Episodes

  • Willowbrook State School

    Willowbrook State School
    Jan 20 2024
    Devan and Tyler explore the Willowbrook State School, that stands as a stark symbol of the dark chapters in the history of medical ethics and public health. Willowbrook gained infamy for its association with highly controversial medical experiments conducted on children with intellectual disabilities during the mid-20th century. Led by Dr. Saul Krugman, the Willowbrook studies became emblematic of ethical questions about the treatment of vulnerable populations and the boundaries of medical research.
    Show More Show Less
    53 mins
  • Dax Cowart and the Refusal of Medical Treatment

    Dax Cowart and the Refusal of Medical Treatment
    Jan 4 2024

    Dax Cowart was severely injured in an explosion in the 1970s. Despite his injuries, he expressed a strong and consistent desire not to want medical treatment for his injuries an to be allowed to die. In this episode, Tyler and Devan explore the landmark bioethics care of Dax Cowart and its importance to current questions about medical decision-making, capacity to refuse medical treatment, and disability.

    Links to Sources and other Interesting Stuff:

    “Dax Cowert, Who Suffered for Patient Rights, Dies at 71” The New York Times, Obituary, May 15, 2019.

    Documentary: “Dax Cowart — 40 years later”

    Show More Show Less
    45 mins
  • Mary and Jodie

    Mary and Jodie
    Dec 14 2023
    In this episode, Devan and Tyler discuss the separation surgery of conjoined twins, Mary and Jodie
    Show More Show Less
    54 mins
  • The Ashley Treatment

    The Ashley Treatment
    Dec 7 2023
    In this episode, Devan and Tyler discuss the case of Ashley X. Ashley’s parents and medical team proposed a treatment plan to attenuate Ashley’s growth that drew both praise and criticism from bioethicists.
    Show More Show Less
    57 mins
  • Eugenics and Forced Sterilization: The Infamous Case of Buck v. Bell (1927)

    Eugenics and Forced Sterilization: The Infamous Case of Buck v. Bell (1927)
    Nov 30 2023
    Tyler and Devan walk through the infamous US Supreme Court Case of Buck v Bell (1927) in this episode. Buck v Bell has a dark legacy that includes forced sterilization, eugenics, disability, and violence against women.
    Show More Show Less
    42 mins
  • Henrietta Lacks

    Henrietta Lacks
    Nov 16 2023
    In this episode, Devan and Tyler discuss the life and afterlife of Henrietta Lacks. Her cells were taken without her consent and used in tens of thousands of research experiments. We discuss what has and hasn’t changed in research ethics.
    Show More Show Less
    40 mins
  • Tarasoff and the Duty to Warn

    Tarasoff and the Duty to Warn
    Nov 9 2023
    We delve into the case of historical context and legal significance of the Tarasoff case
    Show More Show Less
    39 mins
  • The Case of Baby M

    The Case of Baby M
    Nov 2 2023

    Devan presents the fascinating and controversial case of 'Baby M' that captivated the world in the late 1980s. This landmark gestational surrogacy case raises complex questions about reproductive technology, parental rights, and who is a parent.

    DON’T FORGET TO CHECK OUT OUR NEW MERCHANDISE SITE WHERE YOU CAN GET ALL THE BIOETHICS FOR THE PEOPLE GIFTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS!
    Show More Show Less
    Less than 1 minute