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In summer of 2007, Center faculty and staff spent the first Sunday of the Minnesota State Fair working at the Academic Health Center’s booth. We’ve come to appreciate our ability to literally reach out to the public at the fair, and this year was no different. We had a great showing of visitors (nearly 1,000). We assume that the chance to play "WHATS YOUR SPIN" was too tempting or possibly it was the stylish Center for Bioethics mugs that were given out this year. In return for their choice of prize, visitors to the booth were asked to answer one of the four "What's Your Spin?" questions:
- Sometimes parents with particular disabilities (dwarfism or deafness, for example) want to have children with the same traits so they can fully share in the culture and lifestyle of the parents. Should prospective parents have the right to use genetic testing on embryos to select those with "desired" disabilities?
- Should "the Ashley treatment" (medicines and surgery to prevent growth) be given to reduce the physical size of children with severe irreversible neurological and cognitive impairments who are totally dependent on others for care their entire lives?
- Should doctors get paid a bonus if their diabetic patients have well controlled blood sugar? Blood pressure? Cholesterol? Don't smoke? Take daily aspirin? Why or why not?
- Purchasing organs in the US is illegal, but there is strong evidence that organs bought overseas come from the poorest among those nations. Should health insurers or the medical community be responsible for the care of patients who come back from another country having purchased an organ?
325 people responded: 15% = YES 84% = NO 1% = UNSURE
Read a selection of the responses
107 people responded: 44% = YES 47% = NO 9% = UNSURE
Read a selection of the responses
410 people responded: 26% = YES 73% = NO 1% = UNSURE
Read a selection of the responses
137 people responded: 29% = YES 63% = NO 8% = UNSURE
Read a selection of the responses
The answers that people wrote on index cards weren’t so surprising for the way the majority "voted," but they were interesting for the overwhelming proportion that shared the same viewpoint. The individual comments showed insights, sophisticated comments, and the sort of public engagement that we can usually only dream about. It’s heartening to know that the work we do touches a chord with so many, and makes it clear why outreach continues to be an important part of our mission. The Minnesota State Fair brings out millions of our fellow citizens every summer, and it’s great to know that so many are willing to exercise their minds in addition to their pocketbooks and waistlines. See you there next year!