^CategoryMedicine and Health

Adult and child hands holding encephalography brain paper cutout, Epilepsy awareness, seizure disorder, mental health concept

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post

Author
News
Date
July 15, 2021

Categorized
Medicine and Health, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Abstract thought, Adrian Owen, Arjuna, David Papineau, Dualism, epilepsy, Featured, Michael Egnor, Persistent vegetative state (PVS), Physicalism, Theology Unleashed, Wilder Penfield}

The Reality of the Mind: The Argument From Epilepsy

_{Why do epileptic seizures evoke many odd behaviors but not abstract thought?} _{News

July 15, 2021

9

Medicine and Health, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind}

In the recent debate between neurosurgeon Michael Egnor and philosopher David Papineau, “Atheist Philosopher and Christian Neurosurgeon Debate Materialism” at Theology Unleashed, there was sort of digression at 49:30 on the nature of thought. Dr. Egnor talks about what he learned from his experiences with treating epilepsy and Dr. Papineau responds. Note: Dr. Papineau is a “physicalist.” On that view, “the mind is a purely physical construct, and will eventually be explained entirely by physical theory, as it continues to evolve.” (Philosophy basics) He is considered to be one of the best defenders of naturalism (nature is all there is), often called “materialism.” Michael Egnor: There are three metaphysical questions that I think can be answered in an inferential way, Read More ›

Dna test in the lab. a laboratory technician with a dispenser in his hands is conducting dna analysis in a sterile laboratory behind glass

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post

Author
Heather Zeiger
Date
July 14, 2021

Categorized
Data Privacy, Ethics, Law, Medicine and Health, Surveillance

Tagged
Biometric data collection, Cai Xia, Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), Comparitech, Featured, Made in China 2025, neo-totalitarianism, Y-Chromosome Haplotype Reference Database (YHRD), Yves Moreau}

China Is Building the World’s Largest Global DNA Database

_{The government violates the country’s own privacy laws in the name of security and stability} _{Heather Zeiger

July 14, 2021

7

Data Privacy, Ethics, Law, Medicine and Health, Surveillance}

A January 2021 study by a U.K. cybersecurity and privacy watchdog, Comparitech, found that China was the world’s worst offender for “widespread and invasive biometric data collection” out of ninety-six countries studied. The Chinese government aspires to build the world’s largest police-run DNA database. Its Made in China 2025 plan places a priority on building its biotechnology industry, which involves collecting a large number of DNA samples. The way Chinese authorities obtain DNA is often intrusive and without consent. In a previous article, we looked at how U.S. companies’ DNA sequencing and identification technologies end up in Xinjiang despite U.S. sanctions. In this article, we will look at how China is using DNA collection to further its national goals. China’s Read More ›

Seniorenpaar mit Rollator unterwegs mit Tochter

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post

Author
Wesley J. Smith
Date
July 5, 2021

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Medicine and Health

Tagged
Artificial intelligence-based prediction, Death and dying, MAID (euthanasia in Canada), RESPECT (death evaluation in Canada), Seniors}

Computer Program Predicts When Seniors Have 6 Months to Live

_{Developed in Canada, the program is further evidence that medicine is growing increasingly impersonal} _{Wesley J. Smith

July 5, 2021

3

Artificial Intelligence, Medicine and Health}

As if we needed further evidence that medicine is growing increasingly impersonal, the Canadian Medical Association Journal has published a study that claims a computer program can predict when seniors have six months to live. From the Global News story: Amid a lack of proper support for Canadians receiving home-based support towards the end of their lives, a new risk calculator is helping predict how long seniors have left to live. The Risk Evaluation for Support: Predictions for Elder-Life in the Community Tool — dubbed ‘RESPECT’ for short — can predict death within six months, and was developed using data from more than 491,000 community-dwelling adults aged at least 50 years who used home care between 2007 and 2013. Always with the acronyms to hide Read More ›

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post

Author
Eric Holloway
Date
July 2, 2021

Categorized
Medicine and Health, Science

Tagged
Adam Shapiro, Anthony Fauci, Coronavirus, COVID-19 lab leak hypothesis, design inference, Explanatory Filter, Kristian Andersen, Michael Behe, SARS-CoV-2, William Dembski}

COVID-19’s Origins: Uses and Misuses of the Explanatory Filter

_{How a critic of intelligent design theory misunderstands the application of design inference} _{Eric Holloway

July 2, 2021

8

Medicine and Health, Science}

Last year in July a prominent critic of intelligent design theory, Dr. Adam Shapiro, took the Discovery Institute to task for not debunking the lab origin theory. He says, Behe seems to miss an opportunity to demonstrate that intelligent design theory shows how those pathways are not irreducible complex. Adam Shapiro, “Did Intelligent Design Just Miss Its Corona Moment?” at American Scientist and, How better to demonstrate its own apolitical nature than to apply its scientific process to debunk the Chinese lab myth? Adam Shapiro, “Did Intelligent Design Just Miss Its Corona Moment?” at American Scientist First of all, this is a fundamental misunderstanding of ID. ID theory is only resilient against false positives, not false negatives, as Dr. Ewert Read More ›

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post

Author
News
Date
June 28, 2021

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Medicine and Health

Tagged
AlphaGo, AlphaGoZero, AlphaZero, chess, Gary Smith', Go, Jeffry Funk, Joshua Sokol, Pedros Domingos}

Why AI Chess Champs Are Not Taking Over the World

_{Mastery of closed-world games does not mean that AI can take over and run everything} _{News

June 28, 2021

4

Artificial Intelligence, Medicine and Health}

At one time, the AI that beat humans at chess calculated strategies by studying the outcomes of human moves. Then, it turned out, there was a faster way: In October 2017, the DeepMind team published details of a new Go-playing system, AlphaGo Zero, that studied no human games at all. Instead, it started with the game’s rules and played against itself. The first moves it made were completely random. After each game, it folded in new knowledge of what led to a win and what didn’t. At the end of these scrimmages, AlphaGo Zero went head to head with the already superhuman version of AlphaGo that had beaten Lee Sedol. It won 100 games to zero. Joshua Sokol, “Why Artificial Read More ›

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post

Author
News
Date
June 27, 2021

Categorized
Ethics, Medicine and Health, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Brain-Computer Interface (BCI), China, Dentsu, Depression (BCI and depression), Diego Salinas, Neuralink, Psychiatry (and BCI)}

Can Implanted Computer Chips Cure Depression?

_{Brain–computer interface (BCI) is promising for paralysis and prosthetics but raises concerns in the treatment of depression} _{News

June 27, 2021

5

Ethics, Medicine and Health, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind}

Brain computer interface (BCI) shows promise in treating paralysis or enabling prosthetics to work almost naturally. But BCI for treating depression sounds like hype: Say goodbye to pills, therapy, and all that. With such gloomy prospects, it was only a matter of time scientists realized there must be better ways to treat depression rather than pills. After all, drugs only work because they act on certain brain regions to modulate the concentration of certain neurotransmitters, like serotonin or dopamine. Therefore, in the end, the regulation of mood depends on stimulating brain signals in certain parts of the brain — that is, neurons firing — and this can be done more accurately by just zapping the neurons directly with electricity. Diego Read More ›

Real Python code developing screen. Programing workflow abstract algorithm concept. Lines of Python code visible under magnifying lens.

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post

Author
News
Date
June 23, 2021

Categorized
Ethics, Law, Machine Learning, Medicine and Health

Tagged
Bias (in algorithms), Citizen's Guide to Artificial Intelligence (book2021), Inscrutability (of AI), John Zerilli, Reliabilism}

How Do We Know the Machine Is Right If No One Knows How It Works?

_{We don’t, and that’s a problem, says Oxford philosopher John Zerilli} _{News

June 23, 2021

5

Ethics, Law, Machine Learning, Medicine and Health}

Oxford philosopher John Zerilli, author of A Citizen’s Guide to Artificial Intelligence (2021), asks us to consider how machine learning, the most widely used type of AI, might be deciding our lives without our knowing it: There are many reasons not to take job rejections personally, but there’s one in particular you might not consider: you might have been screened out by an algorithm that taught itself to filter candidates by gender, surname or ethnicity – in other words, by factors that have nothing to do with your ability to do the job. Even if you’re unfazed by the spectre of runaway robots enslaving humanity, this little tale shows how the ascendancy of machine learning (ML) comes with risks that Read More ›

African American woman studing and reading the Bible.

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post

Author
News
Date
June 20, 2021

Categorized
Medicine and Health, Religion

Tagged
Correlation vs. causation, Higher-order thought patterns, Jay L. Michaels, Longevity, Religion and health}

Does Religious Belief Help People Think in a More Complex Way?

_{One psychologist became interested in the question because many studies have associated religious belief with better health and greater longevity} _{News

June 20, 2021

4

Medicine and Health, Religion}

University of South Florida psychologist Jay L. Michaels, who has a background in experimental social psychology and quantitative psychology, designed a study to test that proposition: In the study, 630 adults from from 48 countries completed a cognitive assessment in which they were asked to pick a phrase that best described a given behavior. They had the choice of picking a high-level description (which focused on why the action was performed) or a low-level description (which focused on mechanistic aspects of the action.) For example, one item asked whether “reading” was better described as “Gaining knowledge” or “Following lines of print.” Eric W. Dolan, “New study links intrinsic religious motivation to higher-level patterns of thought” at PsyPost (May 22, 2021) Read More ›

Coronavirus covid-19. Child praying to God requesting that the coronavirus covid 19 not spread beyond control.

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post

Author
News
Date
June 20, 2021

Categorized
Medicine and Health, Religion

Tagged
COVID-19 (and mental health), David H. Rosmarin, Religion (and mental health), spirituality}

Side effects: COVID Got People Praying Again

_{Despite the fact that many could not go to houses of worship} _{News

June 20, 2021

4

Medicine and Health, Religion}

McLean Hospital psychologist David H. Rosmarin has the stats: In the early days of the pandemic, economist Jeanet Bentzen of the University of Copenhagen examined Google searches for the word “prayer” in 95 countries. She identified that they hit an all-time global high in March 2020, and increases occurred in lockstep with the number of COVID-19 cases identified in each country. Stateside, according to the Pew Research Center, 55 percent of Americans prayed to end the spread of the novel coronavirus in March 2020, and nearly one quarter reported that their faith increased the following month, despite limited access to houses of worship. David H. Rosmarin, “Psychiatry Needs to Get Right with God” at Scientific American (June 15, 2021) Not Read More ›

Young man wearing coverall and safety mask working on production line of modern pharmaceutical factory, portrait shot

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post

Author
Heather Zeiger
Date
June 14, 2021

Categorized
Medicine and Health, Science

Tagged
Anthony Fauci, COVID-19, COVID-19 lab leak hypothesis, Dr. Shi Zheng-Li, EcoHealth Alliance, gain-of-function study, Katherine Eban, National Institute of Health (NIH), Nicholas Wade, Peter Daszak, Potential Pandemic Pathogens Control and Oversight Framework (P3CO), SARS-CoV-2, Wuhan Institute of Virology}

U.S. Moratorium(ish) on Gain-of-Function Research

_{Evaluating the effectiveness of the 2014 U.S. moratorium on gain-of-function experiments} _{Heather Zeiger

June 14, 2021

5

Medicine and Health, Science}

In the last two articles, we discussed the vindication of the lab leak theory through the publication of several investigative articles, and the risky nature of gain-of-function research and the evidence that it may be a key component to the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, we turn to the U.S. Due to the risky nature of gain-of-function research, what actions has the U.S. government taken to mitigate those risks? In 2014, the U.S. government placed a moratorium on new gain-of-function experiments for influenza, MERS, and SARS. That moratorium defines “gain-of-function” in very broad terms covering any “research that improves the ability of a pathogen to cause disease.” The moratorium expired in 2017 and was replaced by an oversight board, Read More ›

Medical science laboratory. Concept of virus and bacteria research

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Author
Heather Zeiger
Date
June 11, 2021

Categorized
Medicine and Health, Science

Tagged
COVID-19, COVID-19 lab leak hypothesis, Dr. Shi Zheng-Li, gain-of-function study, National Institute of Health (NIH), SARS-CoV-2, Wuhan Institute of Virology}

What Is Gain-of-Function Research and Why Is It Risky?

_{The Wuhan Institute of Virology and the NIH find themselves in a tough spot} _{Heather Zeiger

June 11, 2021

7

Medicine and Health, Science}

Last time, we talked about the vindication of the lab leak theory, as a growing number of investigative articles have pointed to a lab accident as the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now,we turn to the role risky gain-of-function research may have played in the affair. To understand why some in the U.S. government and the NIH want to downplay funding of gain-of-function research, we need to understand what exactly it is. All viruses mutate, some faster than others. Influenza is one of the fastest mutating viruses, followed by HIV. SARS-CoV-2 mutates slower than both viruses, which is why many scientists believe vaccine booster shots will likely be every few years, rather than annually, like the flu. Scientists need to Read More ›

Science laboratory research and development concept. microscope with test tubes

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Author
Heather Zeiger
Date
June 10, 2021

Categorized
Media, Medicine and Health, Science

Tagged
Anthony Fauci, Chinese Communist Party (CCP), COVID-19, COVID-19 lab leak hypothesis, Dr. Shi Zheng-Li, EcoHealth Alliance, Katherine Eban, National Institute of Health (NIH), Nicholas Wade, Nicholson Baker, Peter Daszak, SARS-CoV-2, Vanity Fair, WHO COVID-19 investigation in China, World Health Organization (WHO), Wuhan Institute of Virology}

Lab Leak Theory Vindicated: What That Means for Fighting COVID-19

_{What was the U.S. government's role in downplaying the lab leak theory?} _{Heather Zeiger

June 10, 2021

5

Media, Medicine and Health, Science}

Vanity Fair adds to the growing number of investigative articles pointing to a lab accident as the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. This article looks at the U.S. government’s role in downplaying that lab leak theory. Behind closed doors, however, national security and public health experts and officials across a range of departments in the executive branch were locked in high-stakes battles over what could and couldn’t be investigated and made public. Katherine Eban, “The Lab-Leak Theory: Inside the Fight to Uncover COVID-19’s Origins” at Vanity Fair At a time when the Mainstream Media has sullied its reputation by parroting experts rather than seeking multiple viewpoints and checking sources, several articles stand out as excellent pieces of long-form writing and Read More ›

In the Hospital Sick Man Lying on the Bed, His Visiting Wife Hopefully Sits Beside Him and Prays for His Rapid Recovery. Tragic, Somber and Melancholy Scene.

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Author
News
Date
June 8, 2021

Categorized
Ethics, Medicine and Health, Neuroscience

Tagged
brain death, Euthanasia, organ donation, Uniform Declaration of Death Act, World Brain Death Project}

Is It Safe to Revise the Standard for Legally Recognized Brain Death?

_{People have a right to not have a controversial concept of death imposed upon them} _{News

June 8, 2021

5

Ethics, Medicine and Health, Neuroscience}

Originally published on MercatorNet on May 28, 2021 by Nancy Valko I have been writing for many years about the implications of brain death, the lesser known “donation after cardiac/circulatory death”, diagnosed brain death cases like the supposedly “impossible” prolonged survival and maturation of Jahi McMath, and unexpected recoveries like Zack Dunlap’s. Some mothers declared “brain dead” were able to gestate their babies for weeks or months to a successful delivery before their ventilators were removed. Last August, I wrote about the World Brain Death Project and the effort to establish a worldwide consensus on brain death criteria and testing to develop the “minimum clinical standards for determination of brain death” (emphasis added). I also wrote about the current effort “to revise the (US) Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA) to assure a Read More ›

Little brave pawn wearing artificial paper crown suit on chessboard with figures, business entrepreneur leadership concept

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post

Author
News
Date
June 4, 2021

Categorized
Ethics, Medicine and Health, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Falsehoods ("white lies"), Moral judgments, Neuroscience, Pareto lies}

Do You Have a “Selfish Prefrontal Cortex”?

_{Do you tell “white lies” only for selfish motives?} _{News

June 4, 2021

3

Ethics, Medicine and Health, Philosophy of Mind}

A recent neuroscience paper claims to determine whether your motives are selfish: You may think a little white lie about a bad haircut is strictly for your friend’s benefit, but your brain activity says otherwise. Distinct activity patterns in the prefrontal cortex reveal when a white lie has selfish motives, according to new research published in Journal of Neuroscience. White lies — formally called Pareto lies — can benefit both parties, but their true motives are encoded by the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC). This brain region computes the value of different social behaviors, with some subregions focusing on internal motivations and others on external ones. Kim and Kim predicted activity patterns in these subregions could elucidate the true motive behind Read More ›

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post

Author
News
Date
May 31, 2021

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Medicine and Health, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Access consciousness, Angus Menuge, Consciousness, Elon Musk, Featured, Neuralink, Robert J. Marks}

What Will Elon Musk’s Neuralink Really Change, If It Catches On

_{Neuralink’s computer chip implants may help restore function in people with motor or sensory disabilities} _{News

May 31, 2021

6

Artificial Intelligence, Medicine and Health, Philosophy of Mind}

Finishing the third and final podcast of the series, “Unity of Consciousness,” Walter Bradley Center director Robert J. Marks and Angus Menuge, professor and chair of philosophy at Concordia University, had a look at entrepreneur Elon Musk’s implanted brain chip venture, the Neuralink: https://episodes.castos.com/mindmatters/Angus-Menuge-Episode-3-rev1.mp3 This portion begins at 14:28 min. A partial transcript, Show Notes, and Additional Resources follow. Robert J. Marks: Let me end our discussion together by asking you an outlier question. Elon Musk is developing something called Neuralink. It’s a chip which goes into the brain. Its immediate application is going to be for those that are handicapped. It is going to allow them communicate directly to objects that they can’t control normally because of their handicap. Read More ›

Human skull with a syringe holds in the mouth and vaccine bottle on space of brown paper, Bad side effect concept

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
May 31, 2021

Categorized
Ethics, Medicine and Health

Tagged
Abortion, Conscience rights, Euthanasia, Human embryos (14-day rule), Michael Egnor}

Michael Egnor: Stop Making Killing a Form of Cure

_{Euthanasia and abortion are not forms of medicine, he says} _{News

May 31, 2021

5

Ethics, Medicine and Health}

Recently, neurosurgeon Michael Egnor pleaded with medical colleagues to take a stronger stand on the rapid normalization of killing as a form of “cure” in our society: The medical profession should take a clear stand on this issue: doctors who deliberately kill — whether by abortion or by physician-assisted suicide or by euthanasia — are not practicing medicine when they kill. Medical practice always entails the maintenance of health, the treatment of disease, and the relief of suffering. Ending the life of a patient or of the child in his mother’s womb is neither the maintenance of health nor treatment of a disease nor the alleviation of any suffering. It is simply the killing of an innocent unwanted child. I Read More ›

Cells under a microscope. Cell division. Cellular Therapy. 3d illustration on a dark background

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post

Author
News
Date
May 30, 2021

Categorized
Medicine and Health, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Angus Menuge, Cell (biology), Cell replacement (biology), Consciousness (and changing body), Featured, Robert J. Marks}

Why Don’t Changes to Our Bodies Create a Different Consciousness?

_{The sense of consciousness remains single and united despite ceaseless bodily change} _{News

May 30, 2021

6

Medicine and Health, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind}

In the third podcast of the “Unity of Consciousness” series, Walter Bradley Center director Robert J. Marks interviews Angus Menuge, professor and chair of philosophy at Concordia University, on unique features of human consciousness, including the question of why there really can’t be two of you. But Dr. Marks asks one final question: If consciousness is simply generated by the body, as materialists think, why don’t changes to our bodies create different consciousnesses? https://episodes.castos.com/mindmatters/Angus-Menuge-Episode-3-rev1.mp3 This portion begins at 11:06 min. A partial transcript, Show Notes, and Additional Resources follow. Robert J. Marks: There are cells that change quite a lot. And then there are cells that don’t change a lot, for example, neurons. That is, you keep the same neurons. Read More ›

Woman wearing gloves with biohazard chemical protective suit and mask. She crossed her arms with unhappy face.

^{Type
post

Author
Heather Zeiger
Date
May 28, 2021

Categorized
Medicine and Health, Science, Technocracy

Tagged
Anthony Fauci, Chinese Communist Party (CCP), COVID-19 (dissent from official claims), COVID-19 lab leak hypothesis, Hubei, media, Nicholas Wade, SARS-CoV-2, Wet markets, Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Zeynep Tufecki}

Covid-19 Lab Leak Theory Upgraded from Conspiracy to Plausible

_{Many scientists were discouraged from openly discussing the possibility of a lab leak, which hindered serious investigation} _{Heather Zeiger

May 28, 2021

12

Medicine and Health, Science, Technocracy}

Could the SARS-CoV-2 virus have originated from the Wuhan Institute of Virology? The public was informed, until quite recently, that the “scientific consensus” was that the virus that causes COVID-19 likely passed from animal to human and was neither designed nor accidentally released from a lab in Wuhan. However, this “consensus” has turned out to be anything but. Several scientists have voiced their concern over the lack of transparency on the part of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), imploring that the “lab leak” hypothesis should not be thrown out. They were largely ignored. Some scientists have even said that they experienced “very intense, very subtle pressures” to avoid advancing the lab leak theory. It’s advancing anyway, as more evidence accumulates. Read More ›

Prosthetic robotic arm with palm in fist, 3d rendering on black background

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post

Author
News
Date
May 25, 2021

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Business and Finance, Economics, Medicine and Health, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Artificial intelligence (predictions), Daniel Kahneman (Guardian interview), Gary Smith, Jeffrey Funk, Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment (book), Ray Kurzweil, Tim Adam}

Nobel Prize Economist Tells The Guardian, AI Will Win

_{But when we hear why he thinks so, don’t be too sure} _{News

May 25, 2021

6

Artificial Intelligence, Business and Finance, Economics, Medicine and Health, Philosophy of Mind}

Nobel Prize-winning economist (2002) Daniel Kahneman, 87 (pictured), gave an interview this month to The Guardian in which he observed that belief in science is not much different from belief in religion with respect to the risks of unproductive noise clouding our judgment. He’s been in the news lately as one of the authors of a new book, Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment, which applies his ideas about human error and bias to organizations. He told The Guardian that he places faith “if there is any faith to be placed,” in organizations rather than individuals, for example. Curiously, he doesn’t seem to privilege science organizations: I was struck watching the American elections by just how often politicians of both Read More ›

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
May 18, 2021

Categorized
Medicine and Health, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Alexander Batthyány, Anna Katharina Ehmer, Dementia, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, John Beloff, Marilyn Mendoza, Michael Nahm, Terminal lucidity, Viktor Frankl, Zaron Burnett III}

Do People Suddenly Gain Clarity About Life Just Before Dying?

_{A small number of cognitively challenged or dementia patients become lucid — for the first time in years — just before dying} _{News

May 18, 2021

7

Medicine and Health, Philosophy of Mind}

The percentage of people who suddenly become lucid on the point of death may be small but their stories are remarkable. The best known case was that of Anna Katharina Ehmer (1895–1922) who, due to mental disabilities, lived in a psychiatric institution called Hephata in Germany for most of her life (from 1896 to 1922). She … allegedly never spoken a single word during her life. Yet, she was reported to have sung dying songs for a half hour before she died. The case was reported by the head of this institution and by its chief physician. We consider it difficult to evaluate the authenticity of the case definitively in retrospect. Nevertheless, there are similar cases and a variety of Read More ›