Wesley J. Smith

The meltdown of the UK’s NHS is hitting unbelievable lows. Now, patients with conditions such as asthma and arthritis are being told, “Treat yourselves.” From the story:Instead of going to hospital or consulting a doctor, patients will beencouraged to carry out “self . . . . Continue Reading »

To all the readers of SHS, a wonderful, safe, healthy, and happy New Year. And remember, in the end we all destined to be yesterday’s news—as the above photograph I took in Rome symbolizes. (You will, no doubt, notice that there isn’t a photo. Blame Blogger: It won’t upload. . . . . Continue Reading »

The government’s federal regulations about health care are rigidly pro-privacy. That is generally to be applauded, although I have heard (perhaps Apocryphal) stories of staffers not being able to tell a spouse that their beloved is in the hospital.On the other hand, sometimes bureaucrats can . . . . Continue Reading »

You would think that I would be delighted by this compassionate, well meaning, and finely written column by a hospice doctor named Michele Ferguson. She does an excellent job of describing the kind of benefits that hospice provides dying patients:In my work, I am reminded every day that when . . . . Continue Reading »

Well, this is hopeful news. Drugs made from bone marrow stem cells are in their final stages of human testing. From the story:Three pivotal Phase 3 trials—the last step before seeking Food and Drug Administration approval to market a drug—are under way already for Prochrymal, and some . . . . Continue Reading »

“What’s that smell in this room? Didn’t you notice it, Brick? Didn’t you notice the powerful and obnoxious odor of mendacity in this room?” From Cat on a Hot Tin RoofThe line quoted above, uttered by Big Daddy to Brick, is one of my favorite lines in any play. It came . . . . Continue Reading »

This is a bit off topic, but I think it is worth pondering. This link will take you to photos of what different families eat in one week. The disparity is sobering. Here are a few samples:Germany:Mexico:Ecuador:Refugee Camp in . . . . Continue Reading »

This is a terribly tragic case: Javona Peters has been diagnosed as being in a persistent vegetative state (a terrible name for a diagnosis, the only one I know of which contains a pejorative, a derivation of the V word). She became unconscious less than three months ago, and so the diagnosis seems . . . . Continue Reading »

An article in Commentary by former Bush Administration staffer Jay P. Lefkowitz is a very interesting read. It amounts to an inside story about how and why President Bush made his controversial stem cell funding decision that has caused “the scientists” and media so much heartburn. It is . . . . Continue Reading »

Animal rights terrorists are again threatening Oxford University in the UK for building a laboratory that will do research with animals. From the story:Animal rights campaigners are threatening a new wave of attacks on Oxford University as its biomedical laboratory nears completion. Groups such as . . . . Continue Reading »