Thesis (doctoral)--Universität, St. Gallen, 2007. / Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references and index.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Alberta, 2009. / A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Faculty of Nursing. Title from pdf file main screen (viewed on November 15, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.

Research report submitted in accordance with the requirements for the Degree Master of Science in Medicine( Bioethics and Health Law. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics, 2014 / It is every normal parent’s wish to have a happy child free of ailments and suffering. However, not all children are born free of diseases and suffering. Some are born with severe disabilities and others are born with congenital genetic problems that have less chances of cure or no cure at all. These unfortunate circumstances make parents of such children with severe medical conditions desperate and devastated to the extent that they try anything possible in attempting to improve quality of life of their sick children. No parent wants to see his or her child suffering. However, a more pressing situation is when parents decide to have a second child whose purpose is to save the life of the sick first child by donating stem cells from cord blood or bone marrow. This second child is sometimes referred to as the “Saviour sibling” and is born for the purpose of saving the life of the sick older child of the family. ‘Saviour sibling is the media name for a child who is conceived, gestated, and delivered in order to provide umbilical cord blood, or, even more contentious, bone marrow desperately needed by the parents’ older child’ (Mills 2005:2).Because there is no matching donor for the ill older child, a donor is created in the form of a second sibling, whose match is genetically guaranteed by IVF, preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), and tissue typing (Boyle and Savulescu 2001). Given that children are already being created in other Countries such as the United States of America, France and Britain for the above-mentioned purpose, this research report will attempt to engage in the debate surrounding saviour siblings, the use of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) in creating these children, and the possibility of this technology being abused and misused for gender selection. Taking this into consideration, this research report will attempt to highlight what the South African laws and policies say about saviour siblings. Should parents with pressing issues as mentioned-above demand to have a “saviour child” of their own for the purpose of using him or her to save the life of another of their children in South Africa, on which grounds would it be rejected or accepted?

The present thesis is based on a scientifically-informed, contextualized and historicized reading of Ludwik Fleck. In addition to his monograph, the material studied includes his additional philosophical writings, his internationally-published scientific articles and two, thus-far-unstudied postwar Polish papers related to his Buchenwald experiences. The sources provided by Fleck have been traced back to the time of their origin. Based on the above material, it is argued that, rather than relativizing science and deeply influencing Kuhn, Fleck, attempting to participate in the current debates, is an ardent proponent of science, offering an internal account of its pursuit that accords with his oft-contested epistemic concepts, e.g., Denkzwang, Sinnsehen and Kopplungen. The exposure of his description of the Wassermann reaction discloses a highly selective reading of the sources available at the time, but also reveals its relation to the current debate on Einzelwissenschaften, or the standing of new emerging disciplines versus age-old ones, all occasioned by the remarkable progress of science that has also affected philosophy. The divide between philosophers and scientists on the philosophical implications of modern physics is exposed, as is Fleck’s heuristic use of the latter topic in his epistemology. A more realistic account of his often-valued scientific accomplishments is provided. It is argued that the modern interpretation or received humanist view of Fleck is based on the opposition, at the time Fleck’s monograph was rediscovered, of STS writers to a scientifically-informed reading of his texts. An additional corrective to the received view of Fleck is found in some of his postwar Polish papers related his Buchenwald experiences. The latter might also provide an answer to some of the contradictions inherent in the modern mythology surrounding Fleck. In amply exposing the precarious situation of the time, and the complexity of the ethical issues at stake, Fleck’s papers in fact generate age-old philosophical questions still worth contemplating. / QC 20100826

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

This empirical study was aimed at assessing trial participants’ understanding of randomisation, double blinding and placebo use as well as investigating their attitudes towards the three procedures. The study was conducted within the HPTN035 microbicide trial that was being conducted in Blantyre and Lilongwe in Malawi among other sites. The study was descriptive in nature and used a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods which included review of study documents, in-depth interviews with study staff, structured interviews with a sample of 203 participants and two focus group discussions with 18 microbicide trial participants. Overall, more than half of participants were categorised as having lower levels of understanding on the concepts under study. The study also established that the majority of participants had negative attitudes towards the three procedures. Based on these findings, a pilot intervention was designed aimed at improving understanding. The pilot intervention consisted of an information session which was delivered with the assistance of a PowerPoint. During the session, the three terms were explained using a story based on the growing of crops, as Malawi is an agricultural society. The intervention phase was delivered using a sample of 36 low scorers who were randomly assigned to the intervention and non-intervention arms. An assessment after the intervention suggested that the intervention was useful in improving understanding of the three procedures. The findings provide some evidence that research participants can understand research procedures if the procedures are explained in user-friendly terms and if information concerning their justification and personal implications is provided. The findings further suggest that the intervention was useful in changing participants’ attitudes towards randomisation and double blinding. The intervention did not change attitudes towards placebo use in a statistically significant way. Theoretical and practical recommendations, as well as suggestions for further research were recommended. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--McMaster University, 2005. / Supervisor: David Wright. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 272-306). Also available online.

Published also as thesis (Ph. D.) Columbia university. / Bibliography: p. 102-103.

Published also as thesis (Ph. D.) Columbia university. / Bibliography: p. 102-103.

Published also as thesis (Ph. D.) Columbia university. / Bibliography: p. 102-103.