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Pet genomics medicine runs wild

Last year, a 13-year-old dog, let’s call her Petunia, started having trouble walking and controlling her bladder and bowels. Distressed, her owners bought a US$65 genetic test through a direct-to-consumer (DTC) company.

Death is universal, but sometimes murky

In August 1968, a committee at Harvard Medical School published a landmark document titled “A Definition of Irreversible Coma.” In addition to the traditional way of defining death, in terms of the loss of cardiorespiratory function, the committee suggested a new definition of death — brain death

Brain Death and the Controversial Case of Jahi McMath

Our deepest sympathies go to the McMath family.

Additional coverage on the controversial case can be found below.

Faculty Aaron Kesselheim in ProPublica on FDA rushing drugs to market

Nuplazid, a drug for hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease, failed two clinical trials. In a third trial, under a revised standard for measuring its effect, it showed minimal benefit.

Magical Objects in Medicine

The velvety rabbit with big floppy ears and a silver tiara came to me 34 years ago with a name tag that read, “Fairy God Bunny.” That was when I was in my mid-20s and had cancer. For five years I carried this rabbit with me to the hospital for labs, CT scans and X-rays.

Lacey Brennen, MD, MBE, recieves her master's hood at graduation.

That's the Spirit

by PHOEBE KNOX

Bleak Asylum Ruling

Center faculty member Wes Boyd recently co-authored this opinion piece about Jeff Session's decision to deny asylum in cases where victims have suffered "private violence."

J. Wes Boyd in New York Times on Jeff Sessions' Asylum Policy

To the Editor:

Re “Sessions Shrinks Paths to Asylum” (front page, June 12):

"Well Settled, Yet Still Unresolved"

On August 5, 1968, an ad hoc committee at Harvard Medical School published a landmark report that laid the groundwork for a new definition of death, based on neurological criteria.

LGBT Health Care Panel

Addressing LBGT Concerns in Health Care

In conjuctionion with Boston Pride week, the evening session of the Harvard Clinical Bioethics Course will explore the health care concerns and needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex people—whether they are care providers or patients.