29 at 6pm, KMTVs Loretta Carroll introduces you to the medical researchers behind the discoveries and the people whose lives could be...or already have been...changed by their breakthroughs.

                    BACKGROUND

The first great debate of the Nebraska Legislature in this new century dealt with the unknowns of groundbreaking scientific research. The bitter discussion concerning the use of fetal cells in studies at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha made clear that these were not just issues to be pondered by distant academics and policymakers in world capitols.
The wide-ranging research being conducted at Nebraskas state-financed institutions provides hope for many while challenging ethical boundaries and fundamental spiritual beliefs of others.

Researchers in Nebraska are deeply involved in projects concerning human and plant genetics, organ transplantation, and the use of human cells in their discoveries. Citizens of Nebraska still have much to learn about the nature of this research.
Our tax dollars help support it on the front end. We rejoice or deplore the consequences on the back end.

Nebraskans need to ask: Am I prepared to make these decisions?" The debate is just beginning.

To foster civil public discussion of the medical and ethical issues involved, the Lincoln Journal Star, Nebraska Educational Television Network and Omaha's KMTV-Channel 3 in Omaha are collaborating on "Medical Ethics: Tough
Choices."

On this web site:

Stories from the Journal Star's Sunday series on Gene Therapy, Cloning, Stem Cell Research and Xeno Transplants. Public opinion poll results on medical ethics issues. Video streamed versions of the broadcasts for the "Medical Ethics: Tough Choices" project. Information about the reporters who worked on the stories and where you can contact them. The schedule of broadcasts/air dates for the project and events. A discussion Board to voice your opinion and share in discussions of issues related to medical ethics and
decisions surrounding those issues.
References, educational resources and outreach directories for more answers and support.