The first decade of the 21st century brought a number of discoveries, mistakes and medical advances that influenced medicine from the patient's bedside to the medicine cabinet. In some cases, these advances changed deeply rooted beliefs in medicine. In others,

Maxey, 51, happens to be one of the most prolific sperm donors in the country. Between 1980 and 1994, he donated at a Michigan clinic twice a week. He's looked at the records of his donations, multiplied by the number

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel's recommendation that some adults with no prior heart problems should take the cholesterol-busting statin Crestor appears to have pitted cardiologists against many primary care physicians over the best use of the popular drug.

Wales could become the first part of the UK introduce an opt-out system of organ donation under plans by the assembly government. It would mean that Welsh residents would be presumed to be organ donors unless they have joined an

When Dr. Shinya Yamanaka arrived in the United States from Japan in 1993, he recalled recently, he was "half a scientist, half a failed surgeon." A disaffected doctor with a newly minted Ph.D. in pharmacology, he had but one job

The Israeli government deserves congratulation for its courage and innovation in adopting a radical new approach to the problem of organ transplantation.The shortage of organs available for transplant is a global problem and is getting worse. But its move pushes

Videos that depict different options for end-of-life care may help terminally ill cancer patients decide on what they want, a new study suggests. (Reuters)

JAMA (Volume 302; Number 22; December 9, 2009) is now available by subscription only.Articles include:"Relationships of Primary Care Physicians' Patient Caseload with Measurement of Quality and Cost Performance" by David J. Nyweide, William B. Weeks, Daniel J. Gottlieb, Lawrence P.

Women aged 30 to 40 who have no partner but want to conceive once they do, will be permitted, in up to half a year, to have ova removed and frozen until they are ready to become mothers. This major

Science and ethics are inextricably linked, and it is sometimes unclear whether science can be considered friend or foe. Despite a history riddled with examples of destruction at the hands of scientific ingenuity (the atomic bomb) or simple moral disregard

The Irish Council for Bioethics is to close at the end of this month after a decision by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to terminate its funding. (The Irish Times)

The Australian National Health and Medical Research Council should have consulted the public before giving the green light to xenotransplantation, says a former member of the Council. (ABC Science)

Scientists using stem cells to chase cures for disease and to repair debilitating injuries may be unknowingly focused on only part of the world's population — mostly that with northern and western European ancestry, according to a new study by

Cellular Dynamics International's iCell Cardiomyocytes beat like a human heart and can be used early in the development of new drugs to determine whether they will be effective or toxic to people, the company said in a news release. (JSOnline)

The US expansion of federal funding for human embryonic stem-cell research is being hampered by details in consent forms. Earlier this month, researchers celebrated the government's approval of funding for a broad variety of work on 13 stem-cell lines —