Medical Ethics: Tough Choices, Lincoln, NE 2000

Partners:

Lincoln Journal Star
Nebraska Public Television
KMTV (CBS)

The partners launched a project on the ethical questions surrounding research at the University of Nebraska Medical Center after the surprise disclosure that the facility was using fetal tissue in its labs. A statewide poll of 323 adults found most generally supported the kinds of research the center was doing, though many opposed harvesting cells from aborted fetuses. The partners hoped to spark a civil and thoughtful discussion of the ethical implications, informed by a thorough understanding of the research.

The paper ran a four-part series on Sundays in January 2001, looking at cloning stem cell research, xenotransplantation (harvesting organs for transplant from animals) and gene therapy. KMLTV aired a five-part series on the topics.

On Thursday, Feb. 1, Nebraska public television broadcast a live panel discussion of the issues by ordinary citizens. Experts sitting in the front row of the audience - which was open to anyone -I interacted with the panel for part of the show. Viewers were invited to share their opinions online, on a Web site that included the newspaper stories and lists of contacts and resources.

Some 6,000 viewers watched the show on public television and another 5,000 watched a rebroadcast on KMTV, Feb. 3. The Web site received 8,000 visits from Jan 8 to April 8. Later that year, the Nebraska legislature set aside a bill that would have banned fetal tissue research at the university. Lawmakers quoted citizens who'd participated in the project during debate on the measure. The project won First Place for Enterprise Reporting from the Nebraska Associated Press.

Contact:

David B. Stoeffler (former Editor, Lincoln Star Journal)
Vice President
Lee Enterprises
215 North Main Street
Davenport, IA 52801-1924
Phone: (563) 383-2139
Email: david.stoeffler@lee.net