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This ought to be interesting, from North Country Gazette, a bioethics parley coming up...

ALBANY---Arthur Caplan, director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and Wesley Smith, a senior fellow at the Discovery Institute, will be among the speakers at a two-day conference in Albany this summer at the Alden March Bioethics Institute of Albany Medical Center.

The conference, entitled "Bioethics & Politics: The Future of Bioethics in a Divided Democracy", will focus on how politics and ethics are intertwined in such topics as advanced directives, cloning and stem cell research.

Albany To Host Bioethics Parley

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(this includes Ohioan from Florida's ping list, update to May 1.)
Terri on the road to recovery before the second stage began.

Jeb Bush article featured in many news outlets today.

TALLAHASSEE - Every second, a digital clock on Gov. Jeb Bush's desk counts down to the moment in January that his term ends, a reminder that one of the most powerful figures in American politics is about to step off the public stage.

On one afternoon this month - with 241 days, three hours and 20 minutes to go - the fading term was on the minds of some important supporters as well. A group of Christian activists had gathered near Bush's office to commemorate the National Day of Prayer. "Four more years," one worshipper called out as Bush prepared to address the group. "Don't I wish," replied the master of ceremonies, a local Christian organizer. A murmur of approval rose from the crowd.

Jeb Bush pauses at the next political step

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Organ (Donations?)

Family stops hospital from taking boy off life support

Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Kan. - The family of a 14-year-old who was shot in the neck has received a restraining order preventing the University of Kansas Hospital from taking the boy off of life support.

Michael Todd of Kansas City was shot Tuesday at a Blue Springs apartment. Police said a witness told them that the gun might have gone off accidentally.

"Our doctors have determined him to be brain dead," hospital spokesman Dennis McCulloch said on Friday.

But Michael's family argues that the hospital wants to remove the boy from life support because it wants to use his organs for a donor program.

"It's so quick," said Odette Cole, Todd's aunt. "He's 14 years old. ... You're acting like you're in a grocery store for body parts."

Though McCulloch could not discuss the case specifically, he said a family would be required to authorize any organ donations.

"I can tell you generically that under federal regulations all deaths or imminent deaths are required to be reported to the organ bank," he said. "Beyond that is between the organ bank and a family whether a donation is made."

Michael's family filed for the restraining order in Wyandotte County District Court. McCulloch said the hospital planned to respond to the injunction Monday.

McCulloch couldn't provide more information on the boy's injuries because of privacy laws. But he said that generally when a patient is declared brain dead, only hospital equipment is keeping the person's heart and lungs functioning.

"A declaration of brain death usually results in the beginning steps of ending treatment," he said. "We work very closely with the families in those situations, as it is a very difficult time for them."

Cole said her nephew's 15th birthday is May 31. He attended J.A. Rogers Middle School.

© 2006 AP Wire and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.kansas.com