Stem cells are the building blocks of life. Researchers are confident that the stem cell research will lead to treatments to wide variety of diseases and disorders such as: bone loss, broken bones, brain damage due to oxygen starvation, severe burns, cancer (some forms), diabetes, heart disease, hepatitis, incomplete bladder control, Huntington's, leukemia, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, Parkinson's, spinal cord injuries, stroke, etc, etc.. However, as it looks, the studies are in laboratory scale. Human trials in large numbers are required to employ the same as a routine mode of treatment. The cost of an effective stem cell treatment is going to cost a few lakh of rupees and the so-called embryonic stem cells require the destruction of embryo/fetus.
The ensuing public debate has prompted authorities around the world to seek regulatory frameworks and highlighted the fact that stem cell research represents a social and ethical challenge. Misuse of the unused embryos is matter of great concern. In US, Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Advisory Committee provides the necessary guidelines for the research. They address the many ethical, legal, scientific, and policy issues that are of concern to the public, and the scientific community. Finally, it may not come through at all beyond clinical trial stage. Millions of patients are going to be benefited by the research if it is accepted for use beyond the trial stage.
The stem cell banks are mushrooming world-wide. These banks offer to store stem cells from the umbilical cords of newborns for use later in life when illness strikes. However, there are a lot of uncertainties in this banking system. To begin with, the storage facilities need very low temperatures and maintaining such low temperature over large time periods (24x365x a few decades) can not be guaranteed. This seems to be an uncertain and unnecessary insurance. The cost involved is tremendously high. The banks are playing with the emotions of parents and persuading the parents to bank the umbilical cord stem cells. Already frauds are being reported in some countries in stem cell banking.
Governments should warn the public against such activities. Strict regulation is necessary to monitor the stem cell research and the working of such banking systems.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Indian Schools – Common curriculum; Single CET
Some may that the common syllabus closes options students have today to choose a board of their choice depending upon the children’s capabilities to cope up with the requirements and demands of different boards. But in the long run, a common syllabus for mathematics and science, and common CET for medical and engineering are worth much more for the students in terms of getting fair and equitable deals in admissions for higher and professional education.
The only worry is the corruption prevailing in the country in the education and Indian Administrative set ups. Appropriate committees of upright and sincere officers and educationists should be formed to implement and manage such an important decision. Periodic updating the syllabus, providing infrastructure support in semi-rural and rural areas and transparency in conducting the examinations in all India levels are some of the issues to be looked in to by the authorities. The reform steps are in right direction if implemented impartially.
The only worry is the corruption prevailing in the country in the education and Indian Administrative set ups. Appropriate committees of upright and sincere officers and educationists should be formed to implement and manage such an important decision. Periodic updating the syllabus, providing infrastructure support in semi-rural and rural areas and transparency in conducting the examinations in all India levels are some of the issues to be looked in to by the authorities. The reform steps are in right direction if implemented impartially.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
UN claim of rising temperature wrong
It is also said that the Chairman of IPCC cooked up facts to corner grants. It is also reported that The Energy and Resources institute (TERI) headed by the Chairman received over 310,000 pounds grants from Carnegie Corporation of NEW York and from European Union. With regard to the UN claim of global warming, new research casts doubt on the UN climate data, suggesting that the world may not be warming at all as stated. The IPCC wrongly linked the warming to floods.
In Indian scenario, it is reported that the year 2009 has been the hottest year ever recorded in India. The long-term annual average temperature was 0.913 degree C in 2009 as compared to 0.514 degree C in 1998. The coastal regions recorded the most increase. It is difficult to say that the temperature rise is due to human activities alone. In the global scenario, of the 12 hottest years in the century, 11 have been in the past 2 decades. Probably, rate of rise in temperature has marginally increased over the last two decades.
However, the blunders committed by the IPCC do not change the overall global picture of some small rise in the average global temperature. Concerted efforts are required in cutting back on greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in the power sector. Fossil fuel plants should be phased out slowly and concerted efforts should be made to develop renewable energy resources, like wind and solar and environmentally clean nuclear power.
In Indian scenario, it is reported that the year 2009 has been the hottest year ever recorded in India. The long-term annual average temperature was 0.913 degree C in 2009 as compared to 0.514 degree C in 1998. The coastal regions recorded the most increase. It is difficult to say that the temperature rise is due to human activities alone. In the global scenario, of the 12 hottest years in the century, 11 have been in the past 2 decades. Probably, rate of rise in temperature has marginally increased over the last two decades.
However, the blunders committed by the IPCC do not change the overall global picture of some small rise in the average global temperature. Concerted efforts are required in cutting back on greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in the power sector. Fossil fuel plants should be phased out slowly and concerted efforts should be made to develop renewable energy resources, like wind and solar and environmentally clean nuclear power.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Consumer Acts on doctor – justified?
Supreme Court of Inda lays down 11-point guidelines for courts to decide on complaints against doctors. The Consumer Protection Act should be applicable to complaints where the gross medical negligence is proved without doubt. Often, the medical practitioners are forced to take some life-saving interventions or perform procedures during emergency which may not work successfully and the patient may die or due the intervention the patient may get into some other serious health complications.
Will the doctors be able to take a correct decision when the Consumer Protection Act is hanging over their neck? Can he allow a patient to die just because he is afraid of the decision may or may not save the life of the patient. May be, the doctor should be allowed to take a calculated risk to save a serious patient.
As a common man understood, the Supreme Court says that - doctors in complicated cases have to take chance even if the rate of survival is low. A doctor faced with an emergency normally tries to redeem the patient out of the suffering and the doctor does not gain by acting with negligence.
This implies that the prosecution should handle such cases with lot of care taking into account the doctor’s qualification, experience and past record. The medical negligence should be proved beyond any doubt while dispensing the justice. The above 11 guidelines will be of help in deciding such cases in court of law.
Will the doctors be able to take a correct decision when the Consumer Protection Act is hanging over their neck? Can he allow a patient to die just because he is afraid of the decision may or may not save the life of the patient. May be, the doctor should be allowed to take a calculated risk to save a serious patient.
As a common man understood, the Supreme Court says that - doctors in complicated cases have to take chance even if the rate of survival is low. A doctor faced with an emergency normally tries to redeem the patient out of the suffering and the doctor does not gain by acting with negligence.
This implies that the prosecution should handle such cases with lot of care taking into account the doctor’s qualification, experience and past record. The medical negligence should be proved beyond any doubt while dispensing the justice. The above 11 guidelines will be of help in deciding such cases in court of law.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Indian Poverty Line – Suresh Tendulkar Committee
According to the Suresh Tendulkar Committee released recently, the poverty line in India is upgraded from Rs. 356.30 (rural) and Rs. 538.60 (urban) per capita per month to Rs. 446.68 (rural) and Rs. 578.80 (urban) per capita per month for 2004-05. The International poverty line (WB) is US $1.25 per day for 2005. More than a billion poor people are there in the world today! Not very good news.
Developed countries and developing countries should minimize their spending on war heads, purchase of weapons and space activities and focus on the billion of poor to provide them with food, some shelter and clean drinking water.
Developed countries and developing countries should minimize their spending on war heads, purchase of weapons and space activities and focus on the billion of poor to provide them with food, some shelter and clean drinking water.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
