Technoethics, or the written and unwritten codes of practice in dealing with technology, is becoming imperative as we wantonly move towards the Information age. This is due to the fact that the rapid development of technology is not only affecting changes in human thought and behaviour, but also stirring up new ethical issues and moral…
According to a recent newspaper headline, the possibility of achieving Vision 2020 targets appeared to be uncertain. This is mostly due to the current economic problems. It would be sad if this has to happen. Many Malaysians have psyched up to deal with the nine challenges first proposed by the Prime Minister, Dato Seri Dr.…
“It is better to be bankrupt than dead”. These are the words of Mr. Siri Voravetvuthikun, the Thai multi-millionaire turned sandwich peddler. He is probably one of the thousands of former tycoons, moguls and barons of South-East Asia who, with one stroke- of the invisible hand, have gone from riches to rags. Mr. Voravetvuthikun’s courage…
The World Health Organization celebrated its 50th. Anniversary on April 7 1998. The date coincides with the annual World Health Day. One of the most important objective of WHO is striving for the betterment of the health of women and children. Thus, this year the theme “Safe Motherhood” has been chosen. According to WHO figures,…
At the recently concluded European Union supported seminar on “Europe and the Islamic World”, organised by IKIM and the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, one particular word was a favourite among both the officials and participants. Perception. The Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad who opened the seminar, in fact zeroed in on this when he…
During a recent radio talk show on the topic of ‘love’, a listener phoned-in to convey a message to a person very dear to his heart. The monologue went on something like this, ‘I would like to wish my loving wife a Happy Valentine’ s Day. We have been married for 51 years now. Sadly,…
This year, Malaysians again have the privilege to a double celebration. However, the atmosphere in 1998 is a far cry from the superfluity and exuberance of last year. There is a general aura of melancholy. During the last six months, the stock market composite index has nose-dived to less than half of its previous maximum…
The twentieth century has thus far witnessed the medical profession’ s involvement with the process of becoming a parent at a level never seen before in the history of mankind. Doctors are very much part of the reproduction process, from advising on nutrition and child-health, to managing women’s labours in increasingly technological ways, to supervising…
The Malaysian medical fraternity added another feather in its cap recently with the historic heart transplant procedure performed by a team of cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiologists, anaesthesiologists and other supporting staff of the National Heart Institute. The effort was a culmination of the heart transplant programme set up by the institute two years ago. It also…
