A new podcast about the complex ethical questions that get raised with groundbreaking medical innovations. Brought to you by Pushkin Industries and the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics. New episodes weekly starting October 10.

A new podcast about the complex ethical questions that get raised with groundbreaking medical innovations. Brought to you by Pushkin Industries and the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics. New episodes weekly starting October 10.

Life-and-death dilemmas. New medical technologies. Controversial treatments. In playing god? we hear from the patients whose lives were transformed—and sometimes saved—by medical innovations and the bioethicists who help guide complex decisions.

Ventilators can keep critically ill people alive, but when is it acceptable to turn the machines off? Organ transplants save lives but when demand outpaces supply how do we decide who gets them? Increasingly, novel reproductive technologies can help people have babies in ways that are far beyond what nature allows. So, when should such “Brave New World” technologies be introduced and who should control them? 

playing god? is hosted by Lauren Arora Hutchinson, Director of the iDeas Lab at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics. 

playing god? is a co-production of Pushkin Industries and the Berman Institute of Bioethics at Johns Hopkins University, with generous support from The Greenwall Foundation. New episodes drop every Tuesday.

The Berman Institute has created a guide for each episode where you can learn more about the guests, the history, and the ethics issues at: bioethics.jhu.edu/playing-god

Life-and-death dilemmas. New medical technologies. Controversial treatments. In playing god? we hear from the patients whose lives were transformed—and sometimes saved—by medical innovations and the bioethicists who help guide complex decisions.
Ventilators can keep critically ill people alive, but when is it acceptable to turn the machines off? Organ transplants save lives but when demand outpaces supply how do we decide who gets them? Increasingly, novel reproductive technologies can help people have babies in ways that are far beyond what nature allows. So, when should such “Brave New World” technologies be introduced and who should control them? 
playing god? is hosted by Lauren Arora Hutchinson, Director of the iDeas Lab at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics. 
playing god? is a co-production of Pushkin Industries and the Berman Institute of Bioethics at Johns Hopkins University, with generous support from The Greenwall Foundation. New episodes drop every Tuesday.
The Berman Institute has created a guide for each episode where you can learn more about the guests, the history, and the ethics issues at: <a href="http://bioethics.jhu.edu/playing-god" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://bioethics.jhu.edu/playing-god&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1697728099647000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1qmlNSYneUfyWNEnZchoSU">bioethics.jhu.edu/playing-god</a>

playing god?

Introducing: playing god?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/dadbde45-cd28-43d3-bd72-b0880114ee17/transcript

Back in the 1960s, a committee of seven Seattle residents met regularly to decide which patients with chronic kidney disease were “worthy” of life-saving dialysis.  Whoever wasn’t selected by the committee would likely die within months. An exposé of this so-called “God Squad” helped spark the formation of a new field: bioethics. In this prequel to playing god?, we’ll find out how this committee made life-and-death decisions, and why something like it is unlikely to happen again. 

Show Notes:

This episode features interviews with: 

Richard M. Mizelle, Jr., Associate Professor of History, University of Houston

Kate Butler, Assistant Professor of Nephrology, University of Washington School of Medicine

The God Squad was just one of many notable cases that led to the formation of the field of bioethics. The Hastings Center, a bioethics research institute, has compiled a timeline of many of the most famous cases and their impact. Check it out here. 

The Berman Institute has also collected oral histories– first hand accounts of the doctors, philosophers, lawyers and other scholars who were involved in many of these cases. You can explore that collection here. 

To learn more about the ethics issues raised in this episode, visit the Berman Institute’s episode guide. 

The Greenwall Foundation seeks to make bioethics integral to decisions in health care, policy, and research. Learn more at greenwall.org.

Back in the 1960s, a committee of seven Seattle residents met regularly to decide which patients with chronic kidney disease were “worthy” of life-saving dialysis.  Whoever wasn’t selected by the committee would likely die within months. An exposé of this so-called “God Squad” helped spark the formation of a new field: bioethics. In this prequel to playing god?, we’ll find out how this committee made life-and-death decisions, and why something like it is unlikely to happen again. 
<hr>
Show Notes:
This episode features interviews with: 
<a href="https://www.uh.edu/class/history/faculty-and-staff/mizelle_r/">Richard M. Mizelle, Jr.</a>, Associate Professor of History, University of Houston
<a href="https://nephrology.uw.edu/people/faculty/butler-c">Kate Butler</a>, Assistant Professor of Nephrology, University of Washington School of Medicine
The God Squad was just one of many notable cases that led to the formation of the field of bioethics. The Hastings Center, a bioethics research institute, has compiled a timeline of many of the most famous cases and their impact. Check it out <a href="https://www.thehastingscenter.org/bioethics-timeline/">here</a>. 
The Berman Institute has also collected oral histories– first hand accounts of the doctors, philosophers, lawyers and other scholars who were involved in many of these cases. You can explore that collection <a href="https://bioethics.jhu.edu/moral-histories/">here</a>. 
To learn more about the ethics issues raised in this episode, visit the Berman Institute’s <a href="https://bioethics.jhu.edu/playinggod/episode-prequel">episode guide</a>. 
The Greenwall Foundation seeks to make bioethics integral to decisions in health care, policy, and research. Learn more at <a href="http://greenwall.org/">greenwall.org</a>.

Prequel: The God Squad

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/245d6dec-ea70-4449-9e4d-b0b30121176b/transcript

In this episode we head into the future to learn about a controversial technology that could change the face of reproduction. Researchers are developing a technology called in vitro gametogenesis (IVG), which can reprogram human cells–like a skin cell–to become eggs or sperm. With IVG we could reach a future where anyone could produce either eggs or sperm, in potentially limitless quantities. This could open up a whole world of new options for how humans reproduce. Startup companies are working to bring this science to the public in ways that bypass the usual research routes for new reproductive technologies. When would it be ethically acceptable to try IVG to make a baby? How can we ensure the technology will be used ethically, including how it should be regulated? 

Show Notes:

This episode features interviews with:

Amander Clark, Professor, Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology,  University of California, Los Angeles

I. Glenn Cohen, James A. Attwood and Leslie Williams Professor of Law, Deputy Dean and Faculty Director, Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology & Bioethics, Harvard Law School

In 2023, the National Academies held a meeting to discuss the scientific, ethical, and legal implications of IVG. You can watch this meeting and learn more about IVG here. 

To learn more about the ethics issues raised in this episode, visit the Berman Institute’s episode guide. 

The Greenwall Foundation seeks to make bioethics integral to decisions in health care, policy, and research. Learn more at greenwall.org.

In this episode we head into the future to learn about a controversial technology that could change the face of reproduction. Researchers are developing a technology called in vitro gametogenesis (IVG), which can reprogram human cells–like a skin cell–to become eggs or sperm. With IVG we could reach a future where anyone could produce either eggs or sperm, in potentially limitless quantities. This could open up a whole world of new options for how humans reproduce. Startup companies are working to bring this science to the public in ways that bypass the usual research routes for new reproductive technologies. When would it be ethically acceptable to try IVG to make a baby? How can we ensure the technology will be used ethically, including how it should be regulated? 
<hr>
Show Notes:
This episode features interviews with:
<a href="https://profiles.ucla.edu/amander.clark">Amander Clark</a>, Professor, Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology,  University of California, Los Angeles
<a href="https://hls.harvard.edu/faculty/i-glenn-cohen/">I. Glenn Cohen</a>, James A. Attwood and Leslie Williams Professor of Law, Deputy Dean and Faculty Director, Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology &amp; Bioethics, Harvard Law School
In 2023, the National Academies held a meeting to discuss the scientific, ethical, and legal implications of IVG. You can watch this meeting and learn more about IVG <a href="https://www.nationalacademies.org/event/04-19-2023/in-vitro-derived-human-gametes-as-a-reproductive-technology-scientific-ethical-and-regulatory-implications-a-workshop#sl-three-columns-f2ce9196-9dac-4ddf-a593-c4692541e71e">here</a>. 
To learn more about the ethics issues raised in this episode, visit the Berman Institute’s <a href="https://bioethics.jhu.edu/playinggod/episode-9">episode guide</a>. 
The Greenwall Foundation seeks to make bioethics integral to decisions in health care, policy, and research. Learn more at <a href="http://greenwall.org/">greenwall.org</a>.

The Future of Baby-Making

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/df3e6a1e-aa1a-4725-ae28-b0b3010bc183/transcript

Cheryl Yoder’s son Jase, was born with an incurable rare disease called spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), which meant he was unlikely to live beyond two years old. Jase managed to get a spot in a clinical trial for an experimental drug. It halted the disease and allowed him to grow up as an active little boy–a miracle cure.  

A growing list of uniquely tailored drugs can treat, and even cure, some debilitating and fatal diseases. But often these so-called “miracle drugs” can cost a fortune. In this episode: why miracle drugs cost so much, why it’s so hard to do anything about the costs and how challenging it is to work towards equitable access for patients who can benefit from them.

Show Notes:

In addition to Cheryl Yoder, this episode features interviews with:

Tom Crawford, Co-Director, Muscular Dystrophy Association Clinic and Professor of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Holly Fernandez Lynch, Assistant Professor of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, University of Pennsylvania

You can learn more about spinal muscular atrophy, learn about the latest research, and find resources for those affected by the disease here. 

To learn more about the ethics issues raised in this episode, visit the Berman Institute’s episode guide. 

The Greenwall Foundation seeks to make bioethics integral to decisions in health care, policy, and research. Learn more at greenwall.org.

Cheryl Yoder’s son Jase, was born with an incurable rare disease called spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), which meant he was unlikely to live beyond two years old. Jase managed to get a spot in a clinical trial for an experimental drug. It halted the disease and allowed him to grow up as an active little boy–a miracle cure.  
A growing list of uniquely tailored drugs can treat, and even cure, some debilitating and fatal diseases. But often these so-called “miracle drugs” can cost a fortune. In this episode: why miracle drugs cost so much, why it’s so hard to do anything about the costs and how challenging it is to work towards equitable access for patients who can benefit from them.
<hr>
Show Notes:
In addition to Cheryl Yoder, this episode features interviews with:
<a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/profiles/details/thomas-crawford">Tom Crawford</a>, Co-Director, Muscular Dystrophy Association Clinic and Professor of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
<a href="https://medicalethicshealthpolicy.med.upenn.edu/faculty-all/holly-fernandez-lynch">Holly Fernandez Lynch</a>, Assistant Professor of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, University of Pennsylvania
You can learn more about spinal muscular atrophy, learn about the latest research, and find resources for those affected by the disease <a href="https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/spinal-muscular-atrophy">here</a>. 
To learn more about the ethics issues raised in this episode, visit the Berman Institute’s <a href="https://bioethics.jhu.edu/playinggod/episode-8">episode guide</a>. 
The Greenwall Foundation seeks to make bioethics integral to decisions in health care, policy, and research. Learn more at <a href="http://greenwall.org/">greenwall.org</a>.

Miracle Drugs, Million Dollar Price Tags

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/e740c808-fbf4-48d8-aa5c-b0b201266094/transcript

Introducing: playing god?

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