I have long been concerned with how our nosologies–the way in which we classify diseases, and decide which human conditions count as diseases–exemplify a mix of science and social values. In my work, I’ve touched on this with obesity, and … Continue reading
Let me start by echoing Talia Mae Bettcher that transgender women are women and transgender men are men (Bettcher, 2013). The definition of “woman” includes all those individuals who identify as a woman and the definition “man” includes all those … Continue reading
In this recent article from The Guardian, Frances Ryan (who reports frequently on disability issues) draws attention to the following Kafka-esque situation. Disabled people in the UK whose eligibility for benefits has to be assessed (ie, to check they are … Continue reading
I appreciated Sorcha’s excellent blog the other day in the lead-up to the Irish vote on whether to repeal the 8th amendment which was added to the Irish constitution 25 years ago. For more background, check it out. But I … Continue reading
We all see things through our lenses, for good or for ill. And when listening to the numbers of civilian casualties in Gaza in U.S. press coverage over the last few days, I kept thinking about the emergency rooms and … Continue reading
As you may know, Medicaid is the US government health care safety net program for low-income Americans. While both the federal government and each state government contribute funds, the states make the decisions on allocation of those funds. Some states … Continue reading
Today, May 1, is known in the labor rights movement as May Day or International Workers’ Day. It celebrates the dignity of laboring humans and the right to be seen as and live as fully human. I want to use … Continue reading
I am struck by what health care disparities and the lived experiences of postpartum patients mean for implementation of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s new guidelines on postpartum care. These guidelines valuably refocus the medical establishment’s focus on … Continue reading
Editor’s Note: This blog is a short version of the issue that author and feminist bioethicist Charlene Galarneau wrestles with in her article “Getting King’s Words Right” in the most recent issue of the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and … Continue reading
Whenever there is a disparate social response to a problem that afflicts one group of people relative to a problem that afflicts another, it is worth asking why. Such questions are not asked to imply that no one should get … Continue reading
We bloggers and readers been writing and talking amongst ourselves lately about children, weight, fat shaming, and concerns about policing and medicalizing kids’ bodies. Once you start down this path, it’s really hard to stop. And where does this lead? … Continue reading
Feminist bioethics is, of course, about more than reproductive ethics. But it is also about reproductive bioethics. One of the big issues with reproductive bioethics from a feminist perspective is the tension between who is dissuaded from or prevented from … Continue reading
