Health

In Vitro Fertilization: Assisted Reproduction Technology Continues to Raise Questions
Alysse ElHage explores the technologies employed in assisted reproduction and analyzes the benefits and risks associated with creating human embryos through in vitro fertilization. January 2008.

Myths and Misconceptions: Behavioral Genetics and Homosexuality
Douglas A. Abbott, Ph.D., Professor of Child Youth and Family Studies at the University of Nebraska, writes about the misconceptions regarding the existence of a "gay gene." September 2007.

Abstinence Until Marriage. or Comprehensive Sex Education
Abstinence Education has been criticized by some as not being "comprehensive" enough. Alysse ElHage writes about the difference between Abstinence Education and Comprehensive Sex Education and why Abstinence education is not only the best alternative, but is more "comprehensive" than Comprehensive Sex Education. May 2007.

Aborting N.C.'s Future: A Look Back and Where We Stand Today
This paper is a broad overview of abortion in North Carolina, beginning with a brief profile of abortion in the state, a look at its history and current abortion policy, and what needs to be done at the legislative level to move the state one step closer to a future where every unborn child is safe from the threat of abortion. January 2007.

Conscience Clause Protection: Should Pharmacists Have a Right to Choose?
Depending on the policies of their employer, pharmacists can be forced to dispense medications that violate their religious beliefs, such as emergency contraception. Refusing to dispense emergency contraception and to refer a customer to another pharmacist who will do so—even for moral, religious or ethical reasons—could mean the loss of a job. Do pharmacists have a constitutional right to refuse to dispense medications that violate their moral, religious and ethical beliefs? This paper will explore that question, and discuss why emergency contraception—and the issue of abortion—is at the center of the debate over pharmacist conscience clauses nationwide. April 2006.

Woman's Right To Know: The Importance of Informed Consent in Abortion Cases
Too many women decide to have an abortion without having proper information about the procedure, its effects, or its alternatives. In response, states across the nation have passed legislation strengthening informed consent requirements for women considering an abortion. This paper examines the components of Women’s Right to Know statutes, including legislation introduced in North Carolina, and explains why it is a reasonable solution for ensuring that women receive the information necessary to make an informed medical decision. July 2005.

Hazardous to Teen Health: The Reality of Comprehensive Sex Education
This paper examines the reality of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) and shows why it threatens the overall well-being of young people. Understanding the reality of CSE requires looking beyond the vague and misleading rhetoric used by advocates to the radical ideology it is based upon. It is also important to examine the hazardous messages in some popular CSE curricula. April 2005.

The Alternative to Embryos: Successes of Non-Embryonic Stem Cell Treatments
Debates in the popular media tend to ignore and obscure the medical breakthroughs made by adult stem cell research—success that has conspicuously eluded embryonic stem cell treatments. This paper discusses some of the remarkable treatments that are taking place through adult stem cell research and the promise such research holds for better health. January 2005.

HPV: Why it matters to adolescent sexual health and education
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most important and potentially dangerous STDs of today, especially when it comes to the ongoing debate over adolescent sex education in North Carolina and across the country. As the STD epidemic continues to eat away at the bodies, hearts and minds of teenagers, policy makers and health educators in North Carolina need to acknowledge the serious nature of HPV and look for effective ways to prevent its spread. This paper will present the facts about HPV, discuss why it matters, and show why abstinence from sexual activity until marriage is the only method that can successfully prevent the spread of HPV, as well as other STDs. July 2003.

The Blue Cross Conversion: How it could affect North Carolina families
The proposed conversion of BCBS of North Carolina (BCBSNC) is important to North Carolinians because many families are enrolled in Blue plans. Should the Blues convert to a for-profit company, it could have a detrimental impact on those families who have come to trust BCBS for medical coverage. Not only could the benefit packages change dramatically, but also premiums may increase and the quality of service decrease. In addition, the conversion process could be a financial boon to some BCBS employees, officers, and other company officials. State government representatives could also benefit at the expense of the policyholders because the government will control millions, if not billions, of dollars in a state run non-profit entity that would be established as a result of conversion. June 2003.

Medical Accuracy: The Strategy to Undermine Abstinence Education
There is an effort underway to undermine abstinence education by asking for legislation which purports to require "medical accuracy" in information given to teenagers in sex education programs. But this new campaign is not all it appears. This paper exposes the true agenda behind "medical accuracy" legislation and explains why an abstinence-until-marriage curriculum is the most effective means of reducing premarital sexual activity and teenage pregnancy. May 2003.

The After-Effects of Abortion: The physical and psychological impact on women
Thirty years after abortion on demand was legalized by the United States Supreme Court, pro-life and pro-abortion advocates continue to debate what abortion means for the unborn child. What is often overlooked is how abortion impacts the bodies, minds and emotions of women. This paper examines some of the physical and psychological effects of abortion on women and shows why women deserve more information about abortion before they undergo this medical procedure which has irreversable consequences. January 2003.

Physician-Assisted Suicide: Examining a Critical End-of-Life Issue
What authority do we have over the termination of our own life? Do we in any way have a particular power or right to make the decision to dispose of our own life? How far is it necessary for us to go in order to protect and sustain our life and the lives of those around us? These are questions that are emerging as the medical community and governments around the world confront a growing movement to legalize physician-assisted suicide. This paper will explore the realities behind physician-assisted suicide, the legal and medical considerations and what the government's role in regulating it should be. September 2002.

Parental Consent for Abortion: How Common Sense Measures Assure Safety for Minors
Should the law require parents to give consent before their teenage daughter has an abortion? In a country where the abortion controversy has polarized much of the nation into two opposing camps, the answer is an overwhelming yes. These laws are a common sense way to ensure that young girls who may be facing a very difficult and potentially life changing decision do not undergo this medical procedure uninformed and without the counsel of parents. This paper factors in the politics, economics and medical risks associated with abortion while defending the need for parental consent laws. August 2002.

The Case for Abstinence: Why comprehensive sex education sends the wrong message
This paper discusses the rationale behind North Carolina's Abstinence Until Marriage law which requires that "abstinence from sexual activity outside of marriage is the expected standard of behavior for all school-age children" and requires that students be taught that "a mutually faithful monogamous heterosexual relationship in the context of marriage is the best lifelong means of avoiding sexually transmitted diseases." April 2002.

Partial-Birth Abortion: An in-depth look at the controversial procedure
This paper explains the controversial abortion procedure known as partial-birth abortion, why it is not medically necessary and how commonly it is practised. The paper also addresses the public policy question of whether or not North Carolina needs its own ban on the procedure. March 2000.

The Needle-Exchange Debate: Federal funds for needle-exchange giveaways
This paper summarizes the highly charged political debate over needle-exchange programs, and the spread of AIDS; and reviews the latest needle science and profiles needle-exchange programs across America. May 1999.

Human Cloning: What's wrong with creating human life?
If reasoned arguments against human cloning are either not properly founded or are not well articulated, then feelings will be dismissed as irrelevant, and general opposition will subside. We have to ask whether initial alarm over human cloning is supported by anything other than feeling, and if defensible reasons do exist, we must identify what they are. January 1999.

Teenage Pregnancy: How do we measure success
For years, teenage pregnancy has been a concern, but the approach to the problem is changing. There are two differing ideological points of view. One approach, stemming from the sexual revolution of the 60s, is often termed "comprehensive" or "safe-sex" education. This paper looks at some of the adolescent pregnancy prevention programs in North Carolina and their track record. June 1998.