Let's get ethical, ethical.

I pray you either:

a) Sing the title of this entry in the same way you would sing the song ‘Let’s get physical’ by Olivia Newton-John. I don’t know why I know that she sang that song, I certainly wasn’t alive when it was released. NB. See the video below in case you don’t know it and would like to spice up your day. You may know the Madonna version better? Anyway...

b) Ignore the title and move swiftly on.

If you opted for the latter, shame on you! You’re no fun.

It has struck me that healthcare related ethics have featured a lot in the press this month. Here’s my round up (click on the links if you fancy reading more): 

• An ‘opt-out’ scheme for organ donation in Wales was passed on 2^nd July. This means that when someone dies, consent for their organs to be donated is presumed. It’s not quite as simple as that though, as the system acknowledges vetoes by family members and friends of long standing. The debate continues…
• Abortion, as always, is hitting headlines again. Whilst politicians debated throughout the night on allowing limited abortions in the Republic of Ireland, the latest figures by the Department of Health show that there has been a fall in teenage abortion rates in England and Wales.
• The Guardian told the story of Paul Chamberlain, 66, who suffers with Motor Neuron Disease. His articulate and sincere account on his decision to obtain drugs from overseas so that he can terminate his life as and when he feels necessary raises questions about current policy on assisted dying.

I’ve come to realise, people say that they're not particularly interested in ethics in the same way that they say that they don't care for politics. It’s easy to say that it doesn't affect you, but really it does. Maybe we’re just not comfortable enough with these issues to engage with them.