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By Crystal Kong and Chloe Cherng, High School Students Image by  https://southernliveoakwellness.com/lobotomy-to-tms-how-science-evolved-to-treat-mental-health-ethically/ Once viewed as a groundbreaking Nobel Prize treatment for mental health, lobotomies are now regarded as one of the most controversial and horrific medical procedures in history. What went wrong? What is a Lobotomy? A lobotomy is a surgical procedure that involves the severing of the nerve pathways in the bra

By Crystal Kong and Chloe Cherng, High School Students Image by https://www.achievetestprep.com/blog/creative-ways-nurses-celebrate-the-holidays-at-work The holidays mark a season for shared traditions, family, and cozy feasts. Yet while much of the world slows to celebrate togetherness, healthcare does not pause. The holiday season sharpens ethical challenges that are already embedded, as care becomes especially visible and emotional during this time. Examining healthcare du

Written by Crystal Kong and Chloe Cherng, High School Students Image by https://www.history.com/articles/the-infamous-40-year-tuskegee-study What is the Tuskegee Syphilis Study? From 1932-1972, this study was conducted by the U.S Public Health Service in partnership with the Tuskegee Institute to observe the natural progression of untreated syphilis in Black men, prioritizing data collection over patient welfare. 600 poor Black sharecroppers, 399 with syphilis and 201 without

Remembering Henrietta Lacks and her Major Contributions to Science Written by Crystal Kong and Chloe Cherng, High School Students Henrietta Lacks, a 31-year-old Black American woman, died in 1951 from cervical cancer at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Although her life was cut short, her legacy lives on through the research-fueling line of cells, known as HeLa cells. During her treatment, researchers took samples of Henrietta Lacks’ tumour without her consent. Her cells were then dis

By Crystal Kong and Chloe Cherng, High School Students Image by https://www.witcherytours.com/blog/2023/09/07/35-years-bit-burke   Early medical knowledge originated from animal dissection and the study of human bones, although these methods were limited by significant drawbacks. It gave a limited view of human anatomy and physiology. Direct evidence about human autonomy finally emerged when Greek physicians in Alexandria, Egypt, began dissecting the bodies of criminals. Howe

What’s the difference between CRISPR Gene editing for treating disease and enhancement? How can designer babies create genetic inequality? By Crystal Kong and Chloe Cherng, High School Students Image by https://dc.alumni.columbia.edu/designingbabies On May 15, 2025, a historic medical breakthrough took place: the first infant to receive successful gene therapy. An infant, who was diagnosed with carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 deficiency, was treated with a customized therapy

Pros and Cons? How do we limit these practices? By Crystal Kong and Chloe Cherng, High School Students Image by https://www.scienceadvancement.org/reflections/exposing-the-gaps-how-the-3rs-fail-to-protect-animals-in-research/ Animal testing, also known as animal experimentation, animal research, and in vivo testing , is the use of animals as model organisms in experiments that seek answers to scientific and medical questions. From lifesaving vaccines to skincare products, the

By: Crystal Kong and Chloe Cherng, High School Students How can ending a life be legal and morally just? This haunting question lies in the hearts of one of medicine’s largest ethical debates: assisted dying. Also known as medical physician-assisted suicide, where a physician administers the lethal dose to a consenting patient, ​​the practice allows terminally ill patients to choose to end their lives on their own terms. ​ The concept of physician-assisted death has been deba

By Crystal Kong and Chloe Cherng, High School Students Image by https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/news/nation/2021/10/29/protestors-rally-against-vaccine-mandates/6192210001/ Following the development of the COVID-19 vaccine in 2021, the Biden administration enacted a series of vaccine mandates that applied to mostly federal workers and contractors, large employers, and health care workers (HCWs) (Sanchez, 2022). Soon after, many cities implemented their own measures t

By Crystal Kong and Chloe Cherng, High School Students Nobel-Winning Discovery For years, scientists had a simple understanding of immune...

Should they resuscitate by default? Will they get sued? By Crystal Kong and Chloe Cherng, High School Students A Do Not Resuscitate...

How can healthcare professionals balance skepticism within their patients’ healthcare? By Crystal Kong and Chloe Cherng, High School...

Could legal organ sales in hospitals solve shortages, or would it create deeper inequalities? Would turning organ donation into a...

If a mistake occurs, should the blame fall on the surgeon, the manufacturer, or the robot itself? What’s a patient's decision-making...

When profit overshadows patient care, can cosmetic surgery still be considered a true practice of medicine? Published September 5, 2025...

When a woman cannot speak for herself, who decides: her family, her doctors, or the law? Adriana Smith’s case exposes the painful clash...

Are placebo-controlled trials ethical for terminally ill patients when the trials may represent their last hope? By Crystal Kong and...

Ethics limit scientific advancements. Should we disregard them for the purpose of a greater yield?