Wesley J. Smith

I have a short book review of the interesting novel, The Leftovers, in the current First Things.  Here it is for those who might be interested in reading a different kind of post “Rapture” novel. (no link):No angel’s horn blew. The Risen Christ did not return with a . . . . Continue Reading »

The Journal of the American Medical Association published an article by Douglas B. White, MD and law professor Thaddeus M. Pope, arguing that intractable futile care disputes belong in court.  (In a medical futility dispute, doctors seek to withdraw life-sustaining treatment over the . . . . Continue Reading »

The January Human Exceptionalist is now out for your perusal.  Here is my introductory letter. From the HE: Dear Exceptional Human:Happy New Year to all from the Discovery Institute’s Center on Human Exceptionalism!  It may be 2012, but the struggle to maintain human exceptionalism . . . . Continue Reading »

We discussed the new computer model that supposedly can predict how much longer one has to live in the context of whether a patient should be told they have less than ten years.  But the NYT’s take on the same story raises another issue we only tangentially touched before; whether a . . . . Continue Reading »

Once again fraudulent scientific research has made the headlines—this time regarding the supposed health benefits of drinking red wine.  From the Reuters story:A University of Connecticut researcher who studied the link between aging and a substance found in red wine has committed more . . . . Continue Reading »

I am not a football fan.  I will, thus, not be watching the Superbowl.  But it is a day of fun with family and friends that many people look forward to enjoying for months ahead of time.I am also not a fan of Randall Terry.  In the least.  Which is why I am not . . . . Continue Reading »

The Sunday Times has a good editorial out opposing the legalization of assisted suicide in the UK, which is now in the midst of a big policy push seen there every few years.  It is worth reading the whole thing, but I want to focus on two points that I think are especially salient.  From . . . . Continue Reading »

Assisted suicide proposals are almost always profoundly disingenuous, as I have been illustrating for years. For example, in Washington, doctors who assist suicides are currently legally required to lie on death certificates. Rather than list the actual cause of death—assisted . . . . Continue Reading »

The scientific “studies” purporting to prove that conservatives and liberals have different biological responses strike me as so dumb.  Usually, they conclude that conservatives are angry/scared/selfish and liberals are hopeful/kind/altruistic—you know, that liberalism . . . . Continue Reading »

I have commented on two issues relating to the recent publication of the American College of Physicians Ethics Manual. Generally, I have been pleased, with some exceptions noted, e.g. its failure to sanction doctors who assist suicides despite that lethal procedure being opposed by . . . . Continue Reading »