politics and culture: March 2006 Archives

NEJM -- The Supreme Court and the Purposes of Medicine

I am not fond of the New England Journal. Too often (in my opinion) they let politically correct but scientifically suspect ideas prevail, both in the selection of articles and on the editorial page. I also happen to think that organized medicine takes to itself a deference that it is not willing to grant to other professions - including those with which medicine works in an uneasy alliance (nursing, physical therapy, midwifery, pharmacy, psychology, to name but a few). This editorial has some rather eye opening statements on that behalf.
Predictably, 'medical ethicist' Dr. Annas also has an editorial in this issue. His focuses on the 'assisted suicide' aspects of the the current court fights. He also argues in favor of self-regulation of the medical industry. It's an argument I would find more defensible were it applied by that industry to its competitors.

Seeking Book Donations

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A friend emailed this to me and asked that I post it.
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The New Orleans Public Library
(New Orleans LA)
The New Orleans Public Library is asking for any and all hardcover and paperback books for people of all ages in an effort to restock the shelves after Katrina. The staff will assess which titles will be designated for its collections. The rest will be distributed to destitute families or sold for library fundraising. Please send your books to:

Rica A. Trigs, Public Relations
New Orleans Public Library
219 Loyola Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70112

If you tell the post office that they are for the library in New Orleans, they will give you the library rate which is slightly less than the book rate.
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This is my personal advice from my days working in a library in the cataloguing department:
If you are seeking a tax deduction, please enclose in each box 2 copies of an itemized list of the contents. Also enclose a stamped self-addressed envelope. Ask that the library stamp or sign one copy and mail it back to you - this will be your receipt for tax purposes. The itemization should be sufficient for you to be able to assign a reasonable cash value to your donation. The IRS has some good guidelines on how to value charitable donations in kind. Or consult your tax program or accountant. I think that your shipping costs are also deductable - but double check, as my knowledge of tax regulations are limited to what I have learned by filing them for decades.
I was getting ready to clean out some space now that our nest is emptying, and this will give me a great excuse to pack and mail some books!

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About this Archive

This page is a archive of entries in the politics and culture category from March 2006.

politics and culture: February 2006 is the previous archive.

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